Chapter Four

Stifle

❝A little closer to the signs

Kohaku was supposed to be pleased with the direction her life was headed. Her supposedly extraordinary rebirth at the number-one hero Academy in the country meant that she finally had reached her goal. Her once unattainable dream was in front of her clasped into reality, as though it was part of her all along.

What she hadn't expected, at least on the first day of her enrolment at the renowned Academy was to compete in yet another examination. She assumed they would complete the standard introductory events like freshers fair, manageable lessons on the type of things expected of heroes and game activities with her classmates to get to know them better.

"A physical exam?"

"Again?"

"Didn't we do enough of that at the entrance exam?"

Kohaku was part of the select few conflicted with the need to have another test at such short notice without any preparation. It was one thing showcasing quirks with ample time to prepare for, but another to complete varying practical skills using her quirk to the best of her ability in an hour with her classmates observing her.

"I'll only be checking how well you use your quirk at this stage. The activities will be alternating between different sports-like events. Nothing, too hard."

Kohaku kept quiet and somehow saw herself reaching for her pendant necklace.

"Besides, this is part of introducing yourself to your classmates, who will grow with you and lean on you for the next three years of your life."

Her body stiffened at the mention of quirk examination, and even if the blood hero tried to deliver the plan for the rest of the day that was quite simple, she was still dreading it. She wasn't ready and had no idea how well she could even use her said quirk without any difficulties.

The fact that she had passed the exam in the first place was a complete blur. She barely remembered using her quirk to the best of her ability back then and knew that she'd only embarrass herself in front of her so-called classmates.

"The session will take place half an hour from now at the gym. Do make sure you're not late finding your way around."

The colour in her eyes turned to a darker hue of orange, matching Vlad King's mask.

"It won't be that bad, Kohaku," Itsuka said, smiling at her cheerfully as if she could sense the discomfort looming over her desk. Itsuka's soft hands patted her back as if to lighten her up and shatter her obvious despair.

Thanks to the small introduction they all had to do earlier on, Kohaku had started to put familiar faces to names. The sweet ginger-haired girl from the entrance exams had a cheerful personality and managed to stun everyone in the class with her bizarre quirk, which she had displayed so easily.

Kohaku smiled back, "I know. I guess I'm a little nervous that's all."

"Oh, I'd be nervous if I were you."

Kohaku and Itsuka turn around as they make their way out of the large classroom.

"Whatever you say." Kohaku rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the door not wanting to engage herself with Monoma for a second longer.

"Hey, that wasn't nice of you Monoma."

Despite Itsuka's concern, Monoma had only chuckled in return and followed the crowd of students into the long hallway.

"Don't mind him, Kohaku-san." Itsuka reassured, "I'm sure he didn't mean it that way."

Kohaku pinched her lips together, Itsuka was either too nice or a complete fool. Monoma had meant every word he said with an unpleasant taunt in his tone. She remembered his introduction earlier on, where he had flaunted his flamboyant quirk that had all sorts of tricks like a magician. Yet, when everyone started to clap in awe, he laughed out loud enjoying the spotlight, like an attention seeker. That's right, he was an attention seeker and Kohaku knew that kind of persona well and decided that it was best to ignore him, completely.

"Where are you going? The changing rooms are this way."

Kohaku halted on her steps, wrapped her fingers on the tip ends of her trimmed blonde hair and peered up to meet the same girl from the entrance exam.

"Oh."

Kohaku eyed her a second longer than necessary, thinking back to her name. Another familiar face, but she couldn't quite remember her name for some reason. Was it Ibara or Nabara? Kohaku shook her head and instead tried to return the smile.

The burst of a muffled argument broke the short silence surrounding the two girls. In front of the two girls, a small crowd of less than six huddled around a classroom next to them.

"Tetsutestu!"

"What?"

"You can't just go in—

"I'm just looking around. What's the problem? It's not like they're here."

"Monoma! Not you too?" Itsuka exclaimed, looking around to see if anyone other than her classmates were around strolling in the corridor.

"Tetsu's right. Vlad said he'll give us till next period to show up at the gym. There's no harm in fulfilling our curiosity."

"Still, it isn't right to barge into another class," Itsuka explained to Monoma, hands on her hip.

Kohaku peered up at Ibara next to her and then at the commotion, a few feet away.

"It's not like they're here. Besides, the other classroom is empty, plus the door is wide open. As Monoma said, it wouldn't hurt to look around a little." This time, Tsubura followed Monoma into class A's classroom. Kohaku had thought Tsubura was one of the average-looking students in the class, but he stuck his head up high and went in without a care.

Kohaku couldn't deny her curiosity like everybody else, for she too was interested in seeing the other class. It's only been a day, and from the times she passed by class A, they all seemed boisterous and loud. Not that class B wasn't loud. Even though their teacher was the opposite with his dim and ominous silent aura like the thunderstorm clouds.

From the two, Ibara was the first to step into the crowd, and soon Kohaku followed. The rooms were identical, each table and blue chairs mirroring the other just like their own class. Only a few books were covering some tables. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"There's nothing here," Monama said, stating the obvious.

"Of course, there's nothing—

RING

A small yelp escaped from Kohaku's mouth when the bell strung loudly above her. She quickly covered her mouth, but by the time the ringing sound faded into the background, everyone had already turned to her, startled at the sudden noise. The silence felt eerie as if everyone was processing what they had heard.

"It...it wasn't me," Kohaku blurted out, feeling the heat rise to her face at the sudden attention. The few students in the classroom had all stared at her as if she saw a villain, shattering the once curious classroom. Kohaku wasn't the type to get startled and loathed being the centre of attention. Just as she was about to turn her heel and run away, she stumbled into something rather cold.

"What are you all doing here?"

His voice was low, crystal clear and managed to cause a standstill in the classroom.

"I'm sorry," Kohaku panicked looking up to meet a student who was much taller than her, "I didn't see you—

At loss for words, Kohaku couldn't help but stare at the variation of turquoise and brownish-dark grey colours that were staring back at her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't number two's son." Monoma smirked making his way to the door.

Number 2? What does he mean? How did Monoma know of a student in class A?

"That's him?"

"Wait, it really is—

"Endeavour's son?"

When Kohaku peeked back up at him, the aura surrounding him had turned dark sending chills down her spine. She quickly averted her gaze and decided that it'd be best to leave them. She didn't want to get involved and sighed in relief knowing she wasn't the centre of attention no more. Kohaku was already adamant about not ruining her already bad start to her new life and slowly walked past the commotion with her head down. Getting involved with Monoma from the beginning had really, turned out to be the wrong decision on her part - no, because how did he get the best out of everyone that stood in his way so easily? She shook her head in disbelief at the thought of thinking about such a guy.

Kohaku quickly spared one glance at the scene behind her. Monoma was now standing in close proximity to Endeavour's son, though from behind Kohaku could tell how much shorter he had seemed compared to Endeavour's son. She really, hoped whoever that student was, would put Monoma in his place.

The murmurs of students making their way into the corridor had risen, and Kohaku realised that she had to go to Vlad's office before the dreaded physical exam.

"The truth is...I've got a really bad headache from the morning. I think it's because of the weather. So, I'm not sure if I'm in the right state to do a test so suddenly," Kohaku said with a low voice, pinching the side of her thigh.

Vlad only kept quiet as if he wasn't sure what to say.

Kohaku then let out a fake sob and dropped her head down. "I wanted to do well. R-really well..." with a sudden croak in her voice, Kohaku placed her hand on her pendant. "I'm sorry."

"Well, if it's that bad then I suggest you visit Recovery Girl's nurse's room. Hiiragi Kohaku, right?" Vlad asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kohaku nodded aggressively, "Yes."

"The closest infirmary room is beside the library."

"I think I remember which room it's at and... uh, thank you so much Vlad King sensei!"

"Are you sure you don't need to be escorted? There are still a few minutes left until the session—

"No! It's fine, I can manage...on my own. Really, I'll be fine." Kohaku interjected, waving her hands about.

When Vlad finally allowed her to leave the room, Kohaku couldn't believe how easily he fell for the lie. She was never great at the act of lying especially around her family members and friends back in middle school. Maybe it was due to the fact that Vlad did not know her well enough, just yet. Kohaku had hoped it would be the first and last time she'd have to lie to her teacher.

She closed the door with a sigh of relief and stood next to the door for a second longer. She didn't have to show off her quirk in front of her peers and that feeling of reassurance was enough for her. At least for a little while longer.

Kohaku continued to stroll around the first floor of the Academy pondering where exactly the nurse's room was, with all the blue doors and grey walls closing in on her, she tilted her head to the side. Which way was the library again?

From the corner of her eyes, Kohaku spotted a short elderly woman wearing a lab coat coming out of a familiar-looking room. Not knowing whether or not to follow her instinct, Kohaku darted her gaze around the rather quiet corridor.

"Young lady, over here. Come here," the elder woman said, using her stick to propel her forward.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Dear. I can see that you are not well," the elder woman was now standing beside her, peering up at Kohaku with much concern. "Here, have some of this, young lady."

Kohaku glanced at the woman's small hands holding up a round-shaped sweet wrapped around in a red polka-dot wrapper. Kohaku paused the movement of her right hand and stared at the elderly woman, something about her felt eerie— as if she saw through Kohaku. Taking hold of the sweet, Kohaku smiled back at the elderly woman who was now waiting for her to eat the sweet remedy.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear. If you're still not feeling well after eating that, wait for me in the infirmary room. There's something I have to go and fetch."

Kohaku looked down and opened her right hand. Was she supposed to feel better after eating a sweet? Before Kohaku had the chance to ask the elderly lady what flavour of the sweet was, the elderly woman had disappeared.

Strange. But, now she knew where the infirmary room was at. Stepping into the infirmary room, Kohaku did not expect to be welcomed by a student swathed around in bandages trying to pick himself up into a seated position.

"What are you doing?" She asked walking over towards the bed with a frown. The heels of her shoes rattled the stillness of the room. "I don't think you should be moving."

"I'm fine."

Fine? From the way, his eyes winced in pain when he leaned his head back to the pillow, and his face flushed red, Kohaku was curious about his condition and why his arm was loaded with heavy bandages.

"Say, what happened to you?"

"Me?" His blank eyes turned to his arm and a small smile trembled over his pained face, "Nothing out of the ordinary."

Kohaku did not know what to say to someone who seemed defeated and lost. Did she unknowingly strike a nerve at him? Maybe it would be best to leave him to wallow in his grief seeing as whatever has caused the injury was still in his mind. She could find herself a bed and wait till the physical session was over before making her way to her next lesson.

"Are you a first-year?"

Startled by the question, Kohaku flinched back and dropped the sweet that was starting to melt in her grasp. Just a moment ago, he seemed to be preoccupied with his thoughts and now he wanted to talk to her, out of the blue. What a weirdo. Wait, how did he know she was a first-year? Kohaku's attention turned to the sweet that rolled beside the bed then turned to the flustered student.

"Your red tie," he explained with a hint of embarrassment in his tone. "I'm a first year too!"

Oh. Kohaku regarded her bow tie, then at the student who quickly diverted his gaze to the wall above.

"I'm Midoriya Izuku, what's your name?"

"Kohaku...Hiiragi Kohaku," she answered bending down to pick up the sweet that the elderly woman had gifted her then perked up at Midoriya whilst simultaneously tucking her blonde hair behind her ear.

"D-Did you receive that from Recovery Girl, the nurse?" he stumbled over his question.

"Huh? Yeah, but I'm not sure of its flavour," Kohaku stared down at the sweet with disdain, "I'm not a fan of sweets. They're not good for your health."

Midoriya looked at Kohaku oddly, a quiet chuckle escaping from him. "They're not actually sweets. It's more like a remedy."

"A remedy?" Kohaku repeated, lips parted slightly.

"Try it, Hiiragi-san."

She narrowed her eyes for a moment staring at the sweet. The elderly nurse did mention that she was not well, and it wasn't like the sweet would be poisonous. There was nothing to be afraid of and yet when Midoriya had softly coerced her, Kohaku opened the wrapper and gulped. She closed her eyes and quickly shoved the sweet into her mouth, waiting for the sweetness to tingle her senses.

At the same time, the door to the infirmary room was opened widely, with four students barging in haste.

"Deku! Are you okay?"

"Deku!"

Startled at the sudden intervention, Kohaku started to cough aloud. The sweet had slipped into the wrong pipe way, somehow elevating the rigidity in her stomach. She covered her mouth and tried to retain the cough to no avail.

"Hiiragi-san?"

Kohaku snapped her gaze at Midoriya and stifled in another cough into her hands.

"H-hey?" A red-haired student stammered, holding out his arms.

"Iida, go grab some water," a short girl demanded whilst Kohaku continued to cough aggressively. Sweets were out of her list for good. In fact, this was going to be the first and last time she'd let someone persuade her to do things she was hesitant about.

When the student with a robust-looking face passed her a glass of water, Kohaku finally had the chance to breathe clearly.

"I'm sorry Hiiragi-san," Midoriya apologised, his wide eyes regarding her with worry.

"No, we're sorry. Sorry for startling you," the short girl said and the red-haired nodded his head in acknowledgment.

"I'm fine and thank you," Kohaku clarified, passing over the empty glass to Iida with a curt smile. "It was my fault for eating it too quickly."