Chapter 21

Principal Nezu had told the rest of the Hero Association like he said he would. This was all my fault, because of me All Might and Deku's secret had been outed. Technically it was still a secret, just among the heroes in that room; but still. Now I was in the waiting room, waiting for them to call me in.

"Yami," Aizawa-sensei said, standing in the doorway. "We're ready for you."

I went over to him and walked into the room. The second I did all of their eyes shifted to me. There were some faces I recognized and others I didn't. I stood in the middle of the round table while Aizawa-sensei took his seat. I locked eyes with All Might and he nodded, letting me know that it was okay. That I didn't need to be worried.

"How do we know that you are not a spy of All For One? To come here and get your hands on One For All." Endeavor asked.

"Seeing as I tried to kill him, that doesn't make much sense. All Might wanted me to have One For All. So, again that doesn't make any sense."

"You didn't succeed though, did you? You stopped when he used Dabi as a shield. Or perhaps are you one of Dabi's spies?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. He was trying to bait me. He hasn't liked me since the moment I'd gotten here. He wanted me to lose my cool. I wouldn't be tricked like that. I looked at the others. They were waiting for my answer. Most of them probably had their doubts about me and I couldn't blame them.

I took a deep breath " I am not anyone's spy. I am here because I want to be a hero. I want to help people. I am not a danger to any of you."

"Your powers are unpredictable." Hawks chimed in. "You almost killed me," he said with a smirk.

They were really trying to dig into me.

I rubbed my arm. "I apologized for that, and I fixed it. Besides, I was lied to. I didn't know anything about this place and who had committed what crimes., and you accepted my apology."

He smiled. "I know. Just doing my part." He said with a shrug.

"So, you have no feelings toward your father?" Endeavor asked.

That word. Father. It ticked me off.

"That man is not my father. He never has been. Just because I am biologically related to him means nothing… Aizawa-sensei has been more of a father to me than anyone."

I could see the surprise by what I had said, and truth be told I had surprised myself. I was embarrassed that I had said it.

I looked down at my feet, waiting for the next question to come.

"What about Dabi?" Aizawa-sensei asked.

My head snapped up.

My chest felt tight. "What bout Dabi?" I asked.

"You know what I mean Yami.

Don't lie Yami… tell them the truth.

I looked straight at him. "I love him."

I could hear the whispers around the room. It would have been stupid of me to think that they already hadn't been suspicious. We had been alone on that island for two months and some change. I knew how I felt… I was just too afraid to admit it to myself, and to anyone; until now.

"Go on," Mirko said.

"I love him… but I can't get passed what he has done."

"Does he share these feelings for you as well?" All Might asked.

I nodded. "It seems like he does."

"You cannot kill him. How do we know we'd be able to trust you in the middle of a fight?" Endeavor asked.

"I can't kill him," I said honestly. "That doesn't mean I can restrain him. Or keep him from hurting other people I care about."

I had to stand here and be interrogated like this. I could feel my heart breaking in my chest. I hated this.

"Will you ever betray us Yami?" Nezu asked.

I shook my head. "Never," I said matter of fact.

"Good." Endeavor said. "Aizawa put his neck out on the line for you. If you were to mess up or betray us in any way. It would be him paying the price for it, seeing as he vouched for you."

This man easy really starting to irk me.

"I would never do that. So, he doesn't have to worry."

He leaned forward his eyes narrowing at me. "Do you think you are special?"Endeavor asked.

"Does it bother you that I am? Are you afraid that after I graduate you won't be the number one hero anymore?"

I could hear some snickering around the room.

I could play dirty too.

Endeavor leaned back in his chair. "You are just some experiment. You did not earn your place here."

Now, that stung.

"Yes, I have. You haven't liked me since the moment I got here and I haven't given you not one reason to. Now you sit there on your pedestal looking down at me and judging me. As if I had a choice in my parentage. I am not All For One. I am not some experiment he thought up. I am Yami Hikari. I am just me. If you can't handle that then that's on you. If you think I haven't earned the right to be here then give me whatever test you want. I'll pass it with flying colors."

For the first time ever I had seen him smile. "I will hold you to that."

"Well," Nezu said. "I think we have heard enough. We will take your word. That you are not a threat nor a spy. Please do not let us regret it."

I nodded. "You won't. I promise."

The meeting was dismissed. I went out into the waiting room, and Aizawa-sensei caught up with me.

"Are you alright Yami?"

"I'll be fine I guess."

"I'm sorry for being hard on you in there."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. That's what that whole thing was about right? To try and make me crack. To see how I would respond. Endeavor looked like he was hoping I would lash out at him in front of everyone."

"Before we go back to UA, why don't we grab some dinner?"

I perked up, smiling. "Of course. I could eat."