Akari had experienced plenty of nightmares in her past. She spent her high school years in a school meant to train future heroes so she had her fair share of terrifying experiences on top of the usual school-related drama. Even after graduating, she faced many adrenaline-inducing situations that would make a normal citizen cower in fear. The USJ training was now added to that list of terrifying experiences.
It was supposed to be so simple; help the students become used to working in a variety of environments and teach them skills applicable to rescue missions. Thirteen was there with them already. All Might was due to join them when he had recovered some strength to change forms.
She was listening to her coworkers explain what they would be doing and she anticipated supervising the group that would go to the ruins zone. Yamada had built up enough hype for this trip that Akari was actually pretty excited. She had alos stocked the fridge the previous night so she could make some dinner for herself and Aizawa when they got off work. It should have been a good day.
When the villains attacked, Akari's first thought was to try to go after the unsettling figure with blue hair and hands all over his upper half. Judging by how he remained in one place while the other villains moved, she could guess that he was probably the one in charge. As she grabbed her capture weapon from her belt, she began sprinting in the young man's direction.
The woman was met with a living wall of villains that all surged toward her at once. I can't use my quirk on them; there are too many! Damn it! I'll have to save it for that creep with the hands! She fought the villains to the best of her ability, landing a few good hits before reaching to her ribbon. The capture weapon coiled around the wrist of a particularly hefty-looking man and Akari began to spin in a circle, wielding him like a mace.
He smashed into several of the other villains that were trying to close in on her, effectively clearing a path. She was getting closer to her target when her eyes fell upon the hulking creature next to him. Wait…that's…what the hell is that thing?! Akari felt a sharp, stinging pain in her side and stumbled.
She nearly tripped and she could feel blood spilling down her side. Pressing her free hand to the wound, she looked over her shoulder. There was a criminal behind her that was wielding a spear. The blade bore her blood on the edge. Gritting her teeth, she glowered at the man. There were more villains behind him, all having their eyes locked on her.
No. No, no, no. I'm not dying like this. Shit! Blue eyes flitted to the stairs. Some of the students were now missing. Damn it! What happened? And where's Thirteen? Someone has to get to the school and-! Akari's thoughts were cut short when a large hand clutched her by the back of the neck. Her body was lifted off of her feet and hurled several yards away, tumbling over the tiled floor.
She winced as pain erupted in her side and her right temple. Reaching a hand to where it hurt, she knew that she was going to have a bruise from where her head struck the floor. Scrambling for a plan, she looked to where she had been standing. The bulky, monstrous creature that she had seen with her target was now lumbering toward her at a leisurely pace.
Fuck! I have to do something! I don't know what that thing is, but it can't be good! Akari pushed herself to sit up and glared at the thing from behind locks of crimson hair that fell over her face. This is bad, she thought as she watched it approach her. This is really, really bad!
Her gaze shifted past the creature to where Aizawa was still fighting his way through the crowds of villains. There are too many of them. We'll both run out of stamina before we can take them all down. What are we going to do? Akari attempted to stand, but only managed to get to her knees before the thing reached her.
Its hand tangled in her hair and yanked her head back so she was staring at the ceiling and baring her neck. Her eyes closed, teeth gritting against the pain in her scalp. It felt like the creature might tear her hair out. She reached to her belt for her knife, but it was smacked away by the creature and her wrist was snapped in the opposite direction from the strike.
A howl of agony tore through her when her wrist broke and Akari could feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Her eyes snapped open as goose bumps rose on her skin. Her gaze was met with wide, red eyes that were partially obscured by the hand fixed over the villain's face. "You get a sick thrill from terrorizing kids?!" she snarled.
The villain stood over her, scratching at his own neck as he stared down at the hero. When his dry, scarred lips drew into a grin, it sent chills down her spine. "The nighttime hero Heartstrings…"
"Back the fuck up before I make you back up!"
"Always so pretty, even when you're bleeding."
"I won't tell you again-!"
"Keep her still, Nomu."
No, no, no! Damn it! She saw his hand drawing close to her face, but then he hesitated. The grin was unwavering as he stared directly into her cerulean eyes. Akari was unable to use her right hand since her wrist was broken, but her left hand darted forward now to try to stop him from getting closer.
The young man tilted his head slightly and seemed to almost nod. "It'd be a shame…ruining that face. Here. Consider this…a compromise."
Akari saw him reaching toward her shoulder, but was preoccupied with protecting her face. Only when his fingertips made contact did she realize her mistake. A searing pain erupted in her shoulder as the fabric and flesh started to crumble away. He pulled away to find shiny, red muscle exposed and the expression he wore was one of sadistic pleasure.
Her vision was getting spotty as shock set in. Blood was still running down her side from her wound and she lowered her left hand. The fingers of her right hand spasmed, pain racing along her limb with each movement. Closing her eyes, Akari heard the villain speaking to the shadowy figure who had warped the enemies there. When she heard him say "hostage", that was when she knew she had to act quickly to free herself.
She hated using her quirk because it felt so disgusting, but she had no choice. To make matters worse, she would be more limited in her usage. Her knife was gone and there was no way to cut her fingertips. The wound in her side would have to do. Concentrating, she activated her quirk and the stream of blood lifted in the form of a thick crimson ribbon.
While the villain was talking, she took the opportunity to stab her blood ribbon into the creature's side and forced his blood from his limbs for as long as she could. Just long enough for her to get free. Akari took a few steps toward the blue-haired villain as the young man prepared to attack her. Before she could get close enough, the blood loss made her legs turn to jelly.
Akari's knees buckled and she almost tumbled forward, but then a familiar pale binding grabbed her wrist. She was thrown aside and, as consciousness fled from her, she saw Aizawa sprint toward the villain. Wait…Shouta…his hands…hurt…
The world went dark and when she woke, she was being treated by Recovery Girl. Thankfully, her wounds were slight enough for her to not need a hospital. She had still lost a lot of blood, though, so she was groggy and shaky. Akari was told that Aizawa had not been so lucky. His arms and skull had suffered injuries that may be irreparable. He was in the intensive care unit and visitors were forbidden.
As she stepped out into the street, she looked down at her right wrist. Recovery Girl had healed the wound in her side, but had to stop there or it would take too much stamina. The red-haired hero's wrist was currently in a splint.
She said that we can try again tomorrow, she reminded herself. I just hate this though! I hate being injured and I hate not being able to help! I can't even see Shouta right now! Even after he helped me…
Sighing in frustration, she set off for home. She played through the day's events again and again, hating herself every time she saw her mistakes. And why? That creep was reaching for my face. If he'd touched my face, I would've died! Her shoulder throbbed and she reached over to rub at it. "Ngh. Damn it."
Akari entered a convenience store on her way to her neighborhood and stalked to the aisle with cup ramen. She grabbed a few of them, just wanting to eat soon so she could try to sleep. So she could try to get through the day and hopefully wake up to find it was a nightmare.
As she turned toward the front of the store, she spotted him. Standing near the register, pointing to a pack of cigarettes from the selection behind the clerk. Akari tilted her head and began walking toward him.
Shift P.O.V
"Jin? Hey…it's been a while, huh?"
He tensed at the sound of her voice and tried to look over his shoulder nonchalantly. The man's eyes widened when he saw Akari. There was a fresh bruise on her right temple and a splint on her right wrist. Her face was nearly as pale as paper and when she smiled, she looked utterly exhausted. "A-Akari?"
"You okay?" She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly.
"Y-yeah…I'm fine." His hands tightened into fists within his pockets. "You…uh…what happened to you?"
She ran a hand through her hair, releasing a soft sigh. "I got my ass handed to me by a villain today," she explained.
She doesn't look so good. She looks fine as always! No, she's shaking. Wait! Jin hurried forward as her knees buckled, catching her in his arms. "Akari?!"
The woman attempted a smile, but she looked so weak. So tired. Her good arm wrapped around him for support. "Jin…sorry. I hate asking this, but can you help me get home? I'm not feeling so good."
"Yeah…yeah, don't worry. I'll help you." He finished his purchase and tucked his cigarettes away, keeping a hold on Akari to steady her.
As she directed him to her apartment building, the man's heart began to race faster than ever before. She needs my help. This is something that I can do for her. It's fate! No way; it's just a coincidence! Suddenly, Akari felt heavier. He looked down and realized that she had passed out.
Lifting her bridal style, he tried to ignore the rapid bating of his heart. The hero's head was resting against his chest as he carried her home, using her keys to let himself into her apartment. He settled her on her bed and the man's stomach twisted in anxious knots. She looked like she was in pain. She looked so fragile. There was no way that he could leave her alone in this state.
