The Hand That Bleeds

by Nightmare Zane

"I don't want to be a Hero. I want to be a Healer. My Quirk is made for healing, like my mom's, not fighting so I train to fight like a Hero to be a Healer. I want to help others to the best of my abilities." Hisoka Matsushita, raised by her mother and who never knew her father, never could quite understand where the path she would eventually take would lead her to.

64. Chapter 64

Title: 逃げる手 - The Hand That Bleeds
Rating: T
Summary: "I don't want to be a Hero. I want to be a Healer. My Quirk is made for healing, like my mom's, not fighting so I train to fight like a Hero to be a Healer. I want to help others to the best of my abilities." Hisoka Matsushita, raised by her mother and who never knew her father, never could quite understand where the path she would eventually take would lead her to.

Current: Followers: 449, Favs: 388, Reviews: 321, Communities: 14, Views: 144669

Disclaimer: I do not own Boku no Hero Academia. Boku no Hero Academia is written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi-sensei. No profit was made in the writing of this fanfic.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

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Now To Answer Some Reviews:

GrayWolf- Hey! It's been a while but I hope you continue to check out my stories! It's always been fun to read your reviews. ^^ Hisoka and Tsuyu are just too cute and I love writing/drawing them together. Yee. It took a bit to figure out on what I should do to basically level up Hisoka and parkour will definitely help (I've got some big plans with that and in sequence Aomi too) with upping her skills. TBH the whole traitor of UA was basically forgotten by Horikoshi-sensei. It hasn't been mentioned or really dived into anymore - at least up to the current chapter it hasn't even been mentioned about. I have been staying safe and healthy from Covid-19 and I hope you are as well. Be safe. Thank you for the review. I hope you like the chapter.

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Chapter 64

To Some Final Preparations

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Location: Common Room, First Floor of Heights Alliance, South Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: October 31, 20XX

With yesterday's festivities, Fumikage was excited to celebrate the day after his birthday - he still lamented why his mother couldn't have waited just a few more hours to give birth so the day of his birth could be on the darkest of days of the year... Only a few more hours and it would have been the perfect banquet of darkness every year! That didn't stop him from celebrating every year though or from his childhood friend teasing him over this particular dilemma of his. Dark Shadow crackled inwardly, feeling his conflicting emotions about the spookiest day of days where ghouls could creep and Yokai could walk amongst the children who wandered the streets dressed in all kinds of costumes. He inwardly rolled his eyes as he went back to help decorate the common room already decked out with black and orange themed ornaments such as spider webs hanging from the corners, steamers and decorative Halloween-themed lights on the walls, the tables lined with gothic tablecloths, and pumpkins carved with various, not so surprising imagery.

All of Class 1-A had been tasked with creating and carving a pumpkin for the party. His class president wanted it to be matching. That idea didn't last even a second. The problem students of his class obviously did their own thing. Midoriya did something All Might related. No surprise there. Bakugo somehow made a piece so detailed it wasn't even surprising with how OP he could be (he secretly wondered sometimes if they were just in a show and Bakugo was your typical OP main character - Todoroki had secretly told him the same theory one time after muttering about Midoriya and something about him being a love child or whatever... Everyone had their own strange ticks, after all.) It was of All Might fighting someone. No surprise there either. Both boys were fanboys of the man no matter if he was a retired Pro Hero or not. A few others made animals and others made the classical non-original ones as he did. He liked the classic face.

Hisoka had created one of a cat, copying the animal-themed direction that her girlfriend had done. Tsuyu went with a chibified frog.

Fumikage glanced over at his childhood friend, hair pulled back into a high though small ponytail (a rather rare site), who was in the kitchen moving and directing a grinning Sato and an annoyed but semi-obedient Bakugo. They were moving like a well-oiled machine. Not surprising. While Hisoka had become the resident cook of the dorm, the kitchen basically became her domain above everyone else's, and more than once people had faced her wrath in there (Fumikage knew better. He wanted to live after all.) for one reason or another. They worked on the food being made aside from the food and drinks that had been bought.

If she wasn't so determined to become a Hero, Fumikage would have wondered if she would have ended up opening her own bakery if not following her mother's footsteps in running the clinic or perhaps a doctor. He knew her Quirk could help many out there. He couldn't help but wonder absentmindedly how much her Quirk could heal and if it was possible to evolve over time to heal things even further.

Perhaps one day she'd be able to bring someone back from the brink of death...

"Tokoyami-kun, could you place that higher?" Shoji had asked quietly, the mouth on one of the limbs near his ear, moving some steamers around. Fumikage nodded, looking up at the tallest member of 1-A. He helped with the steamers as well along with Dark Shadow for the much higher stuff.

Red eyes looked back at Hisoka. They looked at her more closely, drinking in the slight smile she had. Something that was both appearing and vanishing more lately. They looked and saw the tiredness in those eyes, the dark circles under them. She tried to hide them, but he knew the tells when she didn't sleep at night after so many years, but it had never been this bad before. It was like she purposely didn't sleep.

And then there were all the other things going on as well.

The therapy.

He asked once, curious about it since it had been a few weeks since they began, but she became tense. He had only wanted to see if she was okay - if she wanted to talk. He was always there for her but over time it felt like she was slowly drawing a line in the sand, keeping everyone at arms lengths and yet not. (She was opening up to their classmates. He was happy she was gaining more friends than just him.)

She said it was something to help and didn't elaborate. He didn't ask again.

The late-night training.

He had seen her leave more than once over the weeks, leaving the dorm room to who knows where. She came back tired, bruised though less week after week, but overall content. She pushed herself. A lot of his classmates pushed themselves to become better, yes, but a lot of them knew when to stop and take a break. Hisoka... He feared she was going to damage herself one day.

Her mother.

He had been in her room a few times and the pictures of Hisoka and her mother weren't there anymore. One was face down on the dresser but the others that had been up before weren't there. He doesn't see Hisoka call her mother anymore either. The time when she came back from her last visit. He... He still was unsure what happened, but it hadn't been good. Aizawa-sensei had been angry about something, but they didn't know what. He felt like the less he knew the better.

Her... father...

He didn't know what happened, but Hisoka had met the man and it seemed that... well... He wasn't too sure how to feel about that situation. He didn't know who, but he knew it had something to do with how Aunt Haru ended up where she was now - which he was still very confused about. But it seemed to have happened after they had their workplace studies and she had gone to Hosu. He was still so confused about those events. Hisoka had all but vanished, not answering his calls or texts. The only excuse he was given was that she was busy.

He could get behind that. He had worked under Hawks after all.

But his gut was telling him that a lot more went on during that week and some of his classmates, especially Iida, knew what happened. Hosu City was where Stain: The Hero Killer had been captured by Endeavor.

Denial they were given.

Hisoka didn't want to talk about it. She said she'd tell him when she felt comfortable. She never brought it up again. It bothered her more than she let on, he knew.

The flash of red in her eyes.

He had seen it once - twice, his mind hissed- when they were full-on glowing red. He didn't want to see it again.

Hisoka hadn't been Hisoka.

He kept on seeing flashes here and there, moments when she had been under extreme emotions. She turned reckless in those moments. Something akin to unhinged in a way. There had to be a connection to that and what happened during Hosu City. Fumikage was anything but stupid. He may enjoy the darkness but that didn't mean he was blind - like others in his class. They'd seen things too.

But Hisoka brushed it off as she always did. She was silent, closed off.

Fumikage didn't push.

He didn't want to lose her. He felt like if he - or something else - pushed enough it would snap something inside her.

He wanted her to truly rest - to sleep. Hisoka seemed to rarely do that anymore. Sure, she relaxed but it wasn't true relaxation. She always kept herself busy with something or other as if running away from something. As if trying to make sure she kept herself grounded and not leaving to go someplace far away.

It scared him more than he was willing to admit.

So Fumikage did what he could. He'd seen others do it too. (Deep deep down, he feared it wouldn't be enough to keep her from leaving one day. What would he do then?

He honestly didn't know.)

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he looked to Shoji to see what the other wanted him to do next. It was almost time for the party to begin, after all, and they were so close to being done. Fumikage pushed all the dark thoughts away to the recesses of his mind, mentally telling Dark Shadow to hush when the other began to whine a bit. None of that anymore. Hisoka was here. He could see her now. She wasn't running away.

Everything was fine.

Everything would be fine.

It was fine.

As the night crept and took over the light of day, causing it to vanish so it could come back later, the celebrations commenced and carried on late into the evening. All of Class 1-A mingled with one another, the sounds of laughter and atmospheric Halloween-styled soundtracks echoing throughout. The lights dimmed or were replaced with different colored lights. There were tons of brownies that looked like spiders and gravestones, cookies dressed as ghosts and mummies, cupcakes decked out with orange and black frosting and Halloween-themed sprinkles, so many different kinds of candies, other sweets among the non-sweet normal food that wasn't hesitated to be feasted upon. Everyone was dressed in varying levels of detailed costumes - some basic as basic could be while others went all out.

Todoroki went as a ghost, a white sheet over his head with holes cut out for his eyes and mouth. He stayed near Midoriya, who was obviously All Might, and Hisoka. Bakugo was some kind of werewolf with a coat that had a rather poofy fur on it while Kirishima had somehow ended up as Little Red Riding Hood. They were playing some kind of weird version of Twister or some other game. Fumikage, decked out as the grim reaper, scythe and all, wasn't sure if that had been coincidence or on purpose. The same could be said for Kaminari's and Jiro's similar devil ensemble, complete with horns, a tail, and a mini pitchfork, who played along with Bakugo and Kirishima, and a few others.

Some wore their Hero Costumes like Iida and Aoyama as they talked and enjoyed the party. Sato, dressed a chef, was talking away to whoever was near the snack table, and right now that was Sero, dressed as some kind of American Spider-themed Hero and Yaoyorozu was dressed as some kind of goddess with a white Greek-like dress and a crown of golden leaves laying upon her head, her hair in a fancy braid. Ashido, dressed as an alien queen with a sparkly crown sitting upon her fluffy pink hair, was dancing with some of the other girls. Hagakure, dressed as a mummy, was spinning around Ojiro who went as a cat, and Uraraka, in a poofy witch's dress, was jumping around excitedly.

Mineta, who was painted green like some kind of Frankenstein knock-off, was doing whatever he wanted as usual and got knocked out somehow (he decided to not comment on the pleased smiled Hisoka had) when he neared Tsuyu, dressed as a bloody undead nurse, at some point. He was silently placed in the corner, a blanket placed over him by someone who had taken pity on him.

Shoji sat on the couch, dressed in a dirty yellow raincoat that was based on a game he was recently playing, quiet and simply enjoying watching the festivities. He had a plate in his hands, eating slowly. Fumikage sat near him; Dark Shadow was out and wearing the skull mask Fumikage had brought with him. Shoji entertained the shadow creature, like an owner amusing their cat with a feather attached to a string. Fumikage finally landed on Hisoka, she was dressed similarly to Tsuyu but had a headband made to make it look like she was crudely stabbed with a plastic knife. She wandered from area to area, not staying in one place too long, talking with everyone at some point.

Aizawa-sensei had even been there at one point, sneaking in to grab some of the food and to see if everything was going along nicely. Nothing was burned or had exploded and no one had been injured and that was good enough for him. He had snuck out of there before anyone else could even see him. That man was like a ninja sometimes.

Different games had been played. He had been roped into playing Cards Against Humanity with about half of the class while the other half was playing some kind of guess the gross food game. There had even been a treasure hunt that Iida and Yaoyorozu had set up. There had been a small pirate-themed treasure chest hidden somewhere in the building filled with all kinds of goodies baked by Hisoka. They had paired off. Hisoka was with Todoroki, and Fumikge had been paired up with Tsuyu. It had been fun and challenging to figure out the few clues. In the end, though, Ojiro and Aoyama won.

Nearing the end of the night, a few had wandered off to bed and the rest had settled down for a horror movie marathon. Movie by movie, his classmates began to drop like flies, bellies full and tired from the fun. By the middle of the fourth movie, his eyelids began to fall. He tried his best to stay awake as long as possible but it was for naught. The darkness enveloped his mind, sending him into Morpheus's hold, his head lulling against Shoji's already sleeping figure.

It wasn't long until all, but one was awake, the fifth movie finally ending. As the credits rolled, the volume was lowered to all but a whisper before it was paused, and the home screen menu returned. Another few clicks and it was turned off, the remote silently placed back on the coffee table nearby. Hisoka glanced around at the tangle of limbs piled against one another, pillows and blankets stacked up against each other for support for those who stayed down there. She looked at the clock on the wall nearby and saw it was slowly nearing midnight, the dawn of a new day. Wiggling slowly about, she carefully lifted and lowered Tsuyu's head from her lap onto a random pillow she had originally been using and scooted from her place on the floor.

Upon standing, she tiptoed around the pile of limbs and moved blankets and pillows around for those uncovered and without. It was getting colder at night recently and the heat could only do so much and stay on so long. In the end, she finished laying a blanket over Shoji-san's and Fumi's bodies. As for an afterthought, she took out her phone and opened the camera setting, turning off the flash and shutter noise. With a mischievous smile, she snapped pictures of everyone from a variety of angels before she went on her way to slowly clean up.

Gathering up paper plates and plastic cups, she began dumping whatever liquid was inside down the drain and whatever food was unable to be saved she threw away unless wrapped up in plastic wrap for later consumption by their owners. She began binning the leftover food that hadn't been picked off or what little of it was left for afternoon snacks. Looking up at the decorations high on the walls and silently cursing her small stature, she decided to just leave it for the taller people in her class.

Yawning a bit, she sighed deeply and tiredly and prepared herself for another long sleepless night.

No sleep for the wicked or so they say.

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Location: Infirmary, U.A. High School, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 3, 20XX

Hisoka had left the shooting range for a late morning session, content with her current skills and wondering what she should move on to next. She'd have to ask Snipe-sensei. Perhaps she could work on archery or some kind of long-range gun. Her musings were cut short when her phone rang with a message from Recovery Girl requesting her presence. Apparently, there had been an incident for the second year's joint Class 2-A and 2-B training session, and one had gotten much more injuries than the other. Hisoka had quickly made her way there, not too far from there anyway.

Upon opening the doors to the infirmary, she heard faint groans on the left side of the room. Closing the door behind her, she saw an injured male teen on the bed. He had slightly tanned skin, short purple-blue hair that fluffed outwards to the side, and half-opened magenta eyes that were slightly dazed upon closer inspection. He wore the standard white and blue U.A. training uniform though torn in parts with one of the sleeves of his ripped off at the seams. A tray with the standard equipment was already set up near the bed. As she neared him, she announced her presence, "Excuse me, my name is Hisoka. Are you from the joint second-year training session?"

The boy groggily raised his hand, wincing at the injuries he obtained. "Yeah," was all he managed to get out as he tried to stupidly sit up.

Hisoka raised an eyebrow, taking in the wounds. There was a large gash on his bleeding arm, a makeshift bandage already unraveling to show the slow continuous bleeding. There were a few cuts on his arms and on his legs as well. An overall expected thing from a training session accident. Recovery Girl was taking care of those at the training grounds, but it was easier on her if Hisoka was able to take care of the more heavily wounded ones. Some might come by later after but for now, he was the only one.

"Hmm..." She walked over and lifted the wounded arm gently, getting a closer look at the injuries as she removed the bandage a bit more to get a better look.

She felt him wince when she touched it lightly, getting a gauge on how bad it truly was. "Are you a nurse in training or something?" he asked - something to try and distract himself from the pain.

Brown eyes glanced up at him, slightly amused. "Or something," she answered as she gently placed down his arm before getting closer to his face, gripping his chin to turn it slowly toward her. He had trouble moving around and his words were slurring too, coming out slowly.

The boy gave a huff-like laugh, unable to hold it in when she turned his head to her. "You do kisses too?"

Hisoka simply blinked, now confused. What was that supposed to mean? Shaking her head, she questioned him instead looking into his pupil dilation. "Does your head hurt? I noticed you slurring your words."

"A bit..." He began slowly, "I was sent flying after my defense fell..." He asked after a beat, moving his head a bit, "You... uh related to Recovery Girl?"

"No." She grabbed his chin firmly but gently to get him to stop moving and grabbed a flashlight from the nearby tray. "Don't move. Keep facing me. Look into this flashlight." She shined the flashlight into his eyes for a few moments, checking his pupils. Which seemed normal for a slight concussion. "Hmm... Did you have trouble walking and balancing at any point after you got injured? Any blurriness or double vision? Nausea? Do you remember what happened?"

"So, Quirk?" He grimaced slightly at the light, almost backing away. "And to be fair, I was semi-carried here... I think..." He scrunched up his nose a bit. "It's a bit blurry."

"You were," Hisoka concluded, agreeing. She then turned off the flashlight as she side-glanced at the two robots, two of many, sitting and chatting in the corner Recovery Girl liked to use often. They were always strange little things to her. They could understand humans enough to converse and weren't that scary enough, but it mattered not to her as long as they did their job. She asked a few more questions, ones to confirm her diagnosis, and had learned his name was Rigel Lynx-san and was seventeen years old. "Seems you got a concussion too. It's not too severe so it's easy enough to heal."

Turning around, she gave a glance over at the medical tools before her hand hovered over the rather sharp sterile medical-grade knife sealed in a sanitary packet. Opening it, she pulled it out and turned back around.

Lynx-san tensed up, shoulders stiffening. Which he honestly shouldn't do. It wasn't good to tense his body like that. "Uh... It could be the concussion, but why the knife?" He moved further back into the bed, albeit slowly due to his wounds, almost reaching for the covers while failing a brave face.

She pressed the knife to her palm and cut it without a second thought, not even flinching as her flesh was sliced. One builds up a high pain tolerance after doing this, among various other things, for years. As soon as the knife was lifted, droplets began to form in the palm of her hand that slowly turned into a puddle. "To help heal you."

He couldn't help but panic, which again was idiotic. He should really stop moving about with that concussion he had. "W-wait! How is cutting your hand going to heal me?!" Hisoka sighed when she saw him readily looking around for a cloth, likely to help stop the bleeding.

"It's how my Quirk activates." She shook her head. Really, he needed to stop moving. "So, stop moving. You'll only injure yourself more." She moved her nonbleeding hand swiftly when his head was turned away, pressing and applying sharp pressure to a pressure point behind his earlobe into the pit between the jaw and neck that could cause the body to freeze up temporarily. Hisoka was glad to have learned about pressure points. Moving around could only worsen his injuries after all.

It'd only last for a few moments but it was enough to do what was needed.

Lynx-san froze and stayed silent, his eyes glancing between her and her hand. Hisoka ignored the spark of fright and moved her bleeding hand above his mouth, frozen in mid-sentence. Squeezing her hand a bit, she tilted it sideways and let droplets drop into his mouth. She leaned him back some and rubbed the front of his neck with her other hand to help as she pressed the hand closer to his mouth before he was able to move again.

"Swallow it. It'll heal you." She had moved it closer, letting more of the copper-red liquid into his mouth. He did as he was told.

After she moved her hand away he muttered with a nervous laugh, now able to move more easily, "You know... horror movies say otherwise."

"Indeed, they do. Now finish swallowing." She held the hand up to him again as he drank from her. Hisoka wondered if he was thinking he was gonna turn into a vampire as so many others had asked before. She helped lean his head back again, still careful of the concussion, so he could swallow with better ease, squeezing her hand tighter to allow more blood to flow down his throat. Another moment later, she let go and stepped back, watching her Quirk work in the older boy and begin to heal him.

Magenta eyes widened in wonder at his wounds closing and stitching up all by themselves. "Woah! So, it's not poison!"

Hisoka tilted her head before commenting nonchalantly, "Maybe it is, and you just don't know it yet..." Of course, it wasn't! Her Quirk was for healing just like the rest of her family unless it was like over healing someone to the point it was dangerous for them... Wait... Was that possible? Shaking her head, she focused back on watching over her temporary ward.

Lynx-san gave a hearty laugh as he moved his arms around steadily, testing everything out once the wounds fully healed. "Alright. kid, you need a bit of work on your death humor."

Why did she need to work on it?

She was plenty funny, thank you very much.

Hisoka frowned before asking, "How do you feel?" With his wounds more or less healed, the second year's speech wasn't as slurred as before either.

"A whole lot better!" Lynx-san exclaimed, clenching his hands, grinning. "Although it was a bit frightening... Are you like this with other patients? Or only when Recovery girl isn't around?"

"Who knows." She shrugged, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. She began to unwrap the bandage around her wrist and move it to her hand, wrapping up her palm even if the wound was already healing up. "Don't move too much right now. While my Quirk does heal your wounds, it still takes some time to fully recover and for your concussion to go away." She pushed against his chest to get him to lay back down. "You should be feeling the full effects in a moment and a burst of energy as well. But don't be fooled, still, take it easy."

Lynx-san hummed in response, following her directions, and laid back against the rather soft pillows the infirmary was known to have. "Never really swallowed someone else's blood. Do you do it every time to heal?"

"I do." She tightened her own bandage before she slipped the bloodied knife back into a disposable packet and sealed it shut for later disposal and cleaning. "It's called Healing Blood for a reason."

"That's impressive." Lynx-san gave it another thought and grinned. "You're pretty tough, so thanks."

"Well, one has to be when in the Hero Course," she answered with a huff.

"First year?"

She nodded. "1-A."

He made a motion for her to lean forward and without another thought, Hisoka did only to blink in surprise when the older boy reached over and gave her a slight pat on the head, her hand flattening each time he did. "Then you're definitely tough, I've been hearing lots of stories concerning your class."

Ah... Yes...

Her class...

Of course, there'd be stories.

Brown eyes glanced upward at the hand with a strange look before she grabbed his hand and pushed it against his chest to lay back down. "Don't move just yet. Rest for a while. I'll talk to Recovery Girl for you so you can rest in here for the afternoon. And yes... I'm sure the rumor mill had many stories going around about my class and the many... situations we've gotten into."

Yes...

Situations.

You could call it that, if anything but.

Lynx-san chuckled into his hand. "Rumors or not, I can say I'm among those who are impressed by the triumphs of 1-A." His eyes sparkled with mirth. "Maybe I should train with you guys too!"

Hisoka stared blankly like he'd grown a second head, bluntly stating, "I don't think you'd survive." It wasn't that she didn't think he was strong - he was a second year and was bound to have experiences and training the first years didn't have. It could be rather helpful, in fact, but that didn't change how her class was filled with people who could and like would take it as a challenge and beat him into the next century to try and win against the elder boy.

"All the better!" His voice filled with determination. "As second years we can't fall that behind to the first years!"

"If you've heard the stories then you should know about the problem children of 1-A." Aizawa-sensei's nicknames were out of fondness and not because of the grey hair they gave him that he secretly died black to cover up that fact.

Yes, that's why.

"Sure have! But you got to improve somehow. And different opponents always help," he countered.

Hisoka shrugged. He was right about that. "Your funeral." At least she warned him of the craziness if he followed through with the training.

"Unless you or Recovery Girl saves me."

Deadly mirth danced in her eyes as she tilted her head. "Who said I'd be the one saving you?"

This time she was given a confused look. "What kind of hero wouldn't save someone?"

Hisoka shrugged again. "Who knows." She could probably name a few.

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Location: Gym Gamma, Northeast Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 7, 20XX

Izuku Midoriya liked to watch people - mainly Pro Heroes and analyze their Quirks. Now, it was mainly his friends and other classmates when he wasn't breaking an arm or two... Which he did far more often than he'd be willing to admit - at the beginning that is - but now he'd been having better control over his Quirk. And he healed a lot faster now too thanks to one classmate he was watching right now.

Hisoka.

A quiet girl - too quiet sometimes - who could heal others with her blood and make them bleed just as easily. (He mentally questioned her upbringing by the one she called mother with things she knew. It seemed to double her deadly knowledge only quicker when she began to intern under Recovery Girl and help out in the infirmary.) A girl who knew how to cook food that only rivaled his mom's cooking (she was always first. Always.) and made the kitchen her domain.

Midoriya prayed to those who tempted god and got on her bad side when she was in that land.

A girl who was childhood friends with another strange but unique classmate of his - Fumikage Tokoyami or Fumi as Hisoka liked to call him. She was polite to a fault unless you pressed her steel-made buttons, with a monotone that put Todoroki-kun to shame, and had the poker face of a professional dealer. Maybe she could win at cards if she ever tried. But that wasn't all that she was.

She was kind and helpful, always going out of her way to help her classmates for whatever reason, from joining study groups - she ranked in the top three when it came to Science and English - to advising them on hand-to-hand combat. She had told them plenty of times that there would be times where they couldn't or were unable to use their Quirks and so it was a good idea to know alternatives even if it was just the basics of punching and kicking. She trained with Ojiro a lot with his combat, and both were improving in leaps and bounds. He wasn't the only one. She even helped Uraraka with her combat skills and holds whenever she asked and anyone else who asked.

A few other examples he had seen were that Kirishima's punches were quicker now, and his kicks held more power. Iida had been offered advice on using different angles of kicks when both using and not using his Quirk to produce different results. That spin kick he had been developing generated much more force to be reckoned with now. Todoroki was experimenting with generating ice and even fire with some basic punches and kicks. She had pointed out a cartoon that had people who could control the elements of fire, water, air, and earth to help with inspiration for future Super Moves. Yaomomo had been given tips on different weapons, mainly bladed ones, and ways to disarm her opponent without killing them or seriously maiming them.

He would never admit to seeing one time, late at night, her and Kacchan going over different punches and styled kicks that could work well with his explosions. Kacchan may explode him if he ever pointed it out. Hehehe...

Of course, she wasn't without her faults. Hisoka was human after all. That was for sure with how stubborn she could be. (He would not think about her connection or those red glowing eyes. Danger.) She was also sadistic... a little bit at least. She liked freaking people, him included, out with her Quirk sometimes. He still remembered that first time she had healed him. Her Quirk made it feel like energy was rushing through him and he had felt better than he had in ages. His finger had healed up by the time he had gotten home. He had so many questions after that and was still curious about many things.

She was blunt with her words at times too but honest even with all the things she hadn't said or even mentioned to the class. He wouldn't say a word after she had begged him, Iida, and Todoroki that day in the hospital to not say a word about her connection with Stain. He would take that secret to his grave until she said, if she ever did, it was okay to say something. He knew the other two would as well. (Hisoka was not him. Never him. She was her own person.)

Green eyes glanced over at the said girl he was currently thinking about as she moved with the grace of a panther and the swiftness of a cheetah (it wouldn't be the first time he had compared her to cats) as she moved about the field and attacked the robots they were all practicing against. He had heard she was learning parkour after hearing about it from that one Pro Hero they had played hide-and-seek tag with sometime back. His Quirk had been so cool... Twins in one person!

How awesome was that?!

His gaze held amazement at how quickly Hisoka had been able to pick it up (he had learned a few things too since it didn't hurt to learn how to... land better...) and how she was able to add it to her skillset with such efficiency made him almost envious. But he wasn't. Each person had their strengths and weaknesses after all. He was strong in different ways than Hisoka. He wasn't her just as she wasn't him.

Didn't stop him from going to her for advice though or them swapping moves.

But Izuku couldn't help but notice she was having trouble. Hisoka had slipped with some landings and had lost her grip more than once. But she always got back up. But it kept on happening. Perhaps some gloves could work and non-slip boots? She was wearing the ones she wore with her Hero Costume right now. Some new ones could probably help her... (The two would both learn a few days later that it was exactly what she had needed.) It's not like he wasn't coming up with upgrades for his own Hero Costume left and right...

Green eyes glanced to the side at that thought.

Ah...

Nevermind that.

Izuku stood up straight and went off to talk with Hisoka, a girl who helped many and while accepting help for certain things, she never went out of her way to ask for it. She'd told him before she preferred to stay in the background and that's where she thought she was.

But she couldn't be more wrong.

---

Location: Denki Kaminari's Room, Third Floor of Heights Alliance, South Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 11, 20XX

K.O.

The bright bold torn-like letters flashed on screen again for the fifth time in a row. Hisoka side-glanced at the depressed group of boys - well besides Bakugo who lounged on the bed like he owned the place - as Ashido-san cheered beside her. Hisoka wasn't sure how she got roped into this but had somehow gotten kidnapped and wrapped into Kaminari-san's room for video games with the Bakusquad.

Yes, that's what they were called.

Just like with Dekusquad.

The other small groups didn't have names though. None that she knew, anyway. Her class was weird...

Where was she?

Oh yeah!

She was playing video games with Bakugo-san, Ashido-san, Kirishima-san, and Sero-san in Kaminari-san's room with the said boy currently weeping from his loss against her. To be honest, she still wasn't sure why she was here. She could be doing other things. Like reading. Or cleaning her blades... Or hang out with Fumi or Tusyu. Or cooking. Or... watching YouTube while questioning the meaning of life, the existential dread of the universe, and/or the existence of her life that she now did daily instead of sleeping.

Or reading... She did do a lot of reading.

She really needed to get new hobbies.

She didn't have many right now, to be honest.

Why was she playing video games with these people again?

This was apparently some kind of hangout they did weekly. She knew from the screams - Kaminari-san lost a lot - that they did this weekly. They asked if she could make the snacks from time to time. It was fighting games this week, apparently.

Hisoka got ready to go against Sero-san again. The boys were switching between themselves to go against her. They haven't won yet.

Why?

Hisoka didn't even play games all that much but she was strangely good when it came to fighting games. Fumi had yet to beat her when they played occasionally. This setting was still strange for Hisoka. Shouldn't they be practicing for the festival?

When she had asked that as she was dragged from her room, Bakugo-san had just scoffed (Hisoka wondered if he was just a big teddy bear inside or if he was subjected to those anger management classes Aizawa-sensei had threatened him with) while Ashido-san simply said they were just going to have fun. She could do fun. Fumi said she should do more fun. So did Tsuyu.

Was she not fun?

She was fun...

She decided to just go with it. Hisoka had stopped questioning the madded her class seemed to produce hourly.

Still.

Why her?

No one gave her an answer when she asked that. This wasn't even the first time they had done this to her or any other victim they deemed to capture for that evening. Spirited away. Kidnapped. Snatched. Hijacked. Abducted. Whatever word you wanted to use, they were all the same. Shanghaied. Oh.

She liked that one.

Pressing some random combo of buttons, Hisoka ended another round and won once more. Sero-san grumbled but said good game, smiling that smile he always liked to have. He had a nice smile. Hisoka liked it when her classmates smiled.

"Oi! Move. I'll show you how it's done like a pro, Soy Sauce Face!"

They all looked at Bakugo-san who had moved from the bed and onto the floor, grabbing the controller happily extended in his direction. The other boys lamented over the supposed end of her winning streak while Ashido-san cheered for her. Something about boys against girls or whatever the bubbly girl said. Hisoka was glad she was happy.

"C'mon, One Eye!" Bakugo-san snarked at her, glaring.

"I have two eyes," she simply replied. Ashido-san giggled beside her as they started a new round, choosing different characters. Hisoka liked the ninja girl with buns in her hair. Bakugo-san went straight for one that looked like they went up against a blender. Typical of him it seemed or so Ashido-san said to her.

"Then stop being an emo and show them both!" Bakugo-san hissed, glaring at her.

Hisoka quipped back, "Perhaps if you learn some manners then I might, pomeranian."

"What the hell did you just call me, you oni!?"

They went at it.

Bakugo-san yelled.

Hisoka taunted him.

They tied.

Every round.

How?

Like... how?! Even that confused Hisoka.

But she found it funny how frustrated Bakugo-san kept getting each round, getting even more 'explodey' as her class had come to say about his temper.

Bakugo-san still kept saying he won each round even though the others said it was a tie.

Well, whatever helped him sleep at night.

---

Location: Small Conference Room, U.A. High School, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date of Report: November 13, 20XX
Class/Department: Hero Course, Class 1-A
Student Name: Hisoka Matsushita
Date of Birth: November 19th, 19XX
Chronological Age: 15 Years Old

Aizawa: You look tired.

Matsushita: I'm always tired. You do too.

Initial Impressions: 'Matsushita hasn't been sleeping again from the bags under her eyes. They seem worse than usual. Maybe some medical aid is required. However, it is unknown how her Quirk would react to it.'

Aizawa: Have you been sleeping?

Matsushita: [shrugs] I guess.

Aizawa: Are you having those dreams again?

Matsushita: [blank stare] I don't know. If I do... I don't remember.

Side Note: 'Worrisome.'

Aizawa: Besides that, how have your studies been going?

Matsushita: Fine. You should know by my grades that I'm pretty much fine.

Aizawa: True.

Matsushita: Iida-san is helping me with my math and we're doing study groups weekly now. I don't join every time but it's nice.

Aizawa: Just nice?

Matsushita: It's fun to hang out with everyone... Even if it doing homework.

Aizawa: Do you like homework?

Matsushita: [confused stare] Who likes homework?

Aizawa: [grin] My students.

Matsushita: My sensei does like to torture his students.

Aizawa: You realize, as your teacher, I can just give you more.

Matsushita: You're not the only teacher.

Aizawa: I'll have the others give you guys more and it'd be your fault.

Matsushita: [scowls, mutters under breath] Sadist.

Side Note: 'Brat.'

Aizawa: I heard you helped out with the aftermath of the second-year Hero Course joint training session.

Matsushita: [nods] I just took care of the more injured ones.

Aizawa: Recovery Girl has been calling you more often to do that. How does that feel?

Matsushita: I like that she's putting more trust in me to handle these things and I can use my Quirk to help more people.

Aizawa: You are not overusing your Quirk, are you?

Matsushita: [shakes head] Recovery Girl said if I did, I would be banned from helping in the infirmary...

Aizawa: I see...

Side Note: 'Helping out in the infirmary seems to help her progress with her medical studies as well as her mental state. Same with training.'

Matsushita: ...

Aizawa: ...

Matsushita: [looks out the window with a far gaze]

Aizawa: Something on your mind?

Matsushita: Do you... think... I can visit my mother again?

Side Note: 'Not if I have anything to say about it. But it's not up to me.'

Aizawa: I can ask and see if I can get visitation rights again. However, it might be after the festival is over.

Matsushita: [nods] Okay.

Aizawa: ...

Matsushita: ...

Aizawa: ...

Matsushita: ...

Aizawa: ...

Matsushita: When I was younger, she'd tell me a story before I went to sleep. It was the same one or at least featured the same people.

Aizawa: What was it about?

Matsushita: About a man and woman. The woman who chose to heal instead of fight. The man who lost his way. They loved each other very much or perhaps it was something else.

Aizawa: What do you think it was if not love?

Matsushita: Don't know. Insanity maybe. Maybe it could have just been lust. Or codependency. Maybe it was actually true love. He protected her. She healed him. They depended on each other a lot and yet after all they went through, he still left. The woman went somewhere, though, to a place where he could find her and then gave birth. But he still never came.

Aizawa: Did the woman wish he came?

Matsushita: Every day.

Aizawa: What of the child? Did they wish for the man to come?

Matsushita: Not sure. Perhaps at first but now... Who knows anymore.

Aizawa: Does the child know who the man is and where he is?

Matsushita: They... [blank look]

Aizawa: ...

Matsushita: ...

Aizawa: Matsushita?

Matsushita: Hmmm?

Aizawa: Are you okay?

Matsushita: I... I'm... tired. [eyes slowly closing]

Aizawa: [sighs] Rest then. There are no classes or training today. I'll wake you up in an hour.

Matsushita: [nods and closes eyes]

End Notes: 'She fell asleep too quickly. There seemed to be a hint of red in her eyes for just a second. Almost like an illusion but I know what I saw. Not the first time. Seems to be connected to her parents and this story. She knows who her father is or at least has an idea of who he is. Most likely found out on her own and likely connected to why her mother is in the hospital now. Something happened in Hosu. Is it connected to the incident that happened there? Seems there is more to this story than told though but we are beginning to connect the pieces more now. Unsure if the visit will happen though.'

Aizawa: [gets up and pulls a blanket over the now sleeping problem child]

---

Location: Shopping Plaza, Near U.A., Eastern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 15, 20XX

Hisoka was glad she was able to go outside of U.A. Sure, it was just to the nearby shopping plaza and sure she would be going with the rest of the staging group – though Sero-san had to opt out at the last minute due to homework he had pushed off longer than he wanted too and Midoriya-san was practicing with the dance team. And it was just a trip to get a majority of the supplies they needed. Aizawa-sensei threatened a month's detention on them if they didn't stick together – it was the only way they were able to get permission to go.

But she was still able to go out.

U.A., though a wonderful place to be in, could feel suffocating at times. Don't get her wrong, she loved it there. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. But at times, it felt like…

Well, she was unsure how to describe it.

But she stuck it out. For her friends. For her… family.

So, with a list filled of things they needed to get, Hisoka traveled around from shop to shop with Kirishima-san and Shoto, their arms filled with all kinds of items. Hisoka had the least; both boys were determined to carry the bulk of it. She wasn't sure if it was some kind of chivalry or if they had this strange contest to see who could carry the most, but she honestly didn't care.

Let them suffer. Mostly.

Hisoka put her foot down when Kirishima-san's line of sight became obscured about an hour or so into their shopping trip. They had a little less than two hours left before they had to get back to U.A. They had a three hour time limit to get everything, after all, which shouldn't be too much of a hassle as they already got a majority of the stuff on the list. Now they needed to find a specific color of streamers… which was harder than it should be.

No matter.

They could do it.

They got time.

After the third party store in order to find those streamers – in between getting the rest of the supplies – Hisoka was safe to say she was able to find the color they were supposed to get. Hisoka was going to have a few choice words with her classmates when she got back… Why they were so adamant on getting a specific color was beyond her understanding…

Now they were down to an hour left and all three of them were more than a little tired and hungry. Kirishima-san had pointed out a small café – The Village Orchid – as they were making their way back to U.A. "I don't know about you two, but I think we deserve a little treat here." He grinned as Shoto shrugged, not caring either way.

"I don't mind," Hisoka answered as the three walked in.

As the two boys went to find their seats, Hisoka set down the items in her arms – "I'll have whatever sweet they got!" "Some green tea would be nice…" - before wandering over to the counter to order for herself and her classmates with her own money. It wasn't much in the end, and she wasn't going to use the money that the class had all pulled together in order to get the needed supplies. She grabbed drinks for all of them – which was served to them when they were ready - and some Baumkuchen along with mitarashi dango covered by thick, sweet soy sauce, for all of them to share.

"Wooh! Thanks so much, Hisoka-chan! I'll definitely make sure to pay you back sometime!" Kirishima-san exclaimed as he saw the treats.

Shoto nodded in agreement. "It's very kind of you to buy them for us."

Hisoka shook her head as she sat the plates on their shared table before taking a seat herself. "No need. I don't mind."

They talked about random stuff, conversing on the progress of their training, complaining about homework, commenting on Aizawa-sensei's sadistic tendencies and how they seemed to be growing (each of them felt a shiver and agreed to never talk about it in front of the said man; they just knew he'd use it to against them), and anything else that came to mind.

"I mean it! Aizawa-sensei has got to be after us for something!" Kirishima-san said, munching on some Baumkuchen.

"While I can agree that he's sadistic, I don't think he'd deliberately make things difficult for us," Shoto commented after taking a sip of his tea.

"He does call us trouble children…" Hisoka added with a sigh.

"No, he calls you guys that," Kirishima-san countered. "I've never seen him call me or a majority of our class that. Just Bakugo, Todoroki, Midoriya, and you, Hisoka-chan." Brown eyes narrowed slightly at him as Shoto shook his head. The red head gave them a confused look. "What?"

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you," Shoto told him.

"But I'm right! With how much… trouble our class gets caught up in, it's not like we aren't his problem children!"

Shoto said after a moment, "Well, he's got us there."

"Dadzawa…" Hisoka muttered, causing the other two to laugh. "He acts like that because he cares."

Kirishima-san commented with a crackle, "Sensei is such dad material!"

The heterochromatic-eyed teen nodded in agreement. "I can see that."

"Ney! Ney! Do you think he dyes his hair because of all the problems we cause him?"

"Most likely…"

The two of them continued to come up with different conspiracies about their homeroom teacher and the rest of their class as Hisoka watched them fondly. She was content simply watching them, piping in occasionally on the wilder ones like how Nezu secretly ran the country with ease, how Recovery Girl had blackmail material on everyone and that's why they listened to her every order (Hisoka could honestly see that one…), or that Midoriya-san could be All Might's love child, something that Shoto was quite adamant on.

That last one honestly didn't sound too far off...

As Hisoka checked the time - they had about thirty minutes left - all three of them instantly snapped their heads up when they all heard screams from across the street. Three pairs of eyes watched as masked men, four of them, were running and stealing people's belongings assisted by their Quirks. They were getting away and it seemed there were no currently available Pro Heroes nearby. Kirishima and Hisoka exchanged glances as they both stood up and nodded. "Shoto, stay here with our things. We'll take care of them."

The said male nodded though was resultant as he watched his classmates run out of the restaurant, the clatter of silverware clinging as Hisoka ran behind Kirishima, her hands full of steak knives from the restaurant's nearby silverware bucket, and after the robbers. They were quick into action as well, protecting the civilians from a few of the robbers. He had seen from when they were doing a few training exercises together when the two were paired up and they seemed to work well enough together.

Three had stayed behind while one ran away. Kirishima had blocked an attack from one of the robbers who had this Quirk that could bend metal into some kind of twisted knives or some kind of blades, arms pushed together as his arms and upper body hardened. The other robber Hisoka had used as a springboard, jumping off his hardened back, twisting her body around to dodge a burst of air from another one of the robbers further back as frightened but awed citizens ran away and/or spectated the duo from afar.

Landing in front of Kirishima she moved to the right, throwing some knives herself while ducking sideways to dodge another burst of wind before moving back as Kirishima blocked another wave of knives sent at them. He ran forward, hardening even more as he let out a roar that startled the ones around him. The furthest robbers stepped back as Kirishima easily tackled one of them before they could blink. Hisoka appeared by his side as the downed robber let out a strangled gasp from the impact of hitting the concrete street floor. In one swift move, he was knocked down with a jab to the neck from Hisoka before he could struggle anymore.

The move had scared the furthest robber enough to catch up with their runaway friend, leaving one behind to stall the two students. Shoto didn't know what she had done but he was surprised by the move as Hisoka had jumped onto the knocked-down robber and did a move that had knocked him out easily. Shoto reminded himself to remind his future self to learn that move from her.

A moment later from his view of the window, Hisoka had said something to the redhead and split off from Kirishima as he dealt with the robbers that stayed back.

Taking a sip of his drink, a determined glint had appeared in his duo-toned eyes. He would get his license, he promised himself. If only to be able to help in situations like this. He could have been a lot of help here he just knew it.

He would get it, no matter what!

Kirishima easily took down the other robber, a short but lanky guy that had that wind Quirk, but before he could go after Hisoka, a Pro Hero had arrived. Shoto had gathered their things and went to talk with the Pro Hero to tell them about their situation with Kirishima. Hisoka was nowhere to be seen but a citizen had pointed out that she had gone down an alleyway not far off. The Pro Hero had told Kirishima he would deal with the situation here and to go after his classmate but that he would follow shortly. Shoto stayed put after both boys looked at each other and nodded.

Hisoka chased after the one robber, but he had caught up with his friend and had gone down one of the alleyways. The knife-creating Quirk user had thrown some makeshift knives at some citizens; Hisoka scaled and jumped off a building's wall to tackle what looked like twins out of the way of the knives. Hisoka twisted her body to take the brunt of the fall, grimacing after her back skidded against the sidewalk.

She let out a quick, "You okay..." and when she saw a pair of nods, she told them to get away from the scene and released them from her grip. They scrambled to get away, looking at her in awe as she got up and raced down the alleyway.

Before she knew it, she was after the two robbers again. Seeing a fire escape right near her but no bottom ladder to get there, she scaled up the opposing wall and jumped to the bottom floor, grabbing the railing and scaling upward to the top of the building. Looked like all that work in learning parkour was slowly but finally paying off. Looking around, she took a deep breath and began to jump from roof to roof, taking a moment here and there to try and hear movement around her. The alleyways around here were a bit like a maze from what she had heard.

It wasn't too long before she jumped down (with a shotty plan to take down the knife-wielding one even if she didn't know what the other's Quirk was or which one was which... In hindsight, she should have prepared better... She had no more knives she had taken from the restaurant either, losing the last few when she saved those twins...), finally hearing one of the robbers, and landed on top of one of them, knocking them to the ground. Twisting her body around, she had grabbed one of their forearms and positioned their arm and elbow between her legs and one of them over the robber's neck before she locked in place and pulled back. Squeezing her legs, Hisoka pulled the arm towards her as she heard a scream of pain come from the robber as she tightened her hold, pushing her hips and chest upward to provide more momentum.

Being so focused on that one she didn't realize it could have been a trap before the other one had a knife at her throat.

And she was usually aware of shit.

Well, the lack of sleep lately could explain that.

Or the nightmares.

Or the training. Aizawa-sensei was really going gung ho with the training sessions lately.

Or the homework...

Maybe it was all the above?

Yeah.

She'd just say that.

She wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for all of that. Well in a moot point, it was Hisoka: 0. Robbers: 1.

Yayyy...

Hisoka had a knife at her throat with the other robber crouching next to her head, with a cocky smile, as they - he - said, "Aye, if I were you, I'd let go of my friend Hana there before I cut that petty neck of yours." He let out a chuckle like there was some kind of inside joke...

"Tsu-Tsurugi..." the other croaked out, female sounding, as Hisoka slowly released her grip from the woman's arm and relaxed her body. She hissed when the man gripped her hair, fisting and pulling at her scalp as her grip fell from the woman. Her hands made their way to her head instinctively to try and stop, or to at least lessen, the pain before she was thrown to the ground and kicked in the gut.

She gasped, eyes widening and spit coming from her mouth when she felt the kick, one arm wrapping around her stomach as she was blindsided and curled into herself. She felt the kicks happen and went to cover her head as she had been taught to do, the robbers having the time of their lives as they hurt her. Fuck... How stupid could she have been...

The pain was intense, a spasm that took over and left her unable to think the more it increased. They were saying something but there was a ringing in her ear. She could feel her lip split, a trickle of blood dripping down the side of her cheek, as one kick had been aimed for her chin. Her eyes were tight as flashes of blue and whatever other color flashed behind them as her body laid there limply. It hurt... Fuck, she had screwed up big time. How could she have been so, so, so stupid...

Fuck...

She felt a hand, the woman most likely, lay on top of her head, the kicks stopping - she guessed that the woman wasn't happy from being caught off guard earlier - before she was lifted up onto her knees by the hand in hair. It tightened as Hisoka cracked open an eye. They were talking again. Something about cutting her. Selling her? Kidnapping her?

They recognized her school uniform and well... Who wouldn't with how popular U.A. was.

Who'd give them the ransom?

The thought made her laugh. Her mother was in the hospital and her... sperm donor was in prison. Aunty and Uncle might but even they had limited money. Maybe U.A. or some Hero would rescue her?

Fuck...

It didn't matter. There wasn't much time. The man was in front of her. There was a knife at her throat again. It pricked against her skin, and she could feel its pointed end nick her and the droplets of blood begin to slowly drip down. She had no strength in her right now. She was strong but... There wasn't anything she could do. She wanted it... wanted it... wanted... it...

What did she want?

Fuck...

Something was burning in her - coursing through her blood and she wanted to let it out. It was dangerous. It felt familiar. It was like that night when Fumi had been taken from her. A calling. An allure like the sirens of the seas that cast their spells to wayward seamen to crash their ships onto their rocks. For a desolate end. The end.

She could end them...

It would be so easy...

The color of the world began to seep away, leaving behind only red. She had been there before - more than once. Her mind cleared. It felt at peace and yet there was a niggling of something inside her brain. She shouldn't be there, she supposed. In this state.

It was crazy.

It was like him she knew.

Itmadehercrazyandlustforsomethingsheshouldn'tdo...

And why couldn't she? It'd made things so much easier. Wouldn't it?

No...

No.

No!

Don't let it take control.

She wouldn't allow it. Not now. She wouldn't become like Stain. She... His blood ran through her. She... Her mother's (whatelsedidsheknow...) journals said it'd happen one way or another. She... It was his family. Her paternal family. It always happened to them - they couldn't escape from the Red's grasp.

Hisoka let out a growl.

Not now.

Not here.

The world began to grow red. No other color entered her vision. She was in control.

She never was. It was her but wasn't her. Another her but she never know who.

She would one day.

The heat inside her grew and grew, forcing her to open her eyes wide and move into action, the strength running through her growing - sharp and sudden. Her arms moved for the blade at her neck, grasping the man's wrist in a vice-like bone-crushing grip and grabbing it with her other, cutting her palm but she was able to yank it from his grip and into her own. It spun in the air before she grabbed the hilt mid-air and went to swipe at the other holding her hair, releasing her grip on the man.

But she wasn't going for the woman.

She was going for the hair.

Hisoka leaned forward as the grip stiffened and tightened to stop her from leaving but that was what she wanted. With one swift move, she cut her hair and swung around lowering herself to the ground in a crouching position before she stretched out her left leg, hands on the inside of her legs, and swung around at both robbers' legs, knocking them both to the ground. Not giving them a chance to get up, she stood and threw the knife she grabbed earlier into the man's leg. Ducking forward, she missed the woman's punch and laid forward, tripping the other to fall to her left.

Rolling on the ground, she dodged a sequence of knives that embedded themselves where she was moments before finally landing on her back. She pulled her legs to her chest; her hands were flat on the ground next to her ears. Rolling back to put weight on her shoulders, ignoring the ache she had, she kicked directly into the air and used the momentum to land in a squat. Standing upward, she stared down at the glaring man and groaning woman and took in her situation. The man was hurt, gripping his leg, and panting - likely only able to make so many knives - and the woman's Quirk was unknown. But she was down for the count it seemed, groaning softly when the other called for her.

Both needed to be taken out before anything else.

The dark of the alleyway made the red that bled into her eyes shine all the brighter. Hisoka grabbed one of the knives, her head tilting akin to an animal curious about its prey. They were talking again but it went through one ear and out the other for Hisoka, the ringing encroaching on all other sounds. It mattered not. Hisoka stepped forward, delivering another kick to the woman's side that sent her body backward, her back hitting against the brick wall. She let out a wheezed breath, coughing up a dribble of blood.

Moving to the man, Hisoka wrapped a hand around his neck like a viper before he could strike and tightened, lifting him in the air with newfound strength. Her insides felt so hot. The man had to pay. He hurt so many - hurt her - so many - her - so many - her... Her grip constricted, nails slowly digging deeper into his skin as his breath hitched. The knife in her other hand glinted in the minimal sunlight the alleyway allowed, side-eyeing it. She stared at it blankly before she brought it up to his face.

Do it... a voice whispered in the recesses of her mind.

Hisoka raised it-

"Hisoka-chan!"

The knife stopped inches from the man's eye as she sucked in a breath; her grip on it slipped and it fell to the ground with a heavy clang. The man slipped from her grasp when she heard Kirishima-san's voice like a bright light within her mind call out to her again. He hacked and coughed as he fell to his side, regaining his breath.

She heard her name again, "Hisoka-chan!"

Glancing around, she took a step back from the man and slowed her breathing. Her body began to regain a sense and her mind cleared, filling with static and noise and loud banging. Shaking her head, she cracked out a "Here!" for her classmate to follow. He appeared moments later, a Pro Hero behind him. Kirishima-san's red eyes widened as he neared her and placed a calming hand on her shoulder while the Pro Hero moved to the robbers, taking in the situation. Hisoka recounted softly, numbly, and relayed what had happened before providing her provisional license when asked.

She let Kirishima-san lead her away from the scene and back out to the street, a sturdy hand in hers.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked after they moved away from the nosy civilians, passing the now arrived police.

"Yeah..." Hisoka muttered. "They... got in a few kicks..." Her lip stung from where it was busted. There was going to be bruising all over her body for sure after this. It'd been a while since she'd been this hurt. "You?"

So alive...

"One got in a few good hits but I'm okay. More so than you, apparently." He glanced over his shoulder, looking her over. "And don't even think of using your Quirk. I'm fine. I'm not cut or anywhere unlike you." Red eyes glanced up at her hair.

"Ah..." Fingers fumbled with the cut stands. Side glancing at her reflection in the buildings showed it lopsided and disarrayed, some chucks shorter than others. The back of her hair was much shorter than she remembered. Well... She had been thinking of cutting it recently so why not now... "Everyone's gonna freak..."

Kirishima-san snorted. "Aizawa-sensei is gonna freak out more. You know how much of a dad he can be."

Hisoka felt something bubble inside her chest. Aizawa-sensei was going to be so pissed. He had said to not get into trouble... He might be proud of them, but she just knew there was going to be a very long lecture in their future.

It wasn't much longer before they caught up with a very worried Shoto who very much freaked out at their - her - appearance.

---

Location: Hisoka's Room, Fifth Floor of Heights Alliance, South Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 15, 20XX

Hisoka's ears still stung from Aizawa-sensei's lecture, his annoyed voice betraying the hardened worry glinting in his eyes as he had taken in the trio's appearance upon their return. Kirishima-san and Hisoka had been herded - well more like dragged via Aizawa-sensei's capture weapon as Shoto was tasked to return with the supplies alone - to Recovery Girl where he lectured them. He was proud of their quick thinking but don'tbesorecklessyou'regvingmegreyhairs... He wasn't mad at them for being Heroes - that's what they were training for after all - but he had specifically said to not get into trouble.

Hisoka had glanced away when his eyes landed on her, the wounds already healing quicker thanks to the resident nurse of the school who had a few words for how she had gotten so many bruises. She had been caught off guard. Unaware. A trap. She kept a tight lid on the Red. No need to worry them anymore. She needed to learn more. It kept on happening.

What if she had turned on a friend in that state...

Nonetheless, the two were proud of them in the end but Hisoka was told she would be training in more situational training sessions for two weeks. She considered it to be a pretty light punishment - if it really was that - in light of things. When asked about her hair, she told them how she got it but had been thinking of a haircut anyway. She never saw the look the two staff members exchanged as their students had left for the dorms after they were dismissed.

Even with their reactions, it wasn't as big as it had been for their classmates, already updated on what happened to the best of Shoto's abilities on knowing what happened, who dived on them when the two walked in through the front door into the common room. Tsuyu and Fumi had jumped on her first, among the others that had crowded around the two of them. Fumi had stared down at her with narrowed red eyes while Tsuyu had taken her face in her cool smooth hands, wide fingers splayed along her cheeks as she saw the half-healed busted lip and the slowly forming bruises through the tears of her school uniform - this one beyond repair. Even with Recovery Girl's help and her own recovery, some bruises would still appear and take some time to disappear completely.

Kirishima-san relayed his bout of manliness before Hisoka said her piece, over-exaggerating about their teamwork when they fought before they had split off. Apparently, he had taken down the other robber just as the Pro Hero had arrived, and the police arrived shortly after to see that the Pro Hero had taken down the previously unconscious robber who decided they wouldn't be easily beaten. That was when Kirishima-san went after Hisoka, leaving his opponents to the Pro Hero so he could help her out, but she hadn't. When he had arrived, the robbers had been down for the count and Hisoka had been pretty beaten up.

When all eyes were on her, she bit back a gulp and told them what she had told Kirishima-san and Shoto before. She told them of her 'punishment' after she had been caught in the trap. There were a few choice words on being reckless from Iida-san and saying that they were okay in the end and how cool it was they had been able to take down some bad guys. Hisoka noted a determined glint appearing in Shoto's eyes and nodding to himself about something before she was manhandled by the girls of her class into her room. Tsuyu had grabbed onto her hand after all of them had exchanged looks with one another, pulling her along, and Uraraka-san had declared, "Girl's night in Hisoka-chan's room!" She was lightly pushing against Hisoka's back to get moving.

"Eh?" Hisoka snapped up.

Momo let out an amused huff as she had gone to the kitchen with Jiro-san. "We'll grab the food and drinks. Boys, you'll need to feed yourselves tonight," Jiro-san commented, smirking at the panicked look at the ones who couldn't cook for shit.

Hagakure-san cheered, running off toward the elevator first. "I'm getting the games!"

"And I'll get my supplies!" Ashido-san grinned, skipping after her. "We'll get you looking like a model in no time, Hisoka-chan!"

"What..."

Brown eyes glanced back at the group of boys with Fumi smack dab in the middle. He shrugged when she caught his eyes and waved good-naturedly before he turned his head to say something to Shoji-san. Hisoka's shoulders sagged, giving in for her room to be used, as she was pulled into the elevator. It took a few minutes for everything to be gathered and all the girls to change into their pajamas before Hisoka found herself sitting on a few towels spread out on the floor before her bed. A towel was spun around her neck, clasped together by a clip in the front.

Near the balcony doors was a table laid out with food, snacks, and drinks for them to eat. Her usual quiet room was filled with chatter as the girls talked happily with one another. Tsuyu was chatting with Momo and Uraraka-san to her right, cooing and squealing at pictures of Tsuyu's siblings. Her girlfriend loved to talk about her siblings, showing them off.

Hagakure-san was humming to herself, to Hisoka's left, as she set up the first game; they all agreed to play monopoly. It was Pro Hero themed, the player pieces bearing items or symbols representing the Top Ten from last year. Hisoka decided to be the little silver metal feather that represented the Wing Hero: Hawks. Fumi talked about him off and on, either venting, complaining, or bouncing ideas off of her in regard to his internship. It looked like he was coming up with a new Super Move.

The last two girls, Jiro-san, and Ashido-san, sat behind her, discussing what they should do with her hair. The layers were uneven and too short in the back to salvage much. When asked about it, Hisoka said to have at it but leave her bangs long. Jiro-san was in charge of cutting - who knew she was knowledgeable with cutting hair due to having to be careful of her ear jacks - while Ashido-san took over styling afterward.

Hisoka could hear the cutting of her hair, occasionally feeling the brush of the scissors against the back of her neck, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. They moved around her, gently taking strands of hair and snipping away here and there. The game would begin when her haircut was over. It wasn't long before they were done, and she opened her eyes again.

"Okay! You can open your eyes now," Ashido-san said. Hisoka heard her step back.

"We did what we could but ya know, I like it! Looks really cool!" Jiro-san explained, unwrapping the towel around her neck.

Blinking a few times, eyes adjusting to the light of the room quickly, she saw her appearance in the mirror Momo was holding in front of her. Jiro-san was holding a mirror to her left while Tsuyu was holding one to her right to give her different angels of perspective. Turning her head a few times to see all sides, she ran a hand through her black locks. It was short in the back, just at the base of her head while the bangs that framed the side of her face were longer. They even cut the bangs that usually covered her eyes to look more natural with the new haircut. It was similar to a hime cut.

Running her finger through it felt strange and a chill went down the back of her neck, not used to the lack of hair there.

But...

"I love it," she said, the reflection of her eyes shining in the mirror. Hisoka gave them a small smile, turning to face them, a voice full of gratitude. "Thank you, Ashido-san. Jiro-san. How can I repay you?"

Ashido-san grinned at her brightly, giving her a thumbs up. "It's no problem! You look extra awesome now! Not that you didn't look awesome before but now you look ten times as awesome," she blabbed cheerfully.

"It looks really cool, Hiso-chan!" Hagakure-san piped up, bouncing in her sitting position on the floor, arms moving up and down. The other girls followed with their own compliments, making her cheeks burn up.

"It's all good," Jiro-san added. "No need to pay us back at all."

"Are... Are you sure?"

The music-loving girl huffed, arms crossing over her chest. "It is."

"Yeah!" Ashido-san agreed.

"But..."

Hisoka glanced back at her reflection, taking the mirror from Momo, as she started feeling something overwhelm her. She felt different looking at herself. She looked different but the same. The same brown eyes. The same nose. The same thin lips. The same pale skin. She was always told she looked a lot like her mother and even her mother had remarked she had a similar hairstyle at her age at one point. She touched the mirror as if she'd be able to feel the touching of her reflection in real life.

But now it was different.

It... It was... Different was...

Different was good. It felt so good it was unexplainable.

"No... Really. Thank you," she muttered, voice thick.

"Hisoka." Brown eyes glanced up from her reflection to Tsuyu who had crawled in front of her, eyes widening when she poked her on the nose. Tsuyu's black eyes were half-lidded, cheeks blushing. "You look beautiful."

Hisoka felt her own heat up once more as she looked away and mumbled out another thank you. The mirror was taken out of her grasp as Jiro-san nudged her with her foot to get up so they could clean up and start the night. Hisoka stood, stepping off of the towels, and helped Jiro-san pick up while Ashido-san packed up her supplies, setting the makeup box off to the side. After that was done, Hisoka felt her hand being grabbed when she went to take her place along the circle when Tsuyu stopped her.

"Hmmm?" Hisoka tilted her head.

"Lap," was all the green-haired girl said. "Now." Hisoka blinked owlishly, brain short-circuiting before she was tugged downward onto Tsuyu with a surprise bout of strength, and the next thing she knew she was manhandled into sitting between Tsuyu's legs and leaning against her chest, unknowingly relaxing her stiff shoulders.

Not that she didn't mind it but why did it feel so hot in here all of the sudden?

They got into the game and an hour in, Jiro-san piped up as she rolled her dice. "You know, if you're so bent on paying us back then you can call me by my first name already, Hisoka. You call Yaomomo by hers after all." Getting the number six, she moved her piece down six spaces, landing on a piece owned by Uraraka-san.

"Yeah! Call me Mina!"

"And Toru! I wanna be called Toru!"

"Well, I wouldn't mind if you call me Ochaco but only if you want to... That goes for everyone too!"

Hisoka stared at them, looking at Momo's happy and bright expression at all of them growing closer before she let out a chuckle. "Sure. I can do that."

They continued long into the night, chatting and getting to know more about each other. Even though they've been classmates for months now, they didn't know much about each other's favorite things and such. Soon enough, everyone began to grow sleepy and somehow it was decided they would crash in Hisoka's room, somewhat piled on top of each other. Hisoka smiled to herself, pulling herself up and moving around arms and legs carefully. Grabbing some blankets from her closet and pillows from wherever in her room, she placed them over her friends.

Momo was curled up on her side with Ji... Kyoka against her chest, arm used as a pillow (it was going to be numb in the morning. She nudged Momo very lightly and was given blurry eyes craking a smidge open and took the pillow. She instantly fell back asleep. Ur... Ochaco was between Momo and Ashi... Mina, head leaning against Mina's shoulder while Mina's stomach was a pillow for Ha... Toru, softly snoring away.

"Hisoka..." a voice mumbled and Hisoka turned to see Tusyu rubbing her eyes, sitting up.

"Tusyu..." Hisoka moved to her, holding out her hand to help her onto the bed before she was pulled onto her bed by said girl. Tusyu moved around her until she was curled up against her chest, falling back asleep a few moments later. Smiling softly, Hisoka muttered to her "Good night."

As she closed her eyes, their hands entwined.

---

Location: Some Alleyway, Unknown, Japan

Date: November 15, 20XX

As Hana ran, getting away from the Pro Hero and cops after stabbing a few of them, she finally stopped to catch her breath. The night was eerily silent, the sky dark with clouds covering the moon and few seeable stars thanks to light pollution. Civilians were sound asleep in warm beds, stray cats hissed before running, and low-class other Villains were shaken away by her sudden overwhelming aura of madness.

She kneeled over, shoulders shaking and chest heaving as her green hair hung over her eyes, shadowing her face from view like a curtain. Her lips shook before a giggle escaped, demented, and unhinged yet oh so sane. Her breath quickened as her giggle grew louder. Reaching into her pocket, she took out a baggy filled with clumps of beautiful silky black hair with bits of dried blood and opened it. Putting it up to her nose, she took a long sniff from it.

"Ah..." she let out a lustful sigh, standing up and looking at the sky with a wide-toothed grin, a bright red blush on her cheeks. Her skin began to move like it was alive before clumps began to slide down from her forehead and down her cheek, soon revealing fairer skin and bright yellow eyes with thin slits. Her grin changed from 'Hana's' to one a wider, cat-like one with upper and lower canines that're more pointed and longer than the rest of her teeth.

"Darling... How fun you were..."

More clumps fell to show the hair was not green but actually pale, dirty ash-blonde and styled in two messy buns with a straight fringe, and two chin-length side bangs framing her face. Himiko Toga stood there in all her glory, smelling the hair of her precious, misguided Darling.

How lucky was she to get this!

Another giggle escaped past her open mouth as she brushed some of her Darling's hair against her cheek. It felt softer than she imagined! And it smelt so good! Like a pretty flower but with a coppery, tangy undertone of dried blood. Such as wonderous combination!

"Darling! You were so fun to play with! So strong but so weak..." She remembered the way she had grabbed her, her firm muscles rubbing against her and that tight grip of her arm. It felt like her Darling was going to rip it off before that man - it was really funny to impersonate the woman, her naive little friend didn't even know - interrupted them! Sure she had screamed but it hadn't been from pain!

She was glad she was able to cut him up as revenge before getting away. Screw him for that! Naughty boy! Interrupting her time with her Darling like that! And he had the nerve to draw her blood as if he owned her! Only she could do that! Her Darling thought she was taken by someone (and she'd take care of that toad in due time) but it was okay.

Her Darling didn't know any better.

Her precious Darling...

"Mine..." she hissed, eyes blown wide.

---

Location: Gymnasium, South-West Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 17, 20XX

"Tomorrow's the culture festival people! This is the real deal!" Mina called out, clapping her hands a few times. "So let's take it from the top once more!"

"The gym's closing soon!" Kirishima-san added from his potion on the floor. Hisoka sat between him and Sero-san as they watched the Dance Team run through the routine.

Nodding and pointing to center stage, Mina directed them. "Aoyama to the center and Midoriya exits the stage!"

"Oui!" Aoyama-san moved fluidly to the center.

Stiffening up like a soldier in front of their commanding officer, Midoriya-san shouted, "Roger!"

"Midoriya! Your movements are still sluggish! Sharply! Sharply! Don't forget!" Mina showed him how to move again, moving around so easily like she was made of water. Ojiro-san had already tried the rope around Aoyama's waist. "Now move!"

"Roger!" Midoriya fumbled with pulling the remote from his pocket and pressing a button; the machine attached to one of the rafters above activated, lifting Aoyama-san into the air.

"Looking good!" Mina called out, giving the blonde a thumbs up. He posed, saying something in French.

"Before we got started, I was really nervous about this whole performance idea since we're all just a bunch of amateurs. But both the Band and Dance Teams have come a long way, haven't they?" Sero-san admitted.

Hisoka nodded in agreement. "Mina is a very tough coach. It's thanks to her they were able to get the routine together so smoothly." She watched as Tsuyu moved around, going through the routine once more, feeling her cheeks heat up.

"More like, demon-like..." Sero-san mumbled, looking to the side when the pink-haired girl snapped her head to him. Eyes narrowed, she grinned but pointed two fingers at her eyes before at him.

Hisoka joined in on Kirishima-san's laugh, Sero-san tugging at his shirt with a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah," Kirishima-san said at the end of his laughter. "She's really serious about it. The Band Team wasn't the only ones sturred up by Bakugo's 'murder 'em with music' declaration." He looked at the Band Team talking amongst themselves.

"True," Hisoka concurred, twisting one of her longer bangs absentmindedly. She was still getting used to having such short hair. Maybe she'll keep it like this... Everyone else was happy with the change though albeit shocked at first but overall, it was a happy reception.

Shoto said she looked really pretty and Fumi had given her a pat on the head while Dark Shadow had given her a thumbs up, chirping excitedly while playing with strands of her hair. Recovery Girl even said it looked good on her. Aizawa-sensei had given her a long look that morning the day after they had come back before huffing and Hisoka would take that as approval.

It made her warm. Happy.

Suddenly the gym's doors were slammed open, Hound Dog barking at them. "It's already nine o'clock! You pups shouldn't still be here!" He growled, giving them a warning.

Kirishima sighed, "Shoot... Let's head back." He raised his voice to tell the Lifestyle Guidance Counsellor, "We'll finish up right now!"

---

Location: Common Room, First Floor of Heights Alliance, South Side of U.A. High School Campus, Northern Musutafu, South of Tokyo, Honshu, Japan

Date: November 17, 20XX

Even as they were forced back to the dorms, some of her classmates were still unable to sleep. It was already eleven at night and Hisoka had decided to make everyone some tea that would surely tucker them out.

"Wooo! I can't sleep a wink!" Kaminari-san cheered, running around.

Mineta yelled, copying the blonde's movement, "I'm at max excitement!"

"Quiet down! Some people are sleeping!" Mina snapped from the couch, eyes narrowing as both boys froze at her glare. Kirishima-san sat next to her.

"I wonder if everyone will be as excited as us..." Iida-san murmured from his place on the other couch as Kyoka moved her arms around.

"It's better to not think about stuff like that... Getting all shy and timid is probably the worst thing you can do. Once you're on stage, all that's left is to have fun!"

"Weren't you the crazy shy one, though?" Kaminari-san teased, pointing at her.

Kyoka whined, waving him off, "That was totally different!" Iida-san smiled good naturelly at the duo.

"Jiro really knows what she's talking about," Midoriya-san laughed and Aoyama nodded before the two went back to inspecting the suspension equipment and rope. It looked like the equipment was good but the rope was rather greyed from overuse when practicing. They didn't want Aoyama-san dropping to the ground due to carelessness, after all.

Kaminari-san tapped his fist in his hand, an idea coming to mind. "Why not get Yaoyorozu to make you another one?"

"Yaomomo's sleeping right now!" Mina commented, looking at her nails. She ignored him when he grumbled that they liked to use him as a battery charger.

Hisoka came out of the kitchen, holding a tray of steaming tea-filled mugs. "She's not a tool factory, either. You're just going to have to get some first thing in the morning."

"Oh! I can do that! I've got morning training anyway," Midoriya-san explained, taking one of the mugs. "Thank you. Plus, I've got some other things I was planning to pick up anyway."

"That's no good," Kaminari-san said, also grabbing a cup. Others began to get up and gather around her to grab their own. "We're on at ten and aren't shops usually open at nine?"

"He has a point, Midoriya-san," Hisoka said, the weight of the tray lightening with each mug taken.

"It'll be okay!" he told them, "There's a hardware store fifteen minutes from U.A. It opens at eight."

"That's still cutting it pretty close but if you think you can make it then go for it! Also, could you charge my phone, Kaminari-san?"

"Sure!" Kaminari-san said without thinking.

Hisoka raised an eyebrow as he blinked and pouted, grumbling under his breath looking away from her gaze. Easily balancing the tray with one hand, she gave his shoulder a pat, a few of their classmates snickering.

"Well, it's about time for us to get a good night's rest!" Mina said, stretching an arm after taking a sip of her drink with a yawn.

Kirishima-san nodded. "Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and call it a night. To you, night owls, don't stay up too late!" He glanced at Iida-san and herself.

The Class President denied, making a chopping motion, "I get reasonable sleep!"

Hisoka simply gave the other a blank stare, making the other sweat a smige the longer she stared. Don't question her night time routine.

Kirishima-san just raised an arm, deciding it was best to ignore her gaze. "Let's definitely make this a success!"

The others cheered, "Yeah!"

---

Author's Note: Well, this had taken longer than originally thought... I wanted to release this on Halloween buuuttttt guess not. October was super busy and shit happened. Not all bad shit but shit happened. But now it's all good. I should hopefully have the next one out sooner rather than later. And her I thought I'd release it in November too... Blame school. It was finals...

Though I do wanna try and finish this arc up before the year ends, to be honest, but we'll see. There are only two chapters left (or maybe one...) and it's about the long-awaited festival and the Endeavor and Hawks vs. Highend fight. ^^

Review and give me fuel if you have a few moments to spare, please.

Rigel Lynx does not belong to me. He was generously loaned to be temporarily by the most wonderous, amazing StarAmulet. We've done a few drawing collabs over the years together. She's an amazing artist and a very sweet person overall. Go check her out on Deviantart (where a lot of our collabs are posted) and her other social medias!

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