"Has she woken up yet?"
"Does it look like she's woken up, Toshinori?"
"N-no, I just-"
"Well, then there's your answer. She needs to rest. That fever damn near killed her, and she's still not completely out of the woods yet."
The sound of a foot tapping on the linoleum floor caused me to stir.
"How long do you think it'll take for her to show some sign of improvement?"
Chair legs scraped against the floor as someone sighed in annoyance.
"I know you're worried about her, Toshinori, but I'm going to be honest with you. It could be some time before Miya regains consciousness. Maybe a week, maybe a month. I did all I could do."
All Might sighed in defeat.
"I know," he walked to the edge of the bed, "I know. You know it's well appreciated."
"The most I can do is contact you when she wakes up. Have patience."
His footsteps faded as he walked towards the door, and disappeared. Recovery Girl sighed again, and collapsed in the chair by her desk.
"You can wake up now."
"How did you-"
"I may be old, but I'm not stupid."
My throat felt like it had been set ablaze, and then extinguished with acid. My wires ran around my fingers, and up my arms. I attempted to sit myself up, but a searing pain coiled around every inch of my body.
"Don't try to move yet. You've been unconscious for quite some time. Your strength is depleted." she scolded.
"How long is quite some time?" I croaked.
"Four weeks, and a long four weeks I might add. We almost lost you, but towards the end of the third week you stabilized."
"Thank you," I swallowed hard, "for saving my life."
Her tired eyes searched my face, and she smiled crookedly.
"I can't take all of the credit. If Todoroki hadn't kept your fever down your condition would have been much more severe."
I shifted uncomfortably under the thin sheets of the bed, and clenched my jaw as my body protested the movement.
"Why are you avoiding Toshinori?"
Her back was turned to me, and I had the inkling that she busied herself with a random task to avoid making eye contact with me.
"I'm not sure what you-"
"Oh come on, Miya."
She spun around, and her eyes burned with curiosity.
"He worries for all of his students, but you," she hung her head, "you're different."
She dragged a chair behind her noisily, and set it next to the edge of the bed. She reached for my hand, and held it gently in hers as she sat down.
"I know you're having some doubts, dear girl. Your mind is quite rightfully boggled with the information your Father bestowed onto you, but you cannot believe the word of one without hearing the side of the other."
The knot in my stomach tugged itself extra tight, and I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. Recovery Girl placed her hand on my cheek, and brushed a stray tear away from my eye.
"Permit me to make a small suggestion."
The corners of her eyes wrinkled as she smiled warmly.
"Talk to Toshinori. If there's anyone on Earth you should fully give your trust to it's him. He's a good man. I've seen him shed tears for his students, and I've seen him show the greatest enthusiasm for his student's accomplishments no matter the size. Please believe my words when I say that he does indeed care for you."
She removed her hand from my cheek, and tapped my shoulder softly.
"Take my words into consideration, and try to get some-"
She was interrupted by a faint knocking at the door.
"Oh, now who could that be?"
She grunted as she stood, and continued to mumble as she made her way to the door.
"..told him several times that she's not awake yet. When is he going to learn the meaning of the word patience?"
She took in a breath, and then spoke.
"Oh. It's you."
A low, sad sounding voice came from the other side of the door. Whoever it belonged to spoke so silently it was impossible to hear what they were saying.
"You want to see her now?"
The voice murmured a reply, and Recovery Girl looked in my direction.
"You're sure it can't wait until tomorrow?"
Another murmur, and then a long moment of silence.
"Alright," she sighed, "fine. But her consciousness is to be kept a secret for the time being."
She motioned towards me, and peered out of the door before closing it swiftly.
"Miya."
His voice came out just above a whisper, and he was trembling. My heart nearly stopped beating from the second the first syllable left his lips. He stood across the room. His hands hung at his sides, and he kept his backpack so tightly gripped in his left hand that his knuckles were turning white. His golden eyes sparkled as our eyes met, and his chest heaved as his breathing increased.
His hesitation to come to me made my heart beat painfully as I kept my eyes on him.
A single tear rolled down his cheek as he blinked, and took a step forward.
"Miya, I-"
He stepped forward hesitantly, and dropped his backpack on the floor.
"I'm so sorry." he whispered.
He kept his eyes away from me as he spoke. "I should have chased after you, but I-"
He took a sharp breath in, and held it for several seconds. His eyes darted around the room looking anywhere but at me.
"I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to send me away."
I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"Why would I want that?"
Kaminari's body stiffened at the sound of my voice. His eyes slowly made their way to mine, and for a moment I felt breathless. I had almost forgotten how beautiful they were.
"I-I just-"
He took another cautious, hesitant step in my direction, and I felt a deep longing to reach out and touch him. The knot in my stomach twisted furiously as I uncurled my fingers from the palm of my hand, and extended them in his direction. He stood motionless as his gaze fell on me. His eyes were burning with guilt and sadness as a second tear escaped down his cheek.
"Hey," my fingers grazed the back of his hand, "it's okay. I'm alive. I'm here."
"Because of Todoroki, and Midoriya." he snapped.
I withdrew my hand, and grasped it tightly with the other. His facial expression instantly turned into one of regret, and embarrassment.
"I'm sorry," he stepped forward, and took my hand, "I'm so sorry."
He sat down in the chair next to the bed, and wound his fingers around mine, and the warm sensation of electricity numbed my hand all the way up to my fingertips. He squeezed my hand gently, but continued to look away from me.
"I swore I was going to be the one to save you. I had it all planned out. I had people willing to help me. Yaoyorozu, Jiro, Uraraka, and even Bakugo agreed to help."
"I thought Bakugo hated me."
Kaminari smiled weakly.
"Any chance for him to fight is a win in his book."
"Right," I nodded, "I should have known."
He shifted in his chair, and when he looked at me his eyes seemed to be glowing.
"I thought I lost you, Miya."
He ran his fingers over my cheek, and stopped when he reached my chin.
"I didn't know if I'd see you again. Or if they'd find you alive, but they did. He did."
"He?" I asked.
"Aizawa said that Todoroki and Midoriya were the ones who found you. Although Todoroki is a big reason you made it back alive. The fever you had," he paused, "it almost killed you. Todoroki kept your body temperature down. He should be here with you. Not me."
He hung his head sadly. Intense pain flooded through my body as I reached over, and placed my hand on the side of his face.
"Todoroki could save me one hundred times over, and I'd still choose you every time."
He took in a breath, and made a noise similar to a sob in his throat. His eyes looked almost amber as he blinked against the unshed tears in them.
"Y-you'd pick me over Todoroki?"
I nodded.
"Without any regrets. He's a friend, and that's all he'll ever be."
He pressed my hand to his lips, and closed his eyes. The warm current of electricity that flowed from his body nullified the pain that coursed through mine. I rested my head on top of his, and felt my eyes begin to get heavy.
"Miya?" he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
A smile crept across my lips.
"I love you, too." I said before letting myself drift off to sleep.