- - - - Nezumi - - - - - -
"Umi-chan! Dinner is ready!" I heard Mama call from the kitchen. I sat my book down as I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Mama was always so diligent in her duties. Despite being a Pro Hero, she always made sure to make time for me unless her partners were unable to resolve the issue. "Mama," I pouted, walking up to her. "I wanted to help set the table!"
Everything she did was perfect. From her hair to her smile, to the way she dressed and hummed. All the kids at school talk about how embarrassing their moms are. But mine, she was always perfect. She turned from the sink to tap the tip of my nose.
Strange.
I expected water to stain my nose, but it didn't. Mama smiled at me warmly, picking me up to hug me closely. "I know, my love. But you were so enthralled in your book, I couldn't pull you away just yet. Do biotoxins interest you that much?" Her deep blue eyes scanned my face. "There is a lot of information in there. Don't stress yourself out trying to absorb everything." She said, putting me down in my seat.
The table was set for three. "Is papa coming home early today?" I asked, excited to see him after three weeks. Mama nodded as she hummed to herself. Both of my parents are important people, both involved in the world of heroes. However, due to Papa's quirk, he goes on more trips than Mama does. "I was studying biotoxins to understand why they liked to use Papa's quirk so much and what it meant to use it." I said, rubbing my nose to see if there was any water.
Mama was a great cook, making a spread of favorites for all of us. Yaki onigiri, katsu, rice, and grilled fish sat before me. I heard my stomach growl in response, yet I didn't feel it. Usually, I could feel the warmth of the kitchen as she cooked, filling the room with delightful aromas, yet it was almost as if my senses were clogged. I looked up at Mama and her eyes were pale, long black hair messy with stress.I stood up quickly, looking away as my vision blurred, then corrected itself? Almost like a glitch.
"Are you okay, Umi-chan?" Mama gave a look of concern, reaching for my forehead. The color returned to her face—or perhaps my eyes were playing tricks on me after all. I had been enthralled in my book for hours. Maybe my mind was making me see things.
Just then, the door clicked open, indicating that Papa was home. Mama turned to walked to the entry way. She kissed Papa on the cheek, welcoming him home as he smiled. I went to give Papa a big hug, but something was... wrong.
The features on his face looked like they were blurred out, and I could tell he was speaking to me, but I could not hear the words. I shut my eyes, wondering if I rebooted myself, my oracles would be back to normal. I exhaled and counted to five.
One... Two… Three…. Four…... Five…
I opened my eyes to see milky blue eyes staring into mine as I could imagine cold blood coursing through my body. Her hair bristled over her eyes, beauty marks looking as though they were flies, littering her face. Her mouth parted slightly as pink sludge flowed from her mouth.
"Ne... zu... mi..." She croaked.
- - - Nezumi - - - -
I woke up in a cold sweat. My hot breath staining the floor as tears flowed from my now open eyes. Where was I? And why was I crying? Sitting up, I rubbed the wetness from my cheeks. I walked over to the sink and saw that new, sealed products were placed there for me. A toiletry kit, brushes, deodorant, a cup for rinsing and coiled white string. It dawned on me that I was no longer under my uncle's care. My body ached from sleeping on the hard floor and my hair looked to be in tangles.
Knocking rang from the other side of the door, snapping me out of my own thoughts. Slowly, I lingered over to the door, knowing it wasn't Kota. Usually, she would call my name despite disagreements as she knocked. This person was firm. I seethed at the idea of seeing Akihito so soon after waking. If it was Haru, it would be more tolerable.
"Shiro-chan?" I said as I saw her looking up at me. It was the girl who had only spoke once. She tilted her head as a response to the name I gave her. I stared blankly, giving no expression because I still didn't know how to feel about someone so quiet. Then again, I was also not much of a talker.
"I suppose that is fitting." She spoke softly, holding plastic belongings in her hands. They looked like clothes. "They work quickly. Do you mind if I come in with you? I am not use to being alone for so long." My eye slightly twitched in response. I nodded, signaling approval as she walked past me. She set the items down towards the entrance, beginning to undress.
This didn't shock me but caught me off guard. I was used to nudity, though it irritated me that she didn't ask. "Not embarrassed?" I asked bluntly.
"Is there a reason to be?" Her face held no expression, and she had yet to make eye contact. I understood the intent behind it. Submission and compliance, though not in the way that I was forced to. This was more… medical.
"If you are uncomfortable, I formally request that you look away, but please stay." Although she had only undid her coat, I was able to see the scarring on her petite frame covered in her underwear. Scars that were stitched professionally, some that were stitched horribly, and torn skin, all have been long healed over. Looking at her before she undressed, you would not think that her porcelain skin would be so mangled. Her long hair uncurled from her bun, dropping all the way down to her calves.
She was a good five inches shorter than me, but her development was on par with my own. "Will you be willing to work with me? If not, you can stay out here with the door open. But please do not leave." Her request was robotic, yet her insistence on not being alone made the caregiver in me flourish. I needed to clean myself too, so I decided to undress as well.
Shiro finished undressing and walked over to the bath door. She slid it open as I walked over to the sink to brush my teeth before heading over to scrub. I looked at my pale skin, no scars to be seen compared to her. Despite this, we were both treated similarly, though the methods were different. Due to my quirk, it healed itself whenever I received damage. I would get tortured relentlessly only for my body to betray me and heal itself.
Rinsing my mouth, I wiped my face with a towel, combing the knots out of my hair. More freckles splattered my upper cheeks now that I no longer wore make up to lessen their appearance and thus enhancing my exhaustion. I grabbed a clip and walked over to the bath area.
The tub was floor level and deep, almost like a hot spring. Shiro was washing her body off as she sat at a wooden stool. "The water is incredibly warm," she said as an attempt to make conversation.
"I agree," I said as I tried to fidget with the temperature. I was used to taking cold showers; from what Shiro said, so was she. "Do you care if I call you Shiro?" I asked, trying to be polite despite my attitude prior.
"You can call me whatever you wish. Though, I don't believe I've had a name before." A small pang hit my chest when she said that. "Hinamori-san came in earlier this morning to bring food and clothing. She spoke with me on their plans of rehabilitation after conducting a series of questions."
I began scrubbing away, listening intently to each word. "I spoke honestly with every bit of information I had to offer. They want us to become heroes."
Scoffing, reached for the spray to rinse off my skin. "Heroes? Are they joking?"
"It was amusing to my ears as well. However, Hinamori-san said that they would be offering therapy and rehabilitation. They also want to see our capacity to learn and work together, however…"
I looked over to see that she was getting soap in her eyes, rubbing them, causing more distress. Rushing over, I grabbed her hands gently. "Don't do that. You're making it worse."
She kept her eyes closed, letting me wash the soap away. Her eyes opened slowly, an angry red coloring the whites of her eyes. "Have you never used soap before?" She focused on blinking until her eyes adjusted normally. "I can scrub your hair and back if you need help." Shiro nodded, letting me help wash her body. I tried to be mindful of her scars, even though they were completely healed.
We finished our shower, opting out of the steaming pool of water. Drying off, we both began to sort through the clothes that were given to us. Even though it was winter, the styles I had picked were before me. Three outfits, all dark and immodest. This is what I wanted. I strayed from the cute fashionable clothes that made me nauseous. They were too much like the styles of clothes clients requested me to wear.
I wore a black cropped tank top that was form fitting, pulling over a deep maroon sweater that exposed my shoulders. Next, I pulled up my underwear and jean shorts, obviously ill-fitting for the cold. The last part were solid black thigh highs. I despised stockings, yet thigh highs made me feel different.
Shiro was wearing a simple long-sleeved turtleneck, hiding away her scars. It was a solid maroon as well, making her skin seem more glass like. She wore a long, forest green skirt with it. It was simple, yet colorful compared to the white lab coat looking outfit she had before.
We emerged from the bathroom, leaving the other outfits behind. Odds were, I'd be dressing in them the next few days after bathing.
"So, how do you feel about the hero thing?" I asked, scanning the common area for Kota. I figured that she didn't want to talk with me just yet probably exploring around freely like Haru had promised. I looked out the faux window, indicating it was twilight. How long had I been asleep for?
- - - Topaz - - - -
I woke up, head throbbing and strapped to a hospital bed, beeping noises filling my ears. Trying to remember what happened, I began to panic. Yikes. I really fucked up.
"Oi, is there anyone around?" I yelled, trying not to sound threatening. These people weren't like the others, but something happened to bring me here, nd that isn't good.
A man approached me, looking familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. He slowly approached, "Hello there. You seem to finally be awake. Do you remember me?" he asked as he began to undo my straps. "You're more aware than you were before. So, I'm going to go ahead and trust you enough to not attack me."
"Are—are ya stupid?" I asked. My wrists hurt and I rubbed them. He moved down to the other restraints. He smiled, making me want to punch him for his stupidity.
Sitting beside me, I sat up, pain pulsing through my sex. "Catheter had to be put inside you. Sorry about that, but you have been incapacitated for a few days." I winced at what he said, someone had seen me below my clothes. The thought made my skin crawl. "My name is Akihito. Though, some have taken a liking to calling me Aki-san. Would you like to tell me your name?"
Sitting up, I felt my mouth stick uncomfortably. "Topaz. Call me Topaz or I'll be angry at ya." Aki-san pointed towards the side of the bed; a big jug filled with water. I grabbed it, drinking the cold water even though there was no ice. I gulped and gulped until the water was all gone, causing pain in my gut, but I didn't care. I was so thirsty.
I grabbed the cup that was already filled with water and held it towards Aki-san. He shook his head, and I drank that too. "I can order you some food. What would you like to eat? We have places close by that can deliver so you aren't stuck with bland food." I thought about this; bright white walls combined with bleach making me ill.
"If it's possible, can we go somewhere, Akimaru-san? I don't like this place." I tried standing up, but there were still things all over my body. "Uhm, sure. I can see what we can do." Aki-san replied.
It took a few hours to leave the room. I thought I was going crazy with how willing he was to let me have my way. This ain't normal, then again, the whole situation ain't normal. He brought a girl with him. She seemed familiar too, but I couldn't place it.
"I had ordered ahead so that the food would be ready when you got there." The girl was hard to figure out, but I didn't really care. If Akiyaki introduced himself, then she would too.
The restaurant was within walking distance, my body shifting itself back into place with my shape. Yep, I went ape shit again. I grimaced to myself, wondering if I killed anyone. I hope I didn't.
The place we entered smelled of barbeque, making my mouth salivate and my stomach ached in pain. "Help yourself, then we can talk." The girl pointed to a room separated from the other patrons. I went in to see so much fucking food on the table. "Y'all should eat first." I said, knowing I could devour everything in sight.
They reassured me I was fine, and I went at it.
After thirty minutes of stuffing my face, I sat back, belly fat like a ball about to burst, grease dripping down my face. They looked shook but said nothing. Despite going through phases of eating small meals and not eating days in between, I could still shove food in without throwing it up. "Did I go feral?" I asked, wiping my mouth.
"Feral is a word." I stared at the girl, energy shifting. Crap. She was involved. "Sorry bout that. My quirk is a little hard to control when I haven't eaten. That's why those bastards starved me as much as they could between fights." They stared at me as I sipped on my drink. "It's weird. Like, if I don't eat, then my strength goes down. But the moment blood enters the equation, I go ape shit."
The server came in, asking if we would like more. They nodded and she cleared the place, promising to be back with more food. "Would you like to tell us more about your quirk?" Akitori-san asked.
Digging the meat stuck in my tusks, I continued. "Oh, yeah. So, like, the bastards that kept me locked up would starve me. They found out that if they gave me blood, any blood, that my muscles would burst out of my body or sumthin. It's like, scary. I've seen videos of me beating people but can't remember once I use my quirk. I don't know if it's because of hunger, but my brain just shuts off."
"Do you remember the day of the raid?" Aki-san asked. I closed my eyes to concentrate.
"Yeah, kinda. I remember this thing was going on where big clients were comin in or sumthin. The bastards had fed me well for a while cuz they wanted meat on my bones. They said someone was comin for me the day ya came. But, like, three days before, they stopped feeding me. They said some guy with lots of money wanted me but didn't tell me what for. Probably best. What I saw from the unlucky ones, someone finally had enough money to make up for it."
Akihiko-san raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right. Um, so, I guess some of us were bought by bidders? Whenever they sold someone, we never saw them again. Ya would think that they would say adopted, but nah. They bought them with bad things in mind. But because I'm so strong n' won a lot, they didn't want to sell me.
I touched the scar on my wrist. I knew those bastards were bad, but at least they kept doing the same things. The idea of going with some stranger made me scared for the first time in a while. But these people weren't like them. That much I knew.
After a few rounds of food, I finally felt full. They asked me so many questions, my brain hurt. They told me that they wanted to train me to become a hero, ensuring that I would be given food, money, and schooling.
"I haven't been to school." I said embarrassed. I knew they could tell by the way I spoke that I ain't the smartest. "I dunno if I can do what y'all want. Nuthin about me is normal. And if I go to school, I don't think I can control my quirk. Ya would be wasting a lot on a nobody."
The girl spoke this time, "Neither did I, yet here I am. Granted, I wasn't in the same situation, however, I do understand your pain." She got up and began to unbutton her shirt, showing her shoulder. Her skin looked bad. Almost like thousands of bees made a hive in her. "My mother hid her pregnancy from her family, hiding me away for years. You think I would've been found but I wasn't until I was nine. She took a habit of burning me with cigarettes and sticking objects in places that I will not mention. I was undocumented and uneducated. But they worked with me."
I stood up to get a better look at her, towering over her. I got close to her face n' asked, "Was it kindness or did they want sumthin' from ya?" I asked, looking into her eyes. She began to button up her shirt, looking away.
"It was something. But I would rather be here than in that place. I'd rather be here than on the streets. And they helped me achieve a normal life. I have a home, friends, and—" she grabbed Aki-san's hand and squeezed tightly. "I found someone who loves me despite it all.
"And legality is flexible with us." My brows shifted. "We can help you be the version of yourself you want to be. Fully. We respect you and your dreams. But to achieve them, you will have to cooperate with us."
I sat back n' closed my eyes. I ain't got much. What have I got to lose? My body ain't much now. But if I can learn to control my quirk nd work with em', I'll get more than I've had ever.
"What do ya have in mind?"
Kota wasn't sure where she was going. She had been roaming the halls for a while, but nothing really interested her in this moment. Nezumi has been acting strange. Kota thought to herself as she scanned her key to the elevator.
While Kota had overseen the other kids, she did have to participate to some extent. She lied to Akihito when she told him about the last floor. She had been in there, though not for the same reason that Nezumi was there. Her head began to ache as she thought about it. Maybe because it was the fact that she couldn't remember.
Kota never had to interact with the buyers, but she did have to record. Usually, it was with other kids that were older than her, but in those moments, she pictured herself in other places. Nezumi wasn't like Kota, and Kota couldn't understand why she didn't want to take the offer they gave. Anything was better than the foster parents that had them.
Kota began her decent to the other floor, not really paying attention to her surroundings. Nezumi-chan is selfish. She thought. Nezumi-chan would be homeless? Well, she can do that all she wants; just leave me out of it.
The door signaled her arrival to the next floor. Kota was making a point to not interact with Nezumi. She hadn't seen her in a few days but sought out Akihito and Harumi. They would bring her items at her request, including art supplies and a cell phone to keep in touch. They were very kind to her, and she believed Nezumi was too stubborn to accept their help.
She traveled down the hall, looking through windows to empty rooms. She didn't have a desire to go above ground just yet. She assumed that the rooms would be identical to the ones down here, but with people in them. Some would come in and out to get supplies or copies of things they couldn't store above ground.
Ding
Her phone sent her a notification. She opened it, seeing a text from Harumi.
We would like to have a discussion to move forward with everyone. Please meet back in the living quarters so that we may discuss it with everyone fully.
-Haru-chan
Kota felt anxious. She knew Nezumi would be resistant, but she didn't care. She wanted to start something new. It would be wrong of her to force me to go with her. She thought to herself. With this in her mind, she began to head back to the others, battling internally with how she would approach everything.
- - - 51107 - - - - - -
The room was quiet as everyone began to pile into the designated dining area. Nezumi sat next to me while Akihito and Hinamori sat across from us. Topaz sat at one head, while Kota sat at the other. This meeting would not go well for some, but I had already made my own decision going forward.
"Glad everyone made it. Now that the dust has settled a bit, we would like to talk about your futures and where we can go from here." Akihito wore the same face he did when interacting with us. He always wanted to come off as kind, though I am uncertain how much of it is genuine.
Hinamori spoke next. "However, the hero program only applies to three of you. Kota-san, I'm afraid the Hero Public Safety Commissions would not need you in the field of the Pros, but we can school you so that you can work alongside us as well.
"The plan is to have you all apply to three of the top hero schools—"
"So, we still gotta do some work." Topaz interjected.
"Well, yes." Akihito chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "We will be able to do intense training and studying with you. Helping you apply yourselves and hone your abilities. While we can give you most opportunities unavailable to others, we wouldn't be able to just hand it to you."
I noticed Nezumi digging her nails into her thighs as he continued, "While transitioning into this lifestyle, the three of you will be apprenticing separately with three Pro Heroes. You will be learning what you can from them firsthand while studying for the entrance exams."
The room filled with silence. Each person had a different look on their faces: Confusion, anger, and excitement. "Will I be working with you and Haru-chan?" Kota asked, making Nezumi's head turn.
"Yes, actually. Though you may be quirkless, we do have areas of opportunity for you. We can guarantee safety and self-defense." Hinamori stated.
"And the rest of us are supposed to put our lives on the line?" Nezumi questioned.
"Well, in a way—" Nezumi began to cut Hinamori off, "So I'm supposed to train to be a hero for people who could care less on if I live or die? We aren't some shiny new toys that can be replaced easily while you sit there and promise us a future.
"I don't want it. I don't trust it. A roof over my head? Money? Food? Thats what I was promised living with my uncle, and we saw how that turned out!" Nezumi screamed, anger emitting off her. "I can't be near those I love, and I can't take care of those who need me. Why the hell would I accept an offer like that? You told me that if I made a statement and helped with the raids, then I would be able to live freely. You wouldn't talk to Kota. You wouldn't bother me. We wouldn't have to testify. You said this." Nezumi pointed a finger accusingly at Akihito.
Kota stared in shock, unaware of some of the information Nezumi said in anger. "You were in on everything and didn't tell me?" Nezumi's hand dropped to her sides.
"I- I wanted to protect you." Nezumi said quietly.
"Not to be cliché, but I don't need your protection." Kota retorted.
"That's bullshit and you know it Kota." The two stared at each other, scowling. "You always ask for my protection. You can't do anything without my help and me shielding that big mouth of yours and being blamed for your stupidity!"
Kota's eyes began to tear up. Pink hair covering her face as she sunk into her seat. Topaz picked at her nails during the quarrel between the two. I did as I've always done; observe and say nothing until provoked or asked.
"The situation is ever changing. We are keeping our promise about not testifying, however, we looked more into your histories and thought it would be best to have you all as assets for the future of our country." Akihito seemed to be embarrassed as he spoke, losing the confident, kind demeanor he had earlier. He very much wanted to break the tension, though I'm uncertain how he managed this as a response.
Hinamori spoke next. "We plan on offering help to all of the kids that came from the raids. We plan to tear down the complexes opening a new system that will ensure the safety of the kids rescued from horrific situations, such as the ones you all went through. We do have facilities already available for them to go to outside of the cities everyone came from and plans on reuniting those who were kidnapped to their families. Everyone involved in the incident will have similar opportunities.
"But we cannot ignore the fact that you all have extraordinary quirks that could benefit us and yourselves. You could save people, inspire others, and create a foundation for generations to come."
I could see that Nezumi was shutting down. I was unsure if she was even paying attention to the words they spoke. I can see two sides of the argument between Nezumi and Kota. Though, I knew I couldn't voice either side to the other.
"I think we all need time." Topaz interjected. She had been very quiet this whole time. I speculated that it was because she already knew her answer but wanted to wait until we all came to a definite conclusion. The idea being that teams work better in threes. I could assume that she liked Nezumi to some extent. To which one, I was also uncertain of, but knew with observation, I would be able to tell.
Akihito and Hinamori both gathered their things and bid us farewell. I could feel the frustration between two friends. One who wants to build a new life, and one who doesn't know who they are without the other.
Kota was the first to retreat, Nezumi stretching a hand to talk with her. Her pleas were met with neglect, unable to figure out what to do next. She slumped in the spot she once stood in as Topaz, and I stared. I looked up at Topaz, hoping she would get the implication to follow me, but keep quiet. Nezumi and I had grown close over the last few days. Hopefully she would be able to confide in me.
It was unusual. The desire to be close to someone grew each day I was here. I was never alone in the facility, yet I had no one that I could rely on. Seeing the way the nurses interacted with one another and the instructors who observed me, I always had a longing to interact and develop some kind of relationship with them. I knew I couldn't; due to the repercussions of being nothing more than a test experiment. Now, the desire grew stronger.
I led Topaz straight to Nezumi, her hand feeling warm and strong in mine. I could tell she had the same desires as myself, though continued to say nothing. We both kneeled beside her, not wanting to push her away, but letting her know we were here. Nezumi had a lot of care in her heart, but it seemed to be focused on someone who wanted to move on from her.
It's selfish on both sides. But I know she has potential to open herself to others, and not just one person. She isn't ready to hear something like that though. The thoughts ran through my head as I contemplated about saying anything that sounded comforting, but I didn't have a way to articulate it.
I extended my hand to her. I had been with her the last few days, and I sat here before her, while the person she cared deeply for walked away. We all knew it; she was just as alone as we had been. Her own hand gravitated towards mine, giving me what I felt like permission to finally speak.
"We're here for you." I said softly, grabbing Topaz's hand as well, pulling us all together. I wasn't sure if they knew it themselves, but we were bonded by trauma. Despite looking so different from one another, we could see the hate, anger, frustration, and vulnerability we were too insecure to express fully.
"We are weak now, but I believe we can be stronger." Nezumi's eyes began to water as she bowed her head, tears pouring from her eyes, moved by my words.
Topaz wrapped her arms around our necks, pulling us in. "See Nezu-san! I told you we would be close!" She chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. Nezumi sniffled, looking more exhausted than she has before.
We had been sleeping in the same room, despite the bed being full size. Topaz opted to stay on the common area's couch, claiming the beds were too soft and made her uncomfortable. Laying next to Nezumi, I felt her tension. She had been so kind to me, staying simply because I asked. This was the part of her she showed without knowing. She was so caring, working to ensure my comfort simply because I asked.
"Is there something wrong with me?" She asked quietly.
"Yes." I said. There was no use in lying. "But that does not make you bad. You're scared, aren't you?" She tensed up, surprised I had responded bluntly.
"So much has happened. It's normal to be scared. I know I had a very strict schedule and faced repercussions if I spoke out of turn. Yet, I'm so scared to be alone. I don't know how I will adjust working with others. But I want to try. I want to try to find a new routine or learn how to live in chaos. Maybe being a hero will be fun or maybe it will not be for me. The future is unpredictable at this moment, and I want to stop thinking of the logistics behind it."
She didn't respond to me. It was quiet for a while until I could hear her breath become heavy. I don't think I would have the energy to keep up this conversation either, but I wished we had spoken more.
My gut tensed, a feeling I felt the day we were being rescued. It would be awful if I died now. I feel as though I have a future, but my gut is warning me of something. Do I trust those who have rescued us? This felt like irony, but the lesser of two evils.
I could feel Nezumi twitch in her sleep. She moved quite a bit in her sleep, but never seems to remember her dreams. I turned to my side, trying to see if I could make out her features. I felt her breath before me, noticing how close we were.
"Mama—" she said, pressing herself into me. Even though she was taller than me, she clung to me like a child. I found it amusing how childlike her subconscious is but felt comfort in the moment.
"Good night Umi-chan," I whispered as I gently stroked her back.
"Hey, look at the freak!" the other kids laughed throwing rocks. I covered my face. This was the same thing every day. Those assholes would look everywhere for me just to throw shit at me. I tried to run away, but it didn't matter. They knew where I lived, and I didn't want to deal with the dead animals they would leave at my door. Those kittens didn't need that.
This time, they had someone new with them. It was usually just the boys who would pick on me, so it threw me off when I saw her. Short pink hair. Ruby like eyes. Looking at her with a smug face made me sick, but I said nothing. Just waited for the assault.
"What a dumbass! He's trying to grow his hair long!" One of the boys said, pushing me to another. As I fell to him, he dodged, making me land down the embankment. The others slid down and surrounded me.
"Disgusting—"
"Fake—"
"Stupid cunt—" they all yelled as they began their assault. I tried covering my head, but the sounds my body made scared me. Blood, spit, dirt, and piss. They tried covering me with everything they had.
The girl that was there came through the others, making them stop. I looked up to see her smiling at me. She had sharp canines, almost as sharp as my own. "What are you going to do Sophia?" One of the bastards asked. She reached into her bag and pulled out some stuff I didn't know. But the last thing she got was a pair of sheers. "Hold them down."
And like that they held me down, assaulted me, and threw me in the river. I don't know how long I had been in there. I couldn't swim. I went under time and time again until the final time. Then everything went blank.
A man had pulled me from the water. A girl around my age beside him. She was calmly calling help while he made sure I was ok. "Are you okay little one?" The man asked stroking my head. I wanted to cry because that's the kindest anyone had been.
I passed out again, this time waking up in a sterile room. There were people talking and I tried to look for them. To my surprise, the girl from before was there. She was reading a book with words I couldn't sound out as she read. What the fuck? What the actual fuck is going on?
The girl looked up at me and smiled. Beauty marks kissed the upper part of her cheek bones, making me blush. I hadn't had anyone smile at me like that before. "You're awake!" she said, moving over to sit on the bed beside me. "You were under water for so long until Papa jumped in to save you! I thought you would've been brain dead."
I looked confused. "What?"
"I saw you trying to get out, but the current was too strong. You had been under water for ten minutes. Papa had to use his quirk to save you because you went so deep. I was so worried." She embraced me. "Then again, maybe it was for the best you weren't awake. Not many people are fond of spiders."
Pulling back, she could see I was still confused. "Argyroneta aquatica. It's the only spider known to have aquatic abilities, spending most of its life under water. Papa turned into one as he tried to save you. Though, once you both breached the surface, he morphed back into himself."
"I—I don't know big words." I said. I hated feeling stupid.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I can explain if you want me to!" She said excitedly as she sat next to me with her book. She began talking to me excitedly as she explained everything she could. Even though she tried to make it simple it still made my head hurt. But she kept speaking with her whole body. She smiled and asked me if I had questions.
"By the way, I'm Nezumi." She said, reaching out with her hand. I gave another confused look, not sure what to do. "You're supposed to introduce yourself and shake hands!" She said, deep brown eyes twinkling. I could feel my face getting hot. My heart was pounding with excitement as I grabbed hers.
"N-nice to meet you Nezumi."
A pout was on her face now. "What is your name?" She asked a bit more firmly. She was stubborn. "I don't know." I said this feeling stupid again.
"Papa said people can change their names if they don't like them. But if you don't remember yours, we can make one up for you!" She had fire in her eyes now. I don't know why she is being so nice. She doesn't even know me. "Something strong! Something fierce." I cringed at the words she used. But then she said something that always stood with me. "We need to find a beautiful name for a beautiful girl!"
My chest felt tight, and I couldn't hold it in anymore. I just started crying. I hated crying so much but this time it was different. I was… Happy.
"Don't cry. I'm sorry." She said it so calmly while trying to make me feel better. I laughed because she thought she hurt me. I smiled, knowing it was ugly. She looked confused now but waited until I was done. She distracted me from my worries in the short time I had spent with her. I felt normal for once. Her dad came in and patted me on the head. I had thanked him for saving me and he smiled as he apologized for having to leave. They promised they would be back the next day to check on me.
Before leaving, Nezumi came up to me and whispered something in my ear. I wanted to cry again. She grabbed both of my hands in hers. "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." She said after whispering the name she gave me in my ear.
- - - Topaz - - -
The door slammed loudly, wakin me up. I shot up, seeing that girl standin there angry. She looked at me nd relaxed her face. "Sorry, we were trying not to wake you..." She looked upset but I didn't want to talk with her. She gave me bad vibes. "Nezumi-chan woke me up in the middle of the night to talk but…" She looked away, hidin her face from me. "She was mad at me for saying I would work with Aki-san and Haru-chan."
I stood up, poppin my bones as I stretched. "Dontcha think you're movin on to quick?" I asked pushin my hair behind me as I stood. "I'd be pissed too. Ya shoulda seen her on the train. She was stubborn as hell lookin for ya." Kota made a frustrated look.
"You don't understand!" She trembled like a leaf. "It was bad there and every time I see her it makes me mad now. I just—I don't care about this anymore. I'm tired of the responsibility. I'm tired of walking on eggshells. I'm—"
"Selfish." I said, lookin her in the eyes. Kota became defensive as I spoke. "Ya want to leave her, fine. But own up to it. She won't accept it unless ya tell her from yur lips."
She backed up as I got closer. "Why do I have to say it? Can't she just tell?" I leaned over her, arm against the wall as I made her look up to me. "Nah, new life still needs responsibility. Ya want it so bad, ya gotta do the ugly stuff to be able to get it. Nothin is gonna be easy for any of us. Even you. She made it clear she is loyal to ya. She won't stop unless ya let go for real."
Kota pushed me back nd walked away silently. I could tell she was angry, but I didn't feel bad. When Nezumi comes back, she'll tell her what she must. I went back to the couch but still hated the way it felt. I went to lay on the floor, lookin out the window. It was still dark, so I went back to sleep. Mornin will come soon nd I planned on bein there for Nezumi.
Kota couldn't believe the audacity of those around her. She didn't like that people were constantly trying to dictate her life. Akihito and Harumi were the only ones that make me feel like I have a choice while the others treat me like a monster for wanting more. She thought to herself while shoving her face in a pillow.
With the events that had happened within a span of less than a week, no one was wrong for feeling the way they felt, however, there were good and bad ways to handle everything. None of which Kota and Nezumi wanted to admit to.
Kota tied her pink hair in a ponytail. Maybe Topaz is right. If I want Nezumi to let go, I gotta face it head on. She exhaled, letting herself up once more to go look for Nezumi. Day break was going to happen soon. Maybe Nezumi would be able to hear her out now.
The elevator ascended, going higher and higher. She didn't know where Nezumi was, but she had a few ideas despite the facility being so large. She within the lobby of the top entrance. The security guard greeted her and waved. "Good morning, Miss Kota. You're up incredibly early." Kota waved in response.
"I'm looking for my friend. She's about 5', long black hair, freckles, and close to my age." The guard nodded, pretending to think hard. "I believe she wanted to look for training room. Well, she said she wanted to punch something, so I told her to go to the tenth floor. Second hall to the right." Kota bowed in appreciation and headed to the other elevator for the top building.
She could feel butterflies in her stomach. The anxiety built as each level dinged to her ascension. When she got to the tenth floor, she could already hear a commotion. Banging, booms, and cracking filled her ears, wondering if she picked the right time to talk to her after all. Shaking her head to hype herself up, she went to the training room.
Kota's eyes peeked through the door. She could see Nezumi attempting to dodge something. It looked like red bullets, but they were too fast for her to see. One struck Nezumi, launching her back into the wall and suspending her. She saw Nezumi's body begin to shift, getting smaller and disappearing into her clothes. A long giant snake slithered from the remains of her clothes, gliding quickly towards the assailant.
"Interesting. You aren't as bad as I thought." Kota recognized the voice as Hawks'. Did Nezumi pick a fight with a Pro Hero?! Kota began to open the door wider, wanting to see what was going on, not caring if she was spotted.
The long snake coiled, making a rattling sound. Diamond Back? Kota guessed, watching Nezumi's head sway, planning her next attack. She opened her mouth, exposing her fangs as she gave off an intimidating hiss. Hawks began to shoot his feathers to Nezumi, her body slender enough to miss the attacks and she launched. She managed to wrap herself around Hawk's but not for long. Soon, she lost her form, panting, sweaty, and naked.
Hawks turned away immediately, controlling his feathers to give Nezumi her clothes back. Nezumi panted as she began putting them back on. "See, I told you it's a draw back when I fully transform."
"I can see that." Hawks didn't look flustered, or embarrassed. "Akihito told me that you threatened him with a scorpion stinger. Why don't you use your quirk like that more often than transforming your whole body?" He asked as she wiped the sweat from her face.
"It's harder to hold it when I try to use multiple aspects of my quirk at once. See, I learned to manipulate my muscles, making my hits harder. But when it came to getting out of your hold, it felt better to transform my whole body, reducing the stress on my body and being able to fight. Just—I wasn't able to keep it for long because I got tired." Nezumi said sheepishly. Hawks lifted his brow at her, not making sense of her actions. "
Nezumi continued, "I think because of all the stuff I went through, by body was able to protect itself by changing certain parts of me. But it was something to concentrate on while—" She stopped, not sure what to say next.
Kota cleared her throat, trying to make her presence known. Both looked toward her, not looking surprised in the slightest. "Can we talk?"
Nezumi stared at Kota, waiting for her to continue. This made Kota feel worse because she wasn't expecting an audience. "Nezumi, I think we need to go our separate ways." It was a sentence that was blunt, and straight to the point. Nezumi's brown eyes didn't change, making it hard to read her reaction.
"I don't think we can be friends. I relied on you when we were in the complex, but I don't think I need you anymore." Kota's words came off harshly, but she didn't know how else to say it. "From here on out, I won't be staying here anymore. I had already talked with Haru-chan, and she said that they were going to take me somewhere else. Thank you for everything, but after today, we won't be seeing each other."
Kota's words were true. She had been speaking with Harumi after the initial talk with everyone. She was able to express herself clearly to Harumi and Akihito, but things with Nezumi were too exhausting to continue. Still, Nezumi said nothing as she walked past Kota.
She paused at the door, opening it and contemplating. She finally spoke. "You know, I'm actually glad I won't have to deal with you anymore." Kota stared, shocked by her words. "You were always such a drag, always asking me to do the stupidest things possible because you were scared. Thank you, Kota. Thank you for freeing me from the burden you so selfishly put upon me. Coming into my bed at night because of a nightmare. Frying food for you because you feared the grease popping onto you."
Nezumi now turned to Kota, tears threatening the corners of her eyes. "Thank you so much for asking everything I could offer to you and draining me dry. All my time spent taking care of you despite me getting fucked over—quiet literally, by life. So fucking thank you."
Nezumi turned to run from the scene. She knew her words hurt Kota, but she wanted to hurt her just as much as she did. She could feel herself spiraling, unable to control the anger she felt. She was enraged. She was empty. She was confused. She was laughing. She wanted to hit Kota. She wanted to hit herself. So many things shifted and exploded in her mind as she ran.
Nezumi found the stairwell, morphing elongated membranous, making her fly up the stairs. Her adrenaline was pumping so hard, she couldn't fly straight. Hitting the walls and rails on her way up. She needed to be out. She needed air, not surrounded by people.
She made it to the top, hyperventilating, causing her vision to blur and heart to palpitate due to the immense stress she felt. The door was locked. Of course, it was locked. It would be irresponsible to keep a facility like this unlocked. Still, she reached for her key card, trying to swipe it, only to fail because of how bad she was shaking.
Her wings dissipated; her fists hitting the metal door. She needed to focus her breathing, calming her hands. She knew this but couldn't control her rage. She began hitting her head hard against the door, causing the skin to split, only for it to slowly heal.
This enraged her even more, trying to punch her way through the door, bloodying it up with her fists. Why is she leaving me? She can't leave me just like that! She's been my only friend since I started living with my uncle. She was there for me when my parents died. I was there for her when her brother died! How can she just tell me she wants to leave and forget me?!"
Nezumi began punching her fists into her head, her thighs, anywhere she could to try and gain some control. Then suddenly, she stopped. Everything was quiet. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her panting. The slow of her heart. Her tears receded, and she picked up the card to scan it again.
Badum
The click of the door and green light signaled that it was unlocked. She went through, only to find several other doors leading to the roof. It made sense, though exhausted her, nonetheless. As soon as she opened the door, she was met with a gust of wind, blowing back her hair and making her close her eyes.
She knew she was supposed to be cold but felt nothing. She could see the sun peering over the horizon, signaling a new day even though she had been up since two in the morning. The pink sky transitioned to grey as she felt the cold morning air hit her skin. Her breath was visible, showing her how much she was still panting, but she didn't care.
This feels good. She thought to herself as it felt like the hot air in her body was being released, taking the weight of guilt off her shoulders for the moment. She couldn't feel anything anymore, but the whistle of the wind comforted her ears. She just wanted to be happy. She thought that by helping Keigo, that she would have been able to take Kota and live on their own. It was a short-sighted plan, but something she reached for despite it all. Even so, Kota's love was conditional, and that made her want her parents.
I miss the way Mama hugged me. I miss the way Papa would watch the stars with me. I miss the way Mama encouraged me. I just want to be with them!
Then why not join them?
Nezumi opened her eyes, emotions halting yet again. It had been a while since she heard the voice. The voice that coaxed her whenever something bad would happen. The voice that spoke to her whenever she was with another client. The voice that protected her when she was being bullied in school.
She stood up, walking over to the edge of the building. Why not join… them?...
Life was so much easier before Kota. Before Uncle. If you jump, you'll be with Mama and Papa again.
Nezumi laughed to herself, nausea filling her stomach. Would that be such a good idea?
Sure, it would. It would be easy to just let go. They can't use you if your dead. You won't be alone on the streets. You can make it to paradise with Mama and Papa.
Nezumi laughed again and again; the idea releasing euphoria the more she thought of it. Would it be easy? She thought of the possibility of hitting the ground, only for her body to heal. But could it heal with enough damage? She wasn't immortal but still, her body did things to keep her alive. Would she be able to withstand her quirk until she hit the bottom?
She pondered the thought as the sun crept over the sky. She couldn't feel anything yet again. She thought of how much she wanted to have her family back, though she couldn't feel the desire. She wanted to go back and save them, though she knew it was impossible. But if she would jump, it would no longer be her concern. She wouldn't have to think of anything.
She stepped on the edge of the building, feeling the wind encouraging her to jump. Her body was so numb, though from the cold or her emotions, she couldn't tell. It's funny. You fear death until you have nothing left to live for.
Nezumi thought she heard a noise in the distance but didn't care. She already had one foot over the edge and exhaled.
With that, she pushed herself forward, hearing a scream behind her. "Nezumi-chan!" Kota screamed as Topaz ran towards her. Nezumi turned enough to see them reaching for her in the moment, but it was too late. Her mind began to panic as she fell.
Topaz launched herself over the building, diving to catch Nezumi and wrap her in her arms. Though the wind stung but she could see the fear and recognition of her actions in her eyes. You aren't dying alone! Topaz thought, grabbing onto her, wrapping herself around her.
This, however, was not the best plan. Topaz was unaware that Nezumi could create various wings, able to stop her fall. But due to Topaz's good intentions, Nezumi couldn't open her arms or protrude any from her back. They were both falling, gravity seemingly shifting their organs. They couldn't tell if they heard the pounding of the other's hearts or if it was their own. They felt the air shift around them as they fell.
Then plat. Nezumi could feel the air expelling from her lungs, being crushed by the weight of Topaz and the velocity of the fall. She was sure she had broken a rib or pelvic bone, but pain flourished through her body. She coughed and gasped uncontrollably as a sudden moment of clarity that they were back on the roof hit.
Topaz quickly got up and tried to shake Nezumi into reality. Nezumi's ears rang as she tried to catch her breath, wheezing from both the loss of air and panic that was setting in. She tried to collect herself, fixating on the other portals that were beginning to close. Was she hallucinating? Due to the lack of oxygen, she began to pass out, thoughts and panic, fading away.
Topaz and Shiro were trying to wake Nezumi up, checking her heart and seeing if she was still breathing. She isn't breathing. Shiro thought to herself, imagining the lobby at the bottom of the building, she attempted to open another portal, knowing she had used up her quirk. She tried to activate her quirk over and over. Tears began to cloud her sight as she kept yelling to herself. "Come on!" Time was short as she kept trying to produce her portal. Somewhere, anywhere! I need to get her help! Shiro's anger towards herself cause a red portal to open below them as they sunk into it quickly. They dropped to the ground with a thud as the portal closed almost catching them in between. Exhaustion followed as both girls as they still checked on Nezumi.
The lobby quickly erupted in chaos as soon as the girls came through the portal, crying and begging for help. This was the furthest Shiro had transported not only one, but three people. The sounds began to fade as medics came to help carry the girls away.