p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c2a985a955e2fe04d6eaf7125a6aa3ff" Keigo stared as Topaz frantically explained everything that had happened. Even though she didn't know the cause, Keigo did. He had been present during the argument Kota and Nezumi had earlier that morning. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Why didn't I follow her?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d13972dae74d3da7217501e15632cae"It was a harsh conversation, but he didn't want to interject. That conversation was between them. He was grateful for the initial interaction with her that morning, being able to gauge Nezumi's quirk. She was responsive in that time letting herself free from her mind. The fire in her eyes was something so fierce that Keigo felt himself pump up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5b1102da39f6192593d87346d798e67e""I-I just- I didn't hurt her! She looked like she couldn't breathe! Did I do that?!" Topaz cried defeated. "I did that..." She sobbed. "I shoulda, like, stayed up after Kota told me they fought. I'm so... stupid..." Keigo wanted to comfort her but lacked the skills in that department. His charm could do so little at this point and made him feel weak./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b5b88cc82aed1c6afde9a88ca62d7c5"He placed a hand on Topaz's shoulder, "You did amazing, kid. You tried saving her and you did amazing. Go get patched up and get some rest until they wake up. Then you can give Nezumi a hard time for being an idiot."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d2d56b48b801517ae773091ccf3da76"Topaz hung her head as she walked off. He noticed her hair had been sliced at an angle, singed towards the ends. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We'll deal with that later./em He exhaled as he proceeded to knock on the door and let himself into the hospital room. "Hey there Reiki-san."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="debf91dc8414faf36a6c754dd3864c9b"An older woman stood before him short-stacked, chubby, and motherly. She was a good doctor and was compassionate to all who came her way. "Oh, Keigo-kun! I was just thinking of you!" Her voice was welcoming but her eyes seemed worried. "I can't believe that she was able to withstand so much damage. Her quirk is out of this world!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c8318e2b8f9b677fa54a0bdca7fbe985"Keigo looked unamused, trying not to seem surprised by this information. "Is this because of her animorph?" Reiki gave him a surprised look, uncertain how he wasn't aware of who this girl was. "No—it's because she has a secondary quirk. Have you ever heard of the Healing Hero: Abel? She was the founder of the Kobayashi Medical Center near Shiketsu High School. I interned there back when she first got pregnant. Then left right before—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="01b644e42064b87f922f4d7061da9b34"Reiki had a hundred-yard stare as her eyes teared up. Keigo gave her a moment, then cleared his throat. He was aware of Nezumi's past and didn't want to talk about it with her so close by. He cleared his throat, "What about her quirk works in this situation?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4929b9ffc4fcf0cfff38762a2b7b6a9"She shook herself back to reality. "Right. Her mother's quirk seemed to have mutated with her father's. He was the Insect Hero: Mimicry. It seems that as a defense mechanism, her body can correct and repair itself. It's fascinating, to say the least./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3123e36cf58f74b9a72f3787abe8b66d""Her scapula was fractured along with her fourth and fifth rib, puncturing her lung. She also sustained a concussion making us debate if we should put her in a medically induced coma to relieve the trauma. I'm surprised the other one didn't receive as much damage. Then again, Kobayashi-san received more of the impact than Topaz-san."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ecb3c029364133fbec2d3a73f259adff""Topaz also has a stronger body even if her quirk isn't activated," Keigo said, rubbing the back of his head. "So, from what it sounds like is that she is going to be here for a while. Will she need to go to physical therapy?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="86e04add7bf7dba7433c5c0ab1daafec"Reiki laughed, "With all that trauma, physical therapy would be the least of our concerns. But no, she won't. Currently, she is fine. Any physical trauma received from the impact was completely healed. Granted, they didn't hit the ground below, but they did fall several stories before the other girl's quirk saved them. Even Recovery Girl's quirk can't heal that quickly without drawbacks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="23b42041bb518a4d332a83b21269fda2""As for the other, she is also fine. She just overexerted herself and needs the rest. Other than that, there isn't a need for any more medical attention. We will keep them overnight to monitor but if there is no change, they can be released by the morning. I'm sure with this information, some would like to take some blood samples for testing. Though, we would need permission of course."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c6b1058d704e3bcbd48dd10921ad7a8f"Reiki bowed to Keigo as she walked to the door. She stopped halfway and asked him quietly. "Are the rumors true?" She asked, looking Keigo sternly in the eyes. He paused for a moment, feeling his feathers vibrate slightly at the discomfort of confirming. "Yes. They are."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7eadcec85a37e2cf5c3f17a7e1481f0"He could see Reiki clench her fists and her jaw. "I was there when that girl was first born. I can't believe she was involved in the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Red Roof Raid/em. It breaks my heart" she whispered as she closed her eyes. "She was supposed to go live with her grandparents in the west, but her grandmother was showing signs of dementia around the time Kobayashi-san's parents were murdered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="10556edcc395167bdd49f888e3e10671""Their deaths made it worse. Her only daughter was dead, and her grandfather was so stressed. And to top it all off, committed by their son. He had money—I can't even begin to process how he was able to do justify his actions. That monster ruined a happy child from a loving home. I hope he rots in prison for this life and the ones that follow."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cd054d98344a6c96262f89aeb57dc57b"Keigo watched as Reiki left. He knew the story very well. The Kobayashi Medical Center was renowned all over Japan. After the death of their founder, it was taken over by her partners, leaving her daughters with trusts and money that could be used as they got older. However, the only other person that could take her in was her uncle./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="553ff1552bab8df5a2c2776041d37487"Their adopted daughter, Sophia Annabelle, was kidnapped and never found. They had left her some things too, considering her as a family after the incarceration of her father. The night Mimicry died was the night Sophia Annabelle was taken. It almost felt like tragedy was the common theme for these kids. Keigo himself going through neglect and abuse as a young child. "Tragedy loves company," Keigo whispered to himself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c369436f2d508ffe36ce0c8a136d85fd"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - Nezumi - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eacc832b0fd8aabbba0889a95aca8157""Nezumi-chan!" Sophia sang as she approached me. I stared at her excitedly, waiting for our playtime to start. She told me that she brought something special. "Did you wait too long for me, huh?" Sophia had short pink hair that looked like waves and eyes a deep garnet. She was slightly taller than me and so much cuter./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="62b1400ae5fa4c8da875a11b87b666af""N-not long," I said flustered. I hated how shy I got around here. She was my best friend, and she still made my heart beat fast./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef52178cd7d8fbd140f9582fdc5159c6""Huh? Speak with confidence Nezumi-chan! I got something cool to show you!" Sophia looked in her bag and pulled out a small fluffy ball. I stared quizzically at it as it lightly shivered. "It's a mouse! Cute ain't it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ec1d1b2c086a7dac0e5823114d4e0475"It turned around, looking at me as it clicked. "Oh, it has an upper respiratory infection," I mumbled to myself. "Y-you should take it to a vet." Sophia's eyes darted to me then the mouse. "That's not what I intend to do. I intend to show you, my quirk!" she smiled triumphantly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fd83efde46bcb74cbfdd2c424652faab"I fidgeted excitedly. I had just manifested my healing quirk the week prior leaving Sophia behind. She was so upset she pouted the whole walk home from school. Our quirks didn't manifest at the age of four. That made us feel more bonded together in a world full of quirks. After I got mine, she said she would try everything possible to prove she had one too./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="761242b65e128e33317851a9e6564d4a"Sophia took me to a small pond as the mouse moved in her hand. She whispered something to it then let it down near the water's edge. I stared excitedly as the mouse looked back, more attentive than before. I looked to her then to it. Something strange was happening to the mouse. It didn't try to run away or hide despite being out in the open./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21d3f8d6eec4eeec3085814a98d5d0e0"Sophia began to bend down to place her hand like a platform, the mouse jumping up to balance. The mouse then jumped back and forth between the ground and her hand. Suddenly it stopped to lift its hind legs and balance itself with its front pads. It was impressive but I couldn't figure out what her quirk was./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a6576b5ac7bc95724a4f51044d5d65a1""I can control things!" Sophia said. "Watch." She knelt, mouse crawling up her arm. It went over her shoulders as she stood up and then it went to the palm of her small hand. The mouse stood still in her palm with its black eyes staring at me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f25604c046f68c51bbe98ae4dca9f4d0""Or you just have a well-trained mouse?" I questioned. Sure, it was impressive that a mouse could do all the things it did. But control? No way. A quirk like that is too powerful for someone like Sophia. She had a habit of getting away with things that left me to take the blame but this was something else entirely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dff1fadae58cca7d99c5c5d828676439"Sophia's eyes turned mean. It was almost like her personality had switched. "Fine. You'll see." The mouse crawled out of her hand and down her body. I was surprised by its agility. It ran from her leg to the water's edge and just ran into the water./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="59567679691a55493d999f1f0f05b76b""S-Sophia?" I stared as the mouse completely disappeared. I tried to reach out to it only for several other small animals to submerge from the murky depths. All of them were dead. I stepped back, tripping over something and landing hard on my butt./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ded30f624aa692166557db9955682bbb"I looked up to see a dog's body; blood-drenched and patchy fur. I screamed and tried to get away from it only for my hand to land on the body of a dead bird. I looked around and there were dead animals everywhere. All of them were mutilated; each one getting cleaner than the one before. The actions on them became more precise due to the practice of one's craft./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1ec9b72fb63e8777ef3cb470b7e5d121"Sophia stood before me looking as she did the last time I saw her. Older with longer hair and a more mature body than my own. Her smile stretched over her face like a maniac. It was too wide, and her eyes were cat-like. em style="box-sizing: border-box;""This is where it all started Nezumi-chan."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4ca8436dde5fec99602450a7d1e34604"Her face was too close and I wanted to curl up and cry into Mama's arms. My breath caught in my chest, and I cried, "Stop it, Sophia!" I opened my eyes to see everything back to normal, the mouse returning from the water and back up Sophia's shoulder./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7dd647da6130287a617f8ca4ea665676""N-Nezumi-chan? Are you ok? The mouse just went for a little swim! No harm to it other than it being wet!" She began hugging me and apologizing for the scare she gave me. I hiccupped into her arms as I tried to calm down. I couldn't even remember why I was crying anymore./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0ac40c9f15222f9f019602696aecdb2d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - 51107 - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d3b86179b0693545acdf028c3d6c8803"I woke up exhausted. My head ached as I sat up in a hospital room. I recalled overusing my quirk, but I was amazed I was able to open a portal so far from the roof. My head throbbed as I tried standing, seeing Nezumi in the bed next to me. She looked safe. I saw Topaz on the other side of her. "Hey there Shiro." She looked exhausted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="892afaf4f9c26321bc1920b12b4f869c""They said y'all should make a full recovery. That's amazin'. Not a single thing wrong with her. She's gotta be stronger than me." She gave a half-smile and I nodded in response. I wasn't surprised by this. Nezumi wasn't breathing after she landed, and it scared me. But with what Topaz had told me, it confirmed my suspicions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5c0551cfca41d58ca7fc3fb48725e9fa""She has a healing ability," I said softly. "She healed you as well." Topaz's golden eyes widened. "After you were knocked out in the garage, she went straight over to you and kissed the top of your head. She didn't seem concerned with your wounds despite how loud the crack made an echo. I apologize for that."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e2bad7986ec33ae880eee72f25715d42"A crimson color seemed to spread across her face. "That wasn't a dream? I wondered why I didn't have any bruises or bleedin'. Juss thought I got lucky."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="111d565a727c775bc76477d30c995b92"I shook my head. "I noticed that when they put you on the stretcher, you didn't have any physical wounds despite bleeding. They confirmed that you had blood on you, but they thought it was from someone else."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="70882e5e46181633ad6335031dbe9c5b"Nezumi's body was twitching slightly, and Topaz stared at her as worry spread over her face. "If I may, why do you seem so attached to her? Though I did what I could to save her, you jumped off a roof with no idea how to ensure your lives. What was your plan?" It was very much a question that had been burning in my mind after I saw her jump. It was idiotic to say the least./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b6ba706f859018b980f12c2a7cbc3fe"Topaz shifted as she tried to think of a response. Her eyes grew soft as the crimson returned, "She-she don't remember me, but she saved me when I was a kid." Topaz was looking to the left as she continued. "When I was younger, I got bullied a lot. Kids didn't like me cause I was different. They use to kick n' punch. Pull n' push. Shove my face into water n' drown me only to bring my head up n' let me live. My ma didn't want much to do with me. She always locked me out of the apartment, so I just stayed out n' tried to explore. I couldn't speak much to people cause they always made fun of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="72a7c80643e973513b7717b0ba4b2fbc""Anyway, one day it was really bad. I had always worn what I wanted cause it's all I could find. I didn't mind though. I felt great in it. But some kids in the area bullied me for that too. They ended up bein' led by this girl who was awful. Think of the biggest cunt you know and multiply that by the Devil and that's what ya got./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b37cfa3e56e4e10e7926a599e2d4598""They beat me more than usual and laughed at me. The girl had them hold me down so she could cut and dye my hair this ugly black. It never, like, came out of my hair after that so, like, I eventually shaved it off. Oh, but before the shave, they dumped me in the river when the current was strong." Topaz started to look uncomfortable. Her leg began to shake as her pupils became dilated as she continued./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2312c83622cfda112ac18269a401a75f""I remember going in the water n' tryin' to swim but couldn't. I sunk like a rock but my body kept flailin like a fish. I fought to keep above water but that didn't work. I felt like I was going to give up because I couldn't swim n' my body was heavy. Then I remember a girl screamin n wavin n I tried reachin for her but sunk./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6b1d5f37256c44ed0e77e234167cbb08""Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital n she was there for me. People were so mean. Like, me existing made everyone want to hurt me. But nah, she was sweet. Kind. She read to me n helped me understand some stuff. Mostly about arachnids, or spiders—" Topaz smiled smugly at that, and I felt my lips curl from amusement. "But not only that, she gave me my name."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="44970a9f9123af4db1af90818226020b"Topaz gave Nezumi a longing look as Nezumi's face scrunched in distress. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She must be having a bad dream. /em"She told me em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A pretty name for a pretty girl. /emThat stuck with me cause everyone always called me ugly nd said I was better off dead. Or they would look in the opposite way n ignore me when I got bullied. They thought a Hero would save me. I hate how passive most are. That's why bein a Hero sounds good. I can be the person that helps those look like me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d3b856784a58d73ccba541e5212c2553""The only other person that showed me kindness was her Pa. He was the one who saved me from drownin but I remember tellin myself that I wanted to die. If it wasn't the water, I probably woulda done something else cause everythin was tough. I never felt somethin so warm but I remember the pat on the head he gave me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a540fe3cf373523095834737dd3c96d3"While Topaz seemed to reminisce on the thought, I couldn't help but think how the effect of one's actions can give someone hope. Though I'm sure she doesn't realize it, Nezumi seems to have made more of an impact on those she met passing by or by chance. Just like her willingness to stay with me by request or being by her side when Topaz woke up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d8edd3b372b90add3a25c9b8d6967a2f"She didn't wake for the night but was having a bad dream. We attempted to wake her to no avail. We talked the rest of the night, comparing scars and talking about things that came to mind. I adored the way Topaz talked. She apologized time and time again because she thought my vocabulary was wider than her own./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f2da71edfa04d5712670abf315d8b4a9"We talked about the insecurities we faced with uncertainty. Her's was more towards school while mine was towards getting stronger. I offered to tutor her so that we may be able to get stronger together. It was therapeutic in a way that gave clarity. Even though we went through different things, we were both experiments for someone else's gain./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b1a3692886f52acc189abc7dbcbeb865""What do you think about Nezumi?" Topaz asked. I pondered the thought for a moment. It wasn't an unfamiliar thought, but I wasn't sure if I read her correctly enough to say what I thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cca3e2e8751cf074c8fa6ddce7003c28""I think she has abandonment issues." Topaz stared at me with her mouth gawking. Her tusks looked bigger because of this but she suddenly burst out laughing. "No shit! That Kota chick ain't come by. I know Akinari n' Haruka told her by now but she don't care."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="175223192033488d16d4c0b89f7e22ce"It took me a moment to realize who she was talking about. "Akihito and Harumi?" I asked amazed that she hadn't learned their names by now. "Is that their names? Oh, my bad." She said that even though it didn't seem she cared enough to commit that to memory./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dc0c84108515e44845906d6959d1a769""Hey so, like, I have a question." Topaz reached back to her hair and brushed it over her shoulder. "Did your quirk do this?" The ends were singed at an angle. I nodded as I got up to inspect it closer. I stood over her now at eye level with one another. She blushed as I held her split ends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f1e5c8a945492f534833074cb599adfe"We could probably cut it, but I was uncertain how she would feel about that. "When my quirk closes versus dissipating it will cut off anything between both sides. That was my mistake." Her face went pale upon hearing my words and I could understand why. Most would think a portal wouldn't be a dangerous thing but it is./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4104512198d7de8722fafeaa3c6ab01"A small noise escaped from her mouth as her brows furrowed, "Wha?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa11366f1853eab905781c76267d9e5c"I placed her hair down softly against her shoulder as I tried to explain the best I could, "I can only use my quirk up to three times. Well, four if my adrenaline is coursing through me. However, I can only manifest it in places I've seen so I panicked when you both went over the building. I had to concentrate enough to remember the outside of the building but by the time the first two portals manifested, you both had already fallen past them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="18a996f8f15489565d0e733e49e9e2cd""Due to me being able to see you both from the closest portal, I summoned another one. Both of you were still impacted by the fall because I am unable to control the momentum of the free fall." I omitted the fact that the colors represent some benefits or harm. I wasn't too confident on that part due to the neglect of information from the monsters that worked on me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d7789dc2352e1cc9c25f042247da64e""If it closes, the portal will close and damage whatever is between both planes. Whatever is in between cannot exist in two places at once. When it dissipates, it's almost as if it's telling your hair to hurry to the other side. I like to imagine the time and space used to create them can push the molecules that make you, through the portal instead of cutting it. I apologize for cutting your hair like that. We can make it even, but I am unable to make it look stylish."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f879af4f152e84b776ac582ac0d7c1d5"Silence filled the room. I wasn't sure if it was because she realized how close she was to a painful end or if she was thinking of the damage done to her hair. "May I ask for a favor? I don't have a right to considering the circumstances."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa78478c5c527ade5f3207f6f71c4977""Shoot ya shot girlie." Topaz smiled as she sat in front of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ce2fbbe61341a5d0fac61a881fbd5e12""Do you think we can sleep in the same bed? Nezumi had been sleeping in the same bed as me, but I don't think it would be wise to sleep with her currently." The shift in her gaze made me skeptical if I was forcing too much on her or not. "You do not have to. It was just a reques—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="81d23ca2a75934928cb0a38c2309cc41""No, it's not that- Jus' I haven't slept with another person, let alone a girl." She was very much flustered by the request. I responded back, "But we're both girls."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8d44c7fa2afd5c908fa96772865e7194""Y-yeah but..." She twiddled her thumbs. "I just get anxious around cute girls. Not that I don't like you. But my past with em' hasn't been the kindest. Which is weird because I like them over guys a lot." She looked cute herself, long eyelashes shadowing her pupils. It made me sad that so many people didn't like her because of her mutation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="779f938cd64f19850c75e57a077fcb24"I didn't have an issue with any part of her despite the blatant differences between us. "You can control your urges though, right?" She nodded and I gave a small smile. "Then there will be no issues. The night is gone, and the morning will come soon. Two nights of going to sleep late will make us less productive."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="99ab9fe538373353a4868c5da404c080"I walked back to the head of the bed and laid down, patting the other side of me. Topaz crawled over and laid beside me. She didn't know what to do with her hands, but I opened my arms towards her. Her strong body fell into mine, and I could feel her heart beating fast./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ffef413abfbc19af5c00f824e51732d5"Physicality did not bother me. I was used to others poking and prodding me without permission. This on the other hand was a choice. Our size difference amused me. This was the second time someone taller than me was being cuddled./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5f1882282f9d5ebf6c5aa82f473854b0"Her heartbeat matched mine as I began to slowly drift. Human touch was so pure and loving when it is a choice. The kindness I felt emanating from both as they slept helped me understand them better. And even though it had nothing to do with a quirk, I could feel myself becoming more attuned to them. Returning to the motherly role I began stroking Topaz's hair the way I did to Nezumi's the night prior. The comfort sent me to sleep quickly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3fc9e22e93ae9bde61a9ea7993af71a7"- - - - - - - - -/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa628bd8624ecacb9bf01a84e3b78d3a"Kota stood out the door, listening to Topaz and Shiro talking. She could feel her legs shaking in anger and frustration through the slightly ajar door. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They don't even know me and they have the nerve to say my name?/em Kota could see Harumi and Akihito down the hall as they spoke with the doctors. Kota had heard that Nezumi was in the hospital but didn't understand why./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="532deefda269cf323b1ef7174a716fd4"Akihito saw Kota walking towards him and stepped aside. "Did you visit her?" Akihito asked. She had only stepped away for a short moment, leaving Akihito confused. "She looked fine to me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1578aa6bd7258928f9ab0ca0438b92bb"Kota hadn't actually gone in, but she didn't care enough to tell the truth. "You may be correct, but it's still scary for a friend to go through that." Her eye twitched as she could feel her pulse beating. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So it's just another one of her cries for attention? How annoying is she to say all that then want my attention?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a560bcc6126cb47da8ef8524970d45d5"Nezumi used to visit Kota late at night. She would seek comfort but never tell Kota why. When she finally caved, she told her that the kids at school had been bullying her every day and that the clients were starting to abuse her. Kota hadn't believed her due to no marks being visible. But she let Nezumi do this because she figured she missed her parents and didn't want to seem childish./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="05407c4efdbccb33a42d93c44b939e97"Kota thought it was comparable to when Nezumi claimed she had a friend that used to kill animals because she thought it was fun. Or that her uncle used her as a punching bag despite him always showing favoritism towards her. This was after Kota had told her that one of the boys in her class wrote her a love letter and made Nezumi jealous. Kota didn't believe that Nezumi could go through so much and not have a single scar or bruise./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="358fd6d04b00773c6e7dc565fd696537"She wasn't aware of Nezumi's ability to heal. They never really talked about it because Nezumi claimed that she only used her quirks when she was with clients, and it made her uncomfortable to think about it. Nezumi was unaware that Kota didn't believe her either./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="33f4598d1c53ef5d7b9675c38d52ce64""I'll be waiting in the car. I don't want to be here anymore." Kota said as she walked towards the elevator. Harumi and Akihito had more to discuss with the doctor before leaving. Reiki stood before them as she held a handkerchief in her hand, wiping the tears away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e4c66d415d969f90e2dd38dde9864df""I just can't believe it. I know that you are doing all you can, but we've conducted so many kits on the children following the Raid. I can't imagine what these kids went through, but to happen to the child of someone I knew so closely—I can't even process."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e82b1a603ed0396e81fab921b543801"Akihito continued to scribble. The police and investigators stationed at the hospital were working around the clock to gather evidence and check on the health of the children. "This is a children's hospital. I've seen my fair share of misfortune, but this is so horrible./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0537b4a97331b784f7330a39abf8733c""Some of these kids were kidnapped. And others that were documented were..." Reiki had called Akihito and Harumi down for some disturbing information. "I'm not sure what is going on, but these kids aren't even alive." They stared at her with wide expressions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="911bf81d2d2173a7203798cd036f5509""What do you mean? Can you give more clarification?" Reiki nodded and showed the two to another floor further up the hospital. They went through many clearance areas with strict access. Finally coming to a large room with a wide window to peer through./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f88dbc7ed1cd588a7afa1946cbb717b1"Twenty kids of different ages stood with their heads hung low and looked to be slumping slightly. "What do you notice about these kids?" Reiki's voice was shaking at this point as she sniffled. Both adults stared intently for a few moments, making sure that their eyes weren't playing tricks on them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3541f0fca83cc0fabfd0054d9a4c3669"The kids weren't blinking—In fact they weren't even breathing. No motion, no swaying. They just stood perfectly still. "I tried checking their vitals and thought that my equipment was broken, but no. I tried drawing blood and yet nothing came out. I opened their mouths, and they had no saliva then I realized they were almost like silicon./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="881db4f1184487c210a81e0ed5038469""Their skin had no warmth, no life. But they moved as if they were. I doubt anyone noticed this when transporting the children. Our brains have the tendency to fill in the gaps of something of some things that are off. We make ourselves believe the second hand on the clock is a little too slow. Figures in the dark—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6fd7bb1ff026a8395d399012a7a8638a""So we didn't realize there was something wrong at the time of the raid?" Both Akihito and Harumi were silent, wondering how long the real children had been missing. "Do they speak?" Reiki shook her head, "They can move and be directed. Other than that, they don't speak, breathe, eat, use facilities, or anything. They just, exist."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f9c035564983564a7612b74a388e3443"There had been no reports of children missing. Even when children's welfare did their checks, they saw that the kids were playing and interacting normally. "If they can't talk, that means it was something recent, right?" Akihito asked, still trying to process the information./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d7599cbd8ecfb5dd8e560951e7778604""I-I'm not sure," Reiki stammered. "This is due to someone's quirk, but we have no records of a quirk like this in existence unless the object being used was alive, formerly alive, transformation, creation, or fragile quality—but not like this. Things usually lose their form by damage or being far away from the source or creator. These can still move if they are being led./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5262d0bd13b2ccdea452efdae0c78ef0""We performed x-rays and there is nothing inside them that can be controlled or make sense as to why they are still moving. It's terrifying." Reiki was still crying as Akihito wrote everything down, observing the motionless husks before him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="97d6b79436eb549d5ace15a5951cade7""As terrible as this sounds, why use real kids when you have the ability to make something so life-like?" Harumi asked no one in particular. They knew why, it was for power and control. If something wasn't born with free will, then corrupting it would be a simple task and hold no power or gratification. There were no justification, just sick people trying to stay in society if they could./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="70ed349c8bdd306f473b13f01f13c41f"Akihito and Harumi exited the hospital. They looked at each other while Harumi took out a pack of cigarettes she kept since the end of the initial raid. They both lit and took a long drag; the menthol and toxins releasing that first hit euphoria. Akihito took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "On top of the five missing minors, we have twenty who were accounted for, but now missing."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="489ecb0602d35779c1678a8bbddf8794""On top of that, more information of child abductions are coming to light being associated with the Red Roofs. It's amazing how long this was going on for it to only be discovered recently within the last three years." Harumi crouched against the wall as she inhaled another drag. As the smoke exited her lungs she sighed, looking up to Akihito./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e8f0c045e0459baaf7a7c4dd51298954"Rumi Apartment complex was established by Hisoki Kawari, Shizuka Kobayashi's biological brother. They were not very close growing up until Shizuka hit the Pro Hero Top 100 Billboard ranking at 30. They collaborated with the idea of mutual housing for children in foster care and orphans looking for adoption. This was in part with Shizuka noticing the lack of children in decent care throughout Japan after adopting their daughter, Sophia Annabelle. Though some did find forever homes, it wasn't particularly alarming that the other children were unable to due to age, quirks, and other factors./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="acbc64bdb7cbf7a8c25e6f87826b1a06"The stigma of adopting was not a commonly accepted thing in Japan. And while the children were provided for, they quickly went under the radar after Shizuka died. It's assumed that the trafficking started before her death, though no records date back far enough to establish it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d87868810928d0b8af74987ef085da6"The lack of government involvement for these children had people favoring the Hero Public Safety Commission. While many thought it would taint the Kobayashi name and medical center, due to Hisoki cutting ties with them and living under the radar, they faced no public backlash due to their help and safety within Japan. However, they did apologize for not being more involved to help the children affected by the Rumi Apartments and vowed to help work hand in hand with the police as the investigation continued./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aaa564ab0fc0f4885ee2771d83aeee1d""If we didn't need these kids for the future of the Safety Commissions, life would be easier," Akihito said as he slumped next to Harumi. She gave a side glance at him due to the uncharacteristic response. "Don't get me wrong, I want to do everything I can to help it's just—this case is so ugly. I knew we would have to make tough calls and see terrible things, but these are children. It's hard not to take it home and plan for a future involving kids when we're dealing with this."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82661af72c20222a03e944d37975699c"The thought of building a family became a discussion more and more between the two. They had been planning on a wedding but haven't talked about it the closer the raid got. The once happy thought made them feel guilty. "We're doing this for the sake of their future. For the sake of our future as well." Harumi crouched before Akihito and grabbed his shoulders firmly. "This is devastating. We are not only doing what we can for this investigation but also trying to help these kids with a future."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0ed08986a86c1801d9e7fa02e21c3451""Is it for their future?" Akihito retorted. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A roof over my head? Money? Food? That's what I was promised living with my uncle, and we all saw how that turned out!/em Nezumi's words echoed through Akihito's head, causing a headache to ensue. "I want to believe this will help them, but if they don't want it, we can't force it. And the Commissions wants us to force it. And now we must work with Kota and the other kids to train them for a future with us. This is propaganda. I joined because I wanted to help people, not brainwash them."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7d84d756f5a69c2697061e18097a7d2a"They both stood quiet as the noise of the city surrounded them. Akihito stood up, reaching out to Harumi to help her up. They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment, trying to process the new information and their own morals involving these kids. There weren't many feasible options, and they both knew this. Stomping out their already dead cigarettes, they began to walk to the car they came in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8124faf2c0773b42af463792c1c706f5"The carefree façade returned to Akihito's face as they got into the car, Kota already nodding off to sleep. It was late at night and Kota was supposed to be up to make a statement in the morning for the investigation. While Akihito did promise Nezumi that Kota wouldn't be involved, she volunteered herself. She wanted to share her experience so that her voice could also be heard. The President of the Commissions was thrilled with the idea, wanting to make Kota the face of the Red Roof Raids and getting the support of the people in masses along with Keigo's approval ratings. Though, this would take some time to accomplish as news outlets wanted to interview her. Protection of minors through publication and interviews were a bit tricky at times, but she wanted to be involved./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="22bbf9e89db8b5ad6b56e5a24ae636cb"With the new information of the missing children, it felt as though parts of the investigation they made strides in were pushed all the way back to square one. They took Kota back to headquarters with the promise of picking her up early in the morning and to try and rest as much as she could. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We all saw how that turned out!/em Nezumi's voice echoed through his head throughout the night only to be silenced by a few nightcaps to lull Akihito to sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2c4a985fdddb4d906f041f1f8e20e4f2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - - Nezumi - - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ae0d5b2ed1a55cba8a263c47c229b35"My eyes blurred as I sat up, bones cracking and muscles stretching in euphoria. It was the best stretch every time I woke up from a deep recovery. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Shit. Recovery. /emThoughts fluttered my head as I searched the room around me. I noticed the doctor was standing at the foot of my bed. She was pretty, motherly, and somewhat familiar. She smiled in a way my mother once did, sending warmth and sadness through my body./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="afe8984eb179c89366223857b54fb719""Hello, Kobayashi-san. How are you feeling this morning?" Her light brown hair was tied loosely, and her eyes were a honey color. I could feel my heart fluttering. "You recovered well! I was just about to have a nurse come in to discharge you. But first, we have a request." I tilted my head in response. My stomach tied in knots at the idea of someone asking something of me. Usually, it wasn't something good./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ee69fb6f44685507c59d07066448650""We were wondering if we could take some blood samples from you. I understand that you might not want to, but it's fascinating how you were to recover so quickly. I have some researcher friends who wanted to have a look at you, but I told them they couldn't. Kept your information private, but if we could potentially have some to study, it could make breakthroughs."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0bb7590a23fb171d783f347c8f6382ec"I nodded eagerly, seeking her touch just to remind me that no one would be able to replace Mama. It was a foolish idea, but the desire was so strong. I wanted motherly comfort that I couldn't find anywhere else. She was surprised by my response. "You do realize if you agree to this, then we might be coming into contact with you in the future, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0befda4a2e2a13d43a908dfc8da3c9bd""As long as I get to come and visit you." I felt my face get warm at the words spewing out of my mouth. Her laugh was like warm honey and she smiled at me, coming to my bedside to turn some of the equipment off. "You know, I use to work with your mother back when I first started my residency at the Medical Center. Your mother was amazing, such a kind soul and a prodigy."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0f5dffd03e746c9aa84c47e02e6701eb"She sat at the side of my bed, reaching for my hand, "If you ever need anywhere to go, you can always come here. If you ever want help with schooling, I can also help with that. From what I remember, you were a very smart girl and your mother would talk about you and the books you read all the time. I'll send a technician in to draw some blood and you can join your friends in the cafeteria."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="782298296be73df60ffffcd925d6875b"My hearing became slightly muffled as I felt my face glow. Anytime someone spoke of my mother, I would always feel my body trying to block it out. It's not that I didn't want to hear it, but thinking about her brought up so many distressing feelings, I couldn't manage if I clung to those thoughts. And while it wasn't the doctor that drew my blood, the promise of seeing her again brought some comfort to my mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2503621ae43c7c075f3bbd7e8d4e61b0"Maybe I could eventually hear stories of my parents and enjoy them with time, but for now, this is all I could do. The process was quick, only taking a few small vials of blood for the time being. I got dressed in fresh clothes and began to head to the cafeteria. With each step I took, I could feel my heartbeat accelerate. I kept thinking over and over about the panic that had set in for them. I know I should apologize, but I didn't know where to begin./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a732e23546f282cc605afe3605f1d409"I entered the cafeteria and saw Keigo waving over at me with a plate full of food. It was approaching noon and he had a plate full of chicken strips and veggies. "Mornin kid. You should grab some food so we can all eat together."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4dd8ecc4840029849a3d98d7e452ca9d"He was nonchalant and didn't ask me questions about what brought me to the hospital. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Does he not care?/em I tried to shake the idea from my head. It didn't make sense that I would be upset about this. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But I'm still human. Does he not care about us?/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3de21d7085cea70596fe8b6bf5f0da11""Ya know the food is better when it's hot. Meals taste better when shared, so hurry up and get something." My mind broke from my previous thoughts. Part of me couldn't remember what I was upset about, but I could feel the anger boil in my stomach. I grabbed some eggs, miso, and rice, not wanting to fill up too much. Despite my hunger, other things were filling my stomach that I knew would cause me to throw up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5a89f3902f325ab7614153ab83f2e308"Following him, I could see Topaz telling Shiro a story. They had papers in front of them with pens. Topaz had a bunch of scribbles on hers while Shiro had a blank page. They both smiled at me and it bugged me. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What? No concern? span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Nothing?/span/em It made me upset that they didn't ask me what happened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1b30859c56fb6b02d3cbc34447d4b6c7"I sat down and grabbed my soup, cup warm in my hand. It brought me comfort and always reminded me of simpler times. "So Keigo told us we can change our names for protection. I can't think of the last name. Whatcha think would be a good one?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="372473b4062ef2c3a1b36624e323ad05"Topaz looked happy with that thought. I thought about the idea and hating the idea of changing my name. But if I thought about it, it made more and more sense. There were so many times I spent on the last floor. The times I had to recite my name and age. They tainted my name and the legacy my parents created./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6e2ae268ede9e427dc54cd40d8cf31fd""Even if we don't join you, we have to change them, don't we?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Keigo rubbed the back of his head, "It ain't as bad as you think."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8863ddd0adbe5f9459e61a9bf5233b9b"We all looked at him simultaneously. Did this mean that he too, changed his name? He grabbed a strip and took a bite. "Listen up. Me telling you this is off the record. Quite literally. This in itself is a violation of my agreement with the Hero Public Safety Commission. What I am telling you will never be repeated, got it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7594d457f3724617b6ef326563d1fb4"We scooted closer together at the table as we waited patiently. I wasn't sure why I was so invested in finding out this information, but I was. "While I did keep my first name, I had to let go of my last name when I joined the Commissions. They gave my mom money for me and I got to train to be the hero I am today."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8a45939cd77f7409f97f5ad11955e339"We looked at each other, equally disappointed in the information we learned. It wasn't like our situation at all. "That doesn't say much," Shiro said quietly. Topaz busted up as I let out a tiny chuckle. Keigo's feathers ruffled as a comically disappointed look spread over his face. "Yah, didn't cha just debut with the raid?" Topaz asked as she settled herself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="998d67670963c5b13ea651959764d0a7"He nodded while angrily munching on his veggies. I could tell he didn't enjoy them but ate them anyway. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They still haven't said anything about me. /emThe thought invaded my head again. I put my hand on my thigh and pinched it hard. The pain released the thought and I started eating my rice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b590af75051dacaa4845f1936690b633""I think the best part about it was becoming a new person," Keigo broke the silence. "My parents were terrible and hated me. My mother called me useless and would get mad at me for helping people because my dad was a thief. If I brought attention to myself then it brought attention to him. But I'm so close to making things better for everyone."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f3968b97e0cc4ac72dd94d58d2bcd135"None of us responded. We continued to eat as I thought about being a Hero, a dream I had as a child. The dream faded within the first month of living with my uncle. Helping people made me happy because I thought of Mama and Papa every time, I did something nice or helped others. It was the only way that I felt close to them because even outside Hero's work, they were always kind people./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fe5a575d3c0dae5670de0e06c02b5689""Nezumi-chan," Shiro looked to me with her thick silver eyebrows furrowed. "I'm glad you're still here with us to enjoy breakfast." I felt the table shift as I looked to Topaz. It reminded me of the times Sophia kicked me when I said something that could get her in trouble. "You missed."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82d417c9badc38b2c3d9a75190d5d990"Topaz avoided eye contact with me but I could feel myself become lighter. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They care. They care about me. They were just trying to be considerate./em I laughed as I could feel my heart become warm as I continued to eat. "Hey Shiro, can I suggest a name for you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b7ce289f2fba531eb07caaa71605dc4c"Everyone looked at me as I spoke. "How about Shizuka?" I saw a tiny light grow in her eyes, bringing a small flush over her cheeks. Keigo's eyes widened in surprise while Topaz smiled. The warmth in my chest grew. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Food is better when you share it with others. /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d13972dae74d3da7217501e15632cae"It was a harsh conversation, but he didn't want to interject. That conversation was between them. He was grateful for the initial interaction with her that morning, being able to gauge Nezumi's quirk. She was responsive in that time letting herself free from her mind. The fire in her eyes was something so fierce that Keigo felt himself pump up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5b1102da39f6192593d87346d798e67e""I-I just- I didn't hurt her! She looked like she couldn't breathe! Did I do that?!" Topaz cried defeated. "I did that..." She sobbed. "I shoulda, like, stayed up after Kota told me they fought. I'm so... stupid..." Keigo wanted to comfort her but lacked the skills in that department. His charm could do so little at this point and made him feel weak./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b5b88cc82aed1c6afde9a88ca62d7c5"He placed a hand on Topaz's shoulder, "You did amazing, kid. You tried saving her and you did amazing. Go get patched up and get some rest until they wake up. Then you can give Nezumi a hard time for being an idiot."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d2d56b48b801517ae773091ccf3da76"Topaz hung her head as she walked off. He noticed her hair had been sliced at an angle, singed towards the ends. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We'll deal with that later./em He exhaled as he proceeded to knock on the door and let himself into the hospital room. "Hey there Reiki-san."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="debf91dc8414faf36a6c754dd3864c9b"An older woman stood before him short-stacked, chubby, and motherly. She was a good doctor and was compassionate to all who came her way. "Oh, Keigo-kun! I was just thinking of you!" Her voice was welcoming but her eyes seemed worried. "I can't believe that she was able to withstand so much damage. Her quirk is out of this world!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c8318e2b8f9b677fa54a0bdca7fbe985"Keigo looked unamused, trying not to seem surprised by this information. "Is this because of her animorph?" Reiki gave him a surprised look, uncertain how he wasn't aware of who this girl was. "No—it's because she has a secondary quirk. Have you ever heard of the Healing Hero: Abel? She was the founder of the Kobayashi Medical Center near Shiketsu High School. I interned there back when she first got pregnant. Then left right before—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="01b644e42064b87f922f4d7061da9b34"Reiki had a hundred-yard stare as her eyes teared up. Keigo gave her a moment, then cleared his throat. He was aware of Nezumi's past and didn't want to talk about it with her so close by. He cleared his throat, "What about her quirk works in this situation?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4929b9ffc4fcf0cfff38762a2b7b6a9"She shook herself back to reality. "Right. Her mother's quirk seemed to have mutated with her father's. He was the Insect Hero: Mimicry. It seems that as a defense mechanism, her body can correct and repair itself. It's fascinating, to say the least./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3123e36cf58f74b9a72f3787abe8b66d""Her scapula was fractured along with her fourth and fifth rib, puncturing her lung. She also sustained a concussion making us debate if we should put her in a medically induced coma to relieve the trauma. I'm surprised the other one didn't receive as much damage. Then again, Kobayashi-san received more of the impact than Topaz-san."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ecb3c029364133fbec2d3a73f259adff""Topaz also has a stronger body even if her quirk isn't activated," Keigo said, rubbing the back of his head. "So, from what it sounds like is that she is going to be here for a while. Will she need to go to physical therapy?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="86e04add7bf7dba7433c5c0ab1daafec"Reiki laughed, "With all that trauma, physical therapy would be the least of our concerns. But no, she won't. Currently, she is fine. Any physical trauma received from the impact was completely healed. Granted, they didn't hit the ground below, but they did fall several stories before the other girl's quirk saved them. Even Recovery Girl's quirk can't heal that quickly without drawbacks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="23b42041bb518a4d332a83b21269fda2""As for the other, she is also fine. She just overexerted herself and needs the rest. Other than that, there isn't a need for any more medical attention. We will keep them overnight to monitor but if there is no change, they can be released by the morning. I'm sure with this information, some would like to take some blood samples for testing. Though, we would need permission of course."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c6b1058d704e3bcbd48dd10921ad7a8f"Reiki bowed to Keigo as she walked to the door. She stopped halfway and asked him quietly. "Are the rumors true?" She asked, looking Keigo sternly in the eyes. He paused for a moment, feeling his feathers vibrate slightly at the discomfort of confirming. "Yes. They are."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7eadcec85a37e2cf5c3f17a7e1481f0"He could see Reiki clench her fists and her jaw. "I was there when that girl was first born. I can't believe she was involved in the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Red Roof Raid/em. It breaks my heart" she whispered as she closed her eyes. "She was supposed to go live with her grandparents in the west, but her grandmother was showing signs of dementia around the time Kobayashi-san's parents were murdered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="10556edcc395167bdd49f888e3e10671""Their deaths made it worse. Her only daughter was dead, and her grandfather was so stressed. And to top it all off, committed by their son. He had money—I can't even begin to process how he was able to do justify his actions. That monster ruined a happy child from a loving home. I hope he rots in prison for this life and the ones that follow."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cd054d98344a6c96262f89aeb57dc57b"Keigo watched as Reiki left. He knew the story very well. The Kobayashi Medical Center was renowned all over Japan. After the death of their founder, it was taken over by her partners, leaving her daughters with trusts and money that could be used as they got older. However, the only other person that could take her in was her uncle./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="553ff1552bab8df5a2c2776041d37487"Their adopted daughter, Sophia Annabelle, was kidnapped and never found. They had left her some things too, considering her as a family after the incarceration of her father. The night Mimicry died was the night Sophia Annabelle was taken. It almost felt like tragedy was the common theme for these kids. Keigo himself going through neglect and abuse as a young child. "Tragedy loves company," Keigo whispered to himself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c369436f2d508ffe36ce0c8a136d85fd"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - Nezumi - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eacc832b0fd8aabbba0889a95aca8157""Nezumi-chan!" Sophia sang as she approached me. I stared at her excitedly, waiting for our playtime to start. She told me that she brought something special. "Did you wait too long for me, huh?" Sophia had short pink hair that looked like waves and eyes a deep garnet. She was slightly taller than me and so much cuter./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="62b1400ae5fa4c8da875a11b87b666af""N-not long," I said flustered. I hated how shy I got around here. She was my best friend, and she still made my heart beat fast./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef52178cd7d8fbd140f9582fdc5159c6""Huh? Speak with confidence Nezumi-chan! I got something cool to show you!" Sophia looked in her bag and pulled out a small fluffy ball. I stared quizzically at it as it lightly shivered. "It's a mouse! Cute ain't it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ec1d1b2c086a7dac0e5823114d4e0475"It turned around, looking at me as it clicked. "Oh, it has an upper respiratory infection," I mumbled to myself. "Y-you should take it to a vet." Sophia's eyes darted to me then the mouse. "That's not what I intend to do. I intend to show you, my quirk!" she smiled triumphantly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fd83efde46bcb74cbfdd2c424652faab"I fidgeted excitedly. I had just manifested my healing quirk the week prior leaving Sophia behind. She was so upset she pouted the whole walk home from school. Our quirks didn't manifest at the age of four. That made us feel more bonded together in a world full of quirks. After I got mine, she said she would try everything possible to prove she had one too./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="761242b65e128e33317851a9e6564d4a"Sophia took me to a small pond as the mouse moved in her hand. She whispered something to it then let it down near the water's edge. I stared excitedly as the mouse looked back, more attentive than before. I looked to her then to it. Something strange was happening to the mouse. It didn't try to run away or hide despite being out in the open./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21d3f8d6eec4eeec3085814a98d5d0e0"Sophia began to bend down to place her hand like a platform, the mouse jumping up to balance. The mouse then jumped back and forth between the ground and her hand. Suddenly it stopped to lift its hind legs and balance itself with its front pads. It was impressive but I couldn't figure out what her quirk was./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a6576b5ac7bc95724a4f51044d5d65a1""I can control things!" Sophia said. "Watch." She knelt, mouse crawling up her arm. It went over her shoulders as she stood up and then it went to the palm of her small hand. The mouse stood still in her palm with its black eyes staring at me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f25604c046f68c51bbe98ae4dca9f4d0""Or you just have a well-trained mouse?" I questioned. Sure, it was impressive that a mouse could do all the things it did. But control? No way. A quirk like that is too powerful for someone like Sophia. She had a habit of getting away with things that left me to take the blame but this was something else entirely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dff1fadae58cca7d99c5c5d828676439"Sophia's eyes turned mean. It was almost like her personality had switched. "Fine. You'll see." The mouse crawled out of her hand and down her body. I was surprised by its agility. It ran from her leg to the water's edge and just ran into the water./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="59567679691a55493d999f1f0f05b76b""S-Sophia?" I stared as the mouse completely disappeared. I tried to reach out to it only for several other small animals to submerge from the murky depths. All of them were dead. I stepped back, tripping over something and landing hard on my butt./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ded30f624aa692166557db9955682bbb"I looked up to see a dog's body; blood-drenched and patchy fur. I screamed and tried to get away from it only for my hand to land on the body of a dead bird. I looked around and there were dead animals everywhere. All of them were mutilated; each one getting cleaner than the one before. The actions on them became more precise due to the practice of one's craft./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1ec9b72fb63e8777ef3cb470b7e5d121"Sophia stood before me looking as she did the last time I saw her. Older with longer hair and a more mature body than my own. Her smile stretched over her face like a maniac. It was too wide, and her eyes were cat-like. em style="box-sizing: border-box;""This is where it all started Nezumi-chan."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4ca8436dde5fec99602450a7d1e34604"Her face was too close and I wanted to curl up and cry into Mama's arms. My breath caught in my chest, and I cried, "Stop it, Sophia!" I opened my eyes to see everything back to normal, the mouse returning from the water and back up Sophia's shoulder./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7dd647da6130287a617f8ca4ea665676""N-Nezumi-chan? Are you ok? The mouse just went for a little swim! No harm to it other than it being wet!" She began hugging me and apologizing for the scare she gave me. I hiccupped into her arms as I tried to calm down. I couldn't even remember why I was crying anymore./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0ac40c9f15222f9f019602696aecdb2d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - 51107 - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d3b86179b0693545acdf028c3d6c8803"I woke up exhausted. My head ached as I sat up in a hospital room. I recalled overusing my quirk, but I was amazed I was able to open a portal so far from the roof. My head throbbed as I tried standing, seeing Nezumi in the bed next to me. She looked safe. I saw Topaz on the other side of her. "Hey there Shiro." She looked exhausted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="892afaf4f9c26321bc1920b12b4f869c""They said y'all should make a full recovery. That's amazin'. Not a single thing wrong with her. She's gotta be stronger than me." She gave a half-smile and I nodded in response. I wasn't surprised by this. Nezumi wasn't breathing after she landed, and it scared me. But with what Topaz had told me, it confirmed my suspicions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5c0551cfca41d58ca7fc3fb48725e9fa""She has a healing ability," I said softly. "She healed you as well." Topaz's golden eyes widened. "After you were knocked out in the garage, she went straight over to you and kissed the top of your head. She didn't seem concerned with your wounds despite how loud the crack made an echo. I apologize for that."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e2bad7986ec33ae880eee72f25715d42"A crimson color seemed to spread across her face. "That wasn't a dream? I wondered why I didn't have any bruises or bleedin'. Juss thought I got lucky."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="111d565a727c775bc76477d30c995b92"I shook my head. "I noticed that when they put you on the stretcher, you didn't have any physical wounds despite bleeding. They confirmed that you had blood on you, but they thought it was from someone else."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="70882e5e46181633ad6335031dbe9c5b"Nezumi's body was twitching slightly, and Topaz stared at her as worry spread over her face. "If I may, why do you seem so attached to her? Though I did what I could to save her, you jumped off a roof with no idea how to ensure your lives. What was your plan?" It was very much a question that had been burning in my mind after I saw her jump. It was idiotic to say the least./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b6ba706f859018b980f12c2a7cbc3fe"Topaz shifted as she tried to think of a response. Her eyes grew soft as the crimson returned, "She-she don't remember me, but she saved me when I was a kid." Topaz was looking to the left as she continued. "When I was younger, I got bullied a lot. Kids didn't like me cause I was different. They use to kick n' punch. Pull n' push. Shove my face into water n' drown me only to bring my head up n' let me live. My ma didn't want much to do with me. She always locked me out of the apartment, so I just stayed out n' tried to explore. I couldn't speak much to people cause they always made fun of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="72a7c80643e973513b7717b0ba4b2fbc""Anyway, one day it was really bad. I had always worn what I wanted cause it's all I could find. I didn't mind though. I felt great in it. But some kids in the area bullied me for that too. They ended up bein' led by this girl who was awful. Think of the biggest cunt you know and multiply that by the Devil and that's what ya got./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b37cfa3e56e4e10e7926a599e2d4598""They beat me more than usual and laughed at me. The girl had them hold me down so she could cut and dye my hair this ugly black. It never, like, came out of my hair after that so, like, I eventually shaved it off. Oh, but before the shave, they dumped me in the river when the current was strong." Topaz started to look uncomfortable. Her leg began to shake as her pupils became dilated as she continued./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2312c83622cfda112ac18269a401a75f""I remember going in the water n' tryin' to swim but couldn't. I sunk like a rock but my body kept flailin like a fish. I fought to keep above water but that didn't work. I felt like I was going to give up because I couldn't swim n' my body was heavy. Then I remember a girl screamin n wavin n I tried reachin for her but sunk./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6b1d5f37256c44ed0e77e234167cbb08""Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital n she was there for me. People were so mean. Like, me existing made everyone want to hurt me. But nah, she was sweet. Kind. She read to me n helped me understand some stuff. Mostly about arachnids, or spiders—" Topaz smiled smugly at that, and I felt my lips curl from amusement. "But not only that, she gave me my name."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="44970a9f9123af4db1af90818226020b"Topaz gave Nezumi a longing look as Nezumi's face scrunched in distress. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She must be having a bad dream. /em"She told me em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A pretty name for a pretty girl. /emThat stuck with me cause everyone always called me ugly nd said I was better off dead. Or they would look in the opposite way n ignore me when I got bullied. They thought a Hero would save me. I hate how passive most are. That's why bein a Hero sounds good. I can be the person that helps those look like me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d3b856784a58d73ccba541e5212c2553""The only other person that showed me kindness was her Pa. He was the one who saved me from drownin but I remember tellin myself that I wanted to die. If it wasn't the water, I probably woulda done something else cause everythin was tough. I never felt somethin so warm but I remember the pat on the head he gave me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a540fe3cf373523095834737dd3c96d3"While Topaz seemed to reminisce on the thought, I couldn't help but think how the effect of one's actions can give someone hope. Though I'm sure she doesn't realize it, Nezumi seems to have made more of an impact on those she met passing by or by chance. Just like her willingness to stay with me by request or being by her side when Topaz woke up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d8edd3b372b90add3a25c9b8d6967a2f"She didn't wake for the night but was having a bad dream. We attempted to wake her to no avail. We talked the rest of the night, comparing scars and talking about things that came to mind. I adored the way Topaz talked. She apologized time and time again because she thought my vocabulary was wider than her own./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f2da71edfa04d5712670abf315d8b4a9"We talked about the insecurities we faced with uncertainty. Her's was more towards school while mine was towards getting stronger. I offered to tutor her so that we may be able to get stronger together. It was therapeutic in a way that gave clarity. Even though we went through different things, we were both experiments for someone else's gain./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b1a3692886f52acc189abc7dbcbeb865""What do you think about Nezumi?" Topaz asked. I pondered the thought for a moment. It wasn't an unfamiliar thought, but I wasn't sure if I read her correctly enough to say what I thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cca3e2e8751cf074c8fa6ddce7003c28""I think she has abandonment issues." Topaz stared at me with her mouth gawking. Her tusks looked bigger because of this but she suddenly burst out laughing. "No shit! That Kota chick ain't come by. I know Akinari n' Haruka told her by now but she don't care."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="175223192033488d16d4c0b89f7e22ce"It took me a moment to realize who she was talking about. "Akihito and Harumi?" I asked amazed that she hadn't learned their names by now. "Is that their names? Oh, my bad." She said that even though it didn't seem she cared enough to commit that to memory./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dc0c84108515e44845906d6959d1a769""Hey so, like, I have a question." Topaz reached back to her hair and brushed it over her shoulder. "Did your quirk do this?" The ends were singed at an angle. I nodded as I got up to inspect it closer. I stood over her now at eye level with one another. She blushed as I held her split ends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f1e5c8a945492f534833074cb599adfe"We could probably cut it, but I was uncertain how she would feel about that. "When my quirk closes versus dissipating it will cut off anything between both sides. That was my mistake." Her face went pale upon hearing my words and I could understand why. Most would think a portal wouldn't be a dangerous thing but it is./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4104512198d7de8722fafeaa3c6ab01"A small noise escaped from her mouth as her brows furrowed, "Wha?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa11366f1853eab905781c76267d9e5c"I placed her hair down softly against her shoulder as I tried to explain the best I could, "I can only use my quirk up to three times. Well, four if my adrenaline is coursing through me. However, I can only manifest it in places I've seen so I panicked when you both went over the building. I had to concentrate enough to remember the outside of the building but by the time the first two portals manifested, you both had already fallen past them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="18a996f8f15489565d0e733e49e9e2cd""Due to me being able to see you both from the closest portal, I summoned another one. Both of you were still impacted by the fall because I am unable to control the momentum of the free fall." I omitted the fact that the colors represent some benefits or harm. I wasn't too confident on that part due to the neglect of information from the monsters that worked on me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d7789dc2352e1cc9c25f042247da64e""If it closes, the portal will close and damage whatever is between both planes. Whatever is in between cannot exist in two places at once. When it dissipates, it's almost as if it's telling your hair to hurry to the other side. I like to imagine the time and space used to create them can push the molecules that make you, through the portal instead of cutting it. I apologize for cutting your hair like that. We can make it even, but I am unable to make it look stylish."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f879af4f152e84b776ac582ac0d7c1d5"Silence filled the room. I wasn't sure if it was because she realized how close she was to a painful end or if she was thinking of the damage done to her hair. "May I ask for a favor? I don't have a right to considering the circumstances."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa78478c5c527ade5f3207f6f71c4977""Shoot ya shot girlie." Topaz smiled as she sat in front of me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ce2fbbe61341a5d0fac61a881fbd5e12""Do you think we can sleep in the same bed? Nezumi had been sleeping in the same bed as me, but I don't think it would be wise to sleep with her currently." The shift in her gaze made me skeptical if I was forcing too much on her or not. "You do not have to. It was just a reques—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="81d23ca2a75934928cb0a38c2309cc41""No, it's not that- Jus' I haven't slept with another person, let alone a girl." She was very much flustered by the request. I responded back, "But we're both girls."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8d44c7fa2afd5c908fa96772865e7194""Y-yeah but..." She twiddled her thumbs. "I just get anxious around cute girls. Not that I don't like you. But my past with em' hasn't been the kindest. Which is weird because I like them over guys a lot." She looked cute herself, long eyelashes shadowing her pupils. It made me sad that so many people didn't like her because of her mutation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="779f938cd64f19850c75e57a077fcb24"I didn't have an issue with any part of her despite the blatant differences between us. "You can control your urges though, right?" She nodded and I gave a small smile. "Then there will be no issues. The night is gone, and the morning will come soon. Two nights of going to sleep late will make us less productive."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="99ab9fe538373353a4868c5da404c080"I walked back to the head of the bed and laid down, patting the other side of me. Topaz crawled over and laid beside me. She didn't know what to do with her hands, but I opened my arms towards her. Her strong body fell into mine, and I could feel her heart beating fast./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ffef413abfbc19af5c00f824e51732d5"Physicality did not bother me. I was used to others poking and prodding me without permission. This on the other hand was a choice. Our size difference amused me. This was the second time someone taller than me was being cuddled./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5f1882282f9d5ebf6c5aa82f473854b0"Her heartbeat matched mine as I began to slowly drift. Human touch was so pure and loving when it is a choice. The kindness I felt emanating from both as they slept helped me understand them better. And even though it had nothing to do with a quirk, I could feel myself becoming more attuned to them. Returning to the motherly role I began stroking Topaz's hair the way I did to Nezumi's the night prior. The comfort sent me to sleep quickly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3fc9e22e93ae9bde61a9ea7993af71a7"- - - - - - - - -/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa628bd8624ecacb9bf01a84e3b78d3a"Kota stood out the door, listening to Topaz and Shiro talking. She could feel her legs shaking in anger and frustration through the slightly ajar door. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They don't even know me and they have the nerve to say my name?/em Kota could see Harumi and Akihito down the hall as they spoke with the doctors. Kota had heard that Nezumi was in the hospital but didn't understand why./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="532deefda269cf323b1ef7174a716fd4"Akihito saw Kota walking towards him and stepped aside. "Did you visit her?" Akihito asked. She had only stepped away for a short moment, leaving Akihito confused. "She looked fine to me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1578aa6bd7258928f9ab0ca0438b92bb"Kota hadn't actually gone in, but she didn't care enough to tell the truth. "You may be correct, but it's still scary for a friend to go through that." Her eye twitched as she could feel her pulse beating. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So it's just another one of her cries for attention? How annoying is she to say all that then want my attention?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a560bcc6126cb47da8ef8524970d45d5"Nezumi used to visit Kota late at night. She would seek comfort but never tell Kota why. When she finally caved, she told her that the kids at school had been bullying her every day and that the clients were starting to abuse her. Kota hadn't believed her due to no marks being visible. But she let Nezumi do this because she figured she missed her parents and didn't want to seem childish./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="05407c4efdbccb33a42d93c44b939e97"Kota thought it was comparable to when Nezumi claimed she had a friend that used to kill animals because she thought it was fun. Or that her uncle used her as a punching bag despite him always showing favoritism towards her. This was after Kota had told her that one of the boys in her class wrote her a love letter and made Nezumi jealous. Kota didn't believe that Nezumi could go through so much and not have a single scar or bruise./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="358fd6d04b00773c6e7dc565fd696537"She wasn't aware of Nezumi's ability to heal. They never really talked about it because Nezumi claimed that she only used her quirks when she was with clients, and it made her uncomfortable to think about it. Nezumi was unaware that Kota didn't believe her either./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="33f4598d1c53ef5d7b9675c38d52ce64""I'll be waiting in the car. I don't want to be here anymore." Kota said as she walked towards the elevator. Harumi and Akihito had more to discuss with the doctor before leaving. Reiki stood before them as she held a handkerchief in her hand, wiping the tears away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e4c66d415d969f90e2dd38dde9864df""I just can't believe it. I know that you are doing all you can, but we've conducted so many kits on the children following the Raid. I can't imagine what these kids went through, but to happen to the child of someone I knew so closely—I can't even process."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e82b1a603ed0396e81fab921b543801"Akihito continued to scribble. The police and investigators stationed at the hospital were working around the clock to gather evidence and check on the health of the children. "This is a children's hospital. I've seen my fair share of misfortune, but this is so horrible./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0537b4a97331b784f7330a39abf8733c""Some of these kids were kidnapped. And others that were documented were..." Reiki had called Akihito and Harumi down for some disturbing information. "I'm not sure what is going on, but these kids aren't even alive." They stared at her with wide expressions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="911bf81d2d2173a7203798cd036f5509""What do you mean? Can you give more clarification?" Reiki nodded and showed the two to another floor further up the hospital. They went through many clearance areas with strict access. Finally coming to a large room with a wide window to peer through./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f88dbc7ed1cd588a7afa1946cbb717b1"Twenty kids of different ages stood with their heads hung low and looked to be slumping slightly. "What do you notice about these kids?" Reiki's voice was shaking at this point as she sniffled. Both adults stared intently for a few moments, making sure that their eyes weren't playing tricks on them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3541f0fca83cc0fabfd0054d9a4c3669"The kids weren't blinking—In fact they weren't even breathing. No motion, no swaying. They just stood perfectly still. "I tried checking their vitals and thought that my equipment was broken, but no. I tried drawing blood and yet nothing came out. I opened their mouths, and they had no saliva then I realized they were almost like silicon./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="881db4f1184487c210a81e0ed5038469""Their skin had no warmth, no life. But they moved as if they were. I doubt anyone noticed this when transporting the children. Our brains have the tendency to fill in the gaps of something of some things that are off. We make ourselves believe the second hand on the clock is a little too slow. Figures in the dark—"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6fd7bb1ff026a8395d399012a7a8638a""So we didn't realize there was something wrong at the time of the raid?" Both Akihito and Harumi were silent, wondering how long the real children had been missing. "Do they speak?" Reiki shook her head, "They can move and be directed. Other than that, they don't speak, breathe, eat, use facilities, or anything. They just, exist."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f9c035564983564a7612b74a388e3443"There had been no reports of children missing. Even when children's welfare did their checks, they saw that the kids were playing and interacting normally. "If they can't talk, that means it was something recent, right?" Akihito asked, still trying to process the information./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d7599cbd8ecfb5dd8e560951e7778604""I-I'm not sure," Reiki stammered. "This is due to someone's quirk, but we have no records of a quirk like this in existence unless the object being used was alive, formerly alive, transformation, creation, or fragile quality—but not like this. Things usually lose their form by damage or being far away from the source or creator. These can still move if they are being led./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5262d0bd13b2ccdea452efdae0c78ef0""We performed x-rays and there is nothing inside them that can be controlled or make sense as to why they are still moving. It's terrifying." Reiki was still crying as Akihito wrote everything down, observing the motionless husks before him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="97d6b79436eb549d5ace15a5951cade7""As terrible as this sounds, why use real kids when you have the ability to make something so life-like?" Harumi asked no one in particular. They knew why, it was for power and control. If something wasn't born with free will, then corrupting it would be a simple task and hold no power or gratification. There were no justification, just sick people trying to stay in society if they could./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="70ed349c8bdd306f473b13f01f13c41f"Akihito and Harumi exited the hospital. They looked at each other while Harumi took out a pack of cigarettes she kept since the end of the initial raid. They both lit and took a long drag; the menthol and toxins releasing that first hit euphoria. Akihito took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "On top of the five missing minors, we have twenty who were accounted for, but now missing."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="489ecb0602d35779c1678a8bbddf8794""On top of that, more information of child abductions are coming to light being associated with the Red Roofs. It's amazing how long this was going on for it to only be discovered recently within the last three years." Harumi crouched against the wall as she inhaled another drag. As the smoke exited her lungs she sighed, looking up to Akihito./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e8f0c045e0459baaf7a7c4dd51298954"Rumi Apartment complex was established by Hisoki Kawari, Shizuka Kobayashi's biological brother. They were not very close growing up until Shizuka hit the Pro Hero Top 100 Billboard ranking at 30. They collaborated with the idea of mutual housing for children in foster care and orphans looking for adoption. This was in part with Shizuka noticing the lack of children in decent care throughout Japan after adopting their daughter, Sophia Annabelle. Though some did find forever homes, it wasn't particularly alarming that the other children were unable to due to age, quirks, and other factors./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="acbc64bdb7cbf7a8c25e6f87826b1a06"The stigma of adopting was not a commonly accepted thing in Japan. And while the children were provided for, they quickly went under the radar after Shizuka died. It's assumed that the trafficking started before her death, though no records date back far enough to establish it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4d87868810928d0b8af74987ef085da6"The lack of government involvement for these children had people favoring the Hero Public Safety Commission. While many thought it would taint the Kobayashi name and medical center, due to Hisoki cutting ties with them and living under the radar, they faced no public backlash due to their help and safety within Japan. However, they did apologize for not being more involved to help the children affected by the Rumi Apartments and vowed to help work hand in hand with the police as the investigation continued./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aaa564ab0fc0f4885ee2771d83aeee1d""If we didn't need these kids for the future of the Safety Commissions, life would be easier," Akihito said as he slumped next to Harumi. She gave a side glance at him due to the uncharacteristic response. "Don't get me wrong, I want to do everything I can to help it's just—this case is so ugly. I knew we would have to make tough calls and see terrible things, but these are children. It's hard not to take it home and plan for a future involving kids when we're dealing with this."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82661af72c20222a03e944d37975699c"The thought of building a family became a discussion more and more between the two. They had been planning on a wedding but haven't talked about it the closer the raid got. The once happy thought made them feel guilty. "We're doing this for the sake of their future. For the sake of our future as well." Harumi crouched before Akihito and grabbed his shoulders firmly. "This is devastating. We are not only doing what we can for this investigation but also trying to help these kids with a future."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0ed08986a86c1801d9e7fa02e21c3451""Is it for their future?" Akihito retorted. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"A roof over my head? Money? Food? That's what I was promised living with my uncle, and we all saw how that turned out!/em Nezumi's words echoed through Akihito's head, causing a headache to ensue. "I want to believe this will help them, but if they don't want it, we can't force it. And the Commissions wants us to force it. And now we must work with Kota and the other kids to train them for a future with us. This is propaganda. I joined because I wanted to help people, not brainwash them."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7d84d756f5a69c2697061e18097a7d2a"They both stood quiet as the noise of the city surrounded them. Akihito stood up, reaching out to Harumi to help her up. They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment, trying to process the new information and their own morals involving these kids. There weren't many feasible options, and they both knew this. Stomping out their already dead cigarettes, they began to walk to the car they came in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8124faf2c0773b42af463792c1c706f5"The carefree façade returned to Akihito's face as they got into the car, Kota already nodding off to sleep. It was late at night and Kota was supposed to be up to make a statement in the morning for the investigation. While Akihito did promise Nezumi that Kota wouldn't be involved, she volunteered herself. She wanted to share her experience so that her voice could also be heard. The President of the Commissions was thrilled with the idea, wanting to make Kota the face of the Red Roof Raids and getting the support of the people in masses along with Keigo's approval ratings. Though, this would take some time to accomplish as news outlets wanted to interview her. Protection of minors through publication and interviews were a bit tricky at times, but she wanted to be involved./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="22bbf9e89db8b5ad6b56e5a24ae636cb"With the new information of the missing children, it felt as though parts of the investigation they made strides in were pushed all the way back to square one. They took Kota back to headquarters with the promise of picking her up early in the morning and to try and rest as much as she could. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We all saw how that turned out!/em Nezumi's voice echoed through his head throughout the night only to be silenced by a few nightcaps to lull Akihito to sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2c4a985fdddb4d906f041f1f8e20e4f2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"- - - - Nezumi - - - - -/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ae0d5b2ed1a55cba8a263c47c229b35"My eyes blurred as I sat up, bones cracking and muscles stretching in euphoria. It was the best stretch every time I woke up from a deep recovery. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Shit. Recovery. /emThoughts fluttered my head as I searched the room around me. I noticed the doctor was standing at the foot of my bed. She was pretty, motherly, and somewhat familiar. She smiled in a way my mother once did, sending warmth and sadness through my body./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="afe8984eb179c89366223857b54fb719""Hello, Kobayashi-san. How are you feeling this morning?" Her light brown hair was tied loosely, and her eyes were a honey color. I could feel my heart fluttering. "You recovered well! I was just about to have a nurse come in to discharge you. But first, we have a request." I tilted my head in response. My stomach tied in knots at the idea of someone asking something of me. Usually, it wasn't something good./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ee69fb6f44685507c59d07066448650""We were wondering if we could take some blood samples from you. I understand that you might not want to, but it's fascinating how you were to recover so quickly. I have some researcher friends who wanted to have a look at you, but I told them they couldn't. Kept your information private, but if we could potentially have some to study, it could make breakthroughs."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0bb7590a23fb171d783f347c8f6382ec"I nodded eagerly, seeking her touch just to remind me that no one would be able to replace Mama. It was a foolish idea, but the desire was so strong. I wanted motherly comfort that I couldn't find anywhere else. She was surprised by my response. "You do realize if you agree to this, then we might be coming into contact with you in the future, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0befda4a2e2a13d43a908dfc8da3c9bd""As long as I get to come and visit you." I felt my face get warm at the words spewing out of my mouth. Her laugh was like warm honey and she smiled at me, coming to my bedside to turn some of the equipment off. "You know, I use to work with your mother back when I first started my residency at the Medical Center. Your mother was amazing, such a kind soul and a prodigy."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0f5dffd03e746c9aa84c47e02e6701eb"She sat at the side of my bed, reaching for my hand, "If you ever need anywhere to go, you can always come here. If you ever want help with schooling, I can also help with that. From what I remember, you were a very smart girl and your mother would talk about you and the books you read all the time. I'll send a technician in to draw some blood and you can join your friends in the cafeteria."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="782298296be73df60ffffcd925d6875b"My hearing became slightly muffled as I felt my face glow. Anytime someone spoke of my mother, I would always feel my body trying to block it out. It's not that I didn't want to hear it, but thinking about her brought up so many distressing feelings, I couldn't manage if I clung to those thoughts. And while it wasn't the doctor that drew my blood, the promise of seeing her again brought some comfort to my mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2503621ae43c7c075f3bbd7e8d4e61b0"Maybe I could eventually hear stories of my parents and enjoy them with time, but for now, this is all I could do. The process was quick, only taking a few small vials of blood for the time being. I got dressed in fresh clothes and began to head to the cafeteria. With each step I took, I could feel my heartbeat accelerate. I kept thinking over and over about the panic that had set in for them. I know I should apologize, but I didn't know where to begin./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a732e23546f282cc605afe3605f1d409"I entered the cafeteria and saw Keigo waving over at me with a plate full of food. It was approaching noon and he had a plate full of chicken strips and veggies. "Mornin kid. You should grab some food so we can all eat together."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4dd8ecc4840029849a3d98d7e452ca9d"He was nonchalant and didn't ask me questions about what brought me to the hospital. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Does he not care?/em I tried to shake the idea from my head. It didn't make sense that I would be upset about this. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But I'm still human. Does he not care about us?/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3de21d7085cea70596fe8b6bf5f0da11""Ya know the food is better when it's hot. Meals taste better when shared, so hurry up and get something." My mind broke from my previous thoughts. Part of me couldn't remember what I was upset about, but I could feel the anger boil in my stomach. I grabbed some eggs, miso, and rice, not wanting to fill up too much. Despite my hunger, other things were filling my stomach that I knew would cause me to throw up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5a89f3902f325ab7614153ab83f2e308"Following him, I could see Topaz telling Shiro a story. They had papers in front of them with pens. Topaz had a bunch of scribbles on hers while Shiro had a blank page. They both smiled at me and it bugged me. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What? No concern? span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Nothing?/span/em It made me upset that they didn't ask me what happened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1b30859c56fb6b02d3cbc34447d4b6c7"I sat down and grabbed my soup, cup warm in my hand. It brought me comfort and always reminded me of simpler times. "So Keigo told us we can change our names for protection. I can't think of the last name. Whatcha think would be a good one?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="372473b4062ef2c3a1b36624e323ad05"Topaz looked happy with that thought. I thought about the idea and hating the idea of changing my name. But if I thought about it, it made more and more sense. There were so many times I spent on the last floor. The times I had to recite my name and age. They tainted my name and the legacy my parents created./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6e2ae268ede9e427dc54cd40d8cf31fd""Even if we don't join you, we have to change them, don't we?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Keigo rubbed the back of his head, "It ain't as bad as you think."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8863ddd0adbe5f9459e61a9bf5233b9b"We all looked at him simultaneously. Did this mean that he too, changed his name? He grabbed a strip and took a bite. "Listen up. Me telling you this is off the record. Quite literally. This in itself is a violation of my agreement with the Hero Public Safety Commission. What I am telling you will never be repeated, got it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7594d457f3724617b6ef326563d1fb4"We scooted closer together at the table as we waited patiently. I wasn't sure why I was so invested in finding out this information, but I was. "While I did keep my first name, I had to let go of my last name when I joined the Commissions. They gave my mom money for me and I got to train to be the hero I am today."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8a45939cd77f7409f97f5ad11955e339"We looked at each other, equally disappointed in the information we learned. It wasn't like our situation at all. "That doesn't say much," Shiro said quietly. Topaz busted up as I let out a tiny chuckle. Keigo's feathers ruffled as a comically disappointed look spread over his face. "Yah, didn't cha just debut with the raid?" Topaz asked as she settled herself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="998d67670963c5b13ea651959764d0a7"He nodded while angrily munching on his veggies. I could tell he didn't enjoy them but ate them anyway. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They still haven't said anything about me. /emThe thought invaded my head again. I put my hand on my thigh and pinched it hard. The pain released the thought and I started eating my rice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b590af75051dacaa4845f1936690b633""I think the best part about it was becoming a new person," Keigo broke the silence. "My parents were terrible and hated me. My mother called me useless and would get mad at me for helping people because my dad was a thief. If I brought attention to myself then it brought attention to him. But I'm so close to making things better for everyone."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f3968b97e0cc4ac72dd94d58d2bcd135"None of us responded. We continued to eat as I thought about being a Hero, a dream I had as a child. The dream faded within the first month of living with my uncle. Helping people made me happy because I thought of Mama and Papa every time, I did something nice or helped others. It was the only way that I felt close to them because even outside Hero's work, they were always kind people./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fe5a575d3c0dae5670de0e06c02b5689""Nezumi-chan," Shiro looked to me with her thick silver eyebrows furrowed. "I'm glad you're still here with us to enjoy breakfast." I felt the table shift as I looked to Topaz. It reminded me of the times Sophia kicked me when I said something that could get her in trouble. "You missed."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82d417c9badc38b2c3d9a75190d5d990"Topaz avoided eye contact with me but I could feel myself become lighter. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They care. They care about me. They were just trying to be considerate./em I laughed as I could feel my heart become warm as I continued to eat. "Hey Shiro, can I suggest a name for you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b7ce289f2fba531eb07caaa71605dc4c"Everyone looked at me as I spoke. "How about Shizuka?" I saw a tiny light grow in her eyes, bringing a small flush over her cheeks. Keigo's eyes widened in surprise while Topaz smiled. The warmth in my chest grew. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Food is better when you share it with others. /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p