Hi, everyone! I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I did while writing it. Please feel free to review, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Disclaimer: I don't own My Hero Academia or any of its characters. Mizuki, however, is my own creation.

Let's start with the story, shall we?*


Chapter 36

Mizuki had been awake since early the next day, sleep not staying as long as she would've wanted it to. Her eyes were strained from the previous day, not focusing as much as she wanted them to, much like when she designed.

She was forced to wear her glasses, her mask hanging loosely around her neck. She had to finish up with the paperwork as soon as possible or she wasn't going to get anywhere. She needed to get back to training and patrolling.

Luckily, she had enough practice into work quick with the documents and delved into the amounts that laid on her desk. She wasn't going to let it get the better of her. She was going to finish up with everything!

"Huh? Glasses? How lame!" Burnin yelled out as she laughed at Mizuki's peculiar appearance. It was in complete contrast with her costume, a difficult pill to swallow for the girl already. A vein throbbed out from her temple, her eyes twitching.

"I overworked my eyes yesterday so I have to wear them today! Don't laugh!" Mizuki snapped at the female, fuming. It only added to Burnin's laughter, tears forming in the corner of her eyes as she took in the girl's appearance.

Mizuki let out a sigh, ruffling her own hair as she returned her attention towards the paperwork. She was never woken up by the female and they went on patrol without her. It was frustrating. They gave her a taste of heroism, only to snatch it away.

Burnin and the other flaming sidekicks had returned from their patrolling, and was immediately dispatched. They had been out until now, Mizuki's attention interrupted by the female's obnoxious yelling.

"I can't get over it! Why don't you just wear contact lenses?! Why glasses?! It doesn't look fashionable at all!" Burnin pointed out, Mizuki nearly exploding the pen she had in her hand, steam forming from her hand palm.

"Even if I wore contact lenses, I wouldn't be able to put them in because of the dry eyes and strain I put on my eyes yesterday!" Mizuki snapped, working even faster with her temper flaring. This woman was number one on her kill list.

It was bad enough that she wasn't able to join them. She honestly didn't want to feel any worse than she already felt. She felt like she was wasting her time, sitting and doing nothing but stupid filing of stupid documents!

"Hey, Kid." Mizuki felt something cold being pressed onto her head and glanced up to see Burnin looking down at her. She still had her usual grin but Mizuki could see that something was bothering her with the gleaming of her eyes.

"Let's go take a walk," Burnin said, Mizuki blinking a few times as she took the cooldrink that was placed on her head. Burnin walked off, Mizuki thrown on confusion at the female's actions and shot up.

"Huh? Is it okay? I'm not done yet!"

"How stubborn can you get?! I'm giving you a breather! You better hurry or I'll change my mind!" Burnin called and Mizuki grunted, taking off her glasses. She ran after the female as they exited the large building, Mizuki staring at her cooldrink.

She wondered what the female walking next to her was thinking. Burnin was a ball of energy, her behaviour not predictable to Mizuki. She wondered how she became a hero and a part of Endeavor's agency, especially since he wasn't near their level of liveliness.

"Pwah! I can't take this silence!" Burnin exclaimed after a while of silence and laughed at herself. Mizuki sweat dropped at the female's sudden outburst. "Nah, why do you want to become a hero?" She asked and Mizuki's eyes briefly widened. She was taken back by the sudden question.

"To be limitless." Burnin gave her a blank stare. "I want to be the hero that doesn't have to wait for back-up or have my hands cut off because I can't help. I want to be enough," Mizuki replied and Burnin laughed.

"That's ballsy reason!" She chuckled and crossed her arms behind her chest. "To be limitless huh? Well, you'll definitely learn to excel in everything here!" She said, Mizuki frowning deeply. Then why was she stuck on desk duty?

"But you know what, you don't fight like you want to be limitless," Burnin pointed out, Mizuki feeling her stabbing words. "I watched the sports festival too, you know?! Your class are all a crazy bunch!"

"What do you mean I don't fight like I want to be limitless?" Mizuki asked, ignoring her follow-up statement. For some reason she recalled Endeavor's words. He called her fighting disgraceful and his tone of voice was of disgust. It didn't make sense to her at all.

"Mm… You're strong, that's for sure! But, you're fighting is like…how do I put this… It shouts 'survive!' You know?!'" Burnin bounced, swinging her arms in the air as she tried to explain.

What?

"The first round you had the chance to take first place. Then the second round, you were stacking up the points and would've easily gotten the first spot by the way you bulldozed through everyone. You didn't though…why is that?" Burnin asked and Mizuki's mouth run dry.

It was because…because…

"Because you already made it, right? You survived, but you didn't win," Burnin finished Mizuki's raging thoughts, crimson orbs swirling with emotions. "You're showing 'I can do it too' instead of 'I'm the only one who can do it'. You're not rebelling. You're accepting circumstances too easily!"

Mizuki felt thrown into a deep dark pit as Burnin continued. Everything she said hit her directly, her words cutting through her. However, there was more to it. There was a specific reason why she didn't take that first position. No, there were two reasons behind it and she could see their faces flash in her mind.

"…your softness on the battlefield is going to make a lot of opportunities slip through your fingers…"

"…Your way of fighting is disgraceful and defective…"

Mizuki could feel the wind knocked out of her lungs. She was reluctant to take the win.

"You have someone you admire, don't you?" Burnin's question had her brother's figure flash in her thoughts, his backside walking in front of her. "Admiration is great for motivation but it can make you blind too, you know?" She stated, Mizuki staring at her with wide eyes.

Burnin turned around with a grin. She bent down slightly and flicked a finger on Mizuki's head, the girl yelping at the sudden action. She felt her forehead burn where she was hit and glared back at her.

"You seem to have it all good up there." Burnin gesture towards her head and then put an index finger on her chest. "If you want something, go and get it! Don't stop until you're satisfied!" Burnin finished, watching as her words slowly sink into Mizuki.

Mizuki felt a painful squeeze in her chest. This entire time…what had she been doing? She challenged her brother where she went. However, she wanted to stay behind him. It never occurred to her that it was what held her back. The same with Izuku.

Mizuki looked down at her hands. She knew why she was reluctant. She initially wanted something else. She had another dream, another goal. Something that changed along the way. She made the mental decision, but never involved her heart in the matter.

"Why… Why did they make me class representative?!"

"Mm? Maybe it's because they saw something you haven't seen yet…?" Burnin replied, Mizuki's crimson eyes blazing brightly. A few civilians walked by and waved towards Burnin, the female greeting them loudly and with a big grin.

"Don't underestimate me!"

"Burnin." the flaming sidekick looked back at Mizuki, eyes widening along with a grin when she saw the gleam in the teenager's eyes. "Thank you for making me realize that I had been blind all along." Mizuki smirked and made a fist.

"Don't mention it! We're here to teach you what you lack!" Burnin gave her a hard hit on the back with a laugh. That was the look. Burnin felt satisfied with the change in Mizuki's crimson eyes. It was exactly what they were waiting for.

"There's only one thing left to do now…" Mizuki said, a gleam of mischief passing through her eyes. Burnin blinked, cocking her head to the side in confusion. One thing left to do? What did she mean there was one-?

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Burnin called after the ash blonde female as she ran off. She didn't know what suddenly flew into the girl, but she was running at full speed towards the agency, making her slowly come to realize where she was going.

"Wait!" That girl's crazy!

One of the burning sidekicks stretched out his muscles, blinking a few times as he saw Mizuki come running back. "Good morning-!" Mizuki ran straight passed him, the male nearly falling over from the speed.

"Sorry! I'm in a hurry!" Mizuki called back towards him, the male staring at her with a perplexed expression. Mizuki ran past a bunch of sidekicks, jumping out of the way and over them to get to where she was going.

A door was slammed open, a heavy breathing ash blonde female standing in the doorway. Endeavor sat at his desk, frowning deeply at the intrusion. His assistant yelped as she jumped in surprise, nearly dropping the papers she had in her hands.

"What do you think you're-""You were right!" Mizuki cut off the number two hero. She could feel the bitter taste in her mouth, her pride taking a heavy hit. Even so, this was no time for her to be proud.

"I'm a disgrace! I haven't been giving it my all! I've been messing around while everyone else was giving their all! I'm pathetic!" Mizuki yelled and clenched her fists by her sides, her arms trembling and her teeth grinding.

"I've been running my mouth but I haven't even tried to back my own words," Mizuki said through gritted teeth. Endeavor stared at the girl, brows furrowing and eyes narrowing. His secretary stood on the side, baffled and panicking at what was happening.

"I don't agree with your way of doing things and I definitely don't like you. Frankly, I don't think that's ever going to change either." A vein pulsed out of his forehead. "But! Right now, you're the only one who I can rely on!" Mizuki bowed her head low, eyes tightly closed.

"Please teach me!"

There was an awkward silence that lingered in the air. The secretary fidgeted nervously. She felt completely out of place. She gave Endeavor an uncertain glance. No one came barging into his office without getting punishment. She feared what would happen to this girl.

"Get out."

"Please!" Mizuki begged, her fingers digging into her gloves. "Teach me the right way! Teach me to become the best!" Mizuki tried once more. Endeavor's flames increased as his temper started to flare.

"Why should I?"

"There was a reason why you scouted me. You may act like a terrible person, but I'd like to believe that you saw something that I haven't realized yet. I want you to teach me what it is!" Mizuki replied.

Endeavor stood up, his secretary paling. Mizuki kept her bowing pose, not moving and not daring to glance up at the male. It was taking every ounce of strength inside her to keep it up. Her pride was in shatters, yet, at this moment, it didn't matter.

"Stand up," Endeavor's voice boomed and Mizuki did as he said, straightening herself up to look at the male. "Your manners still need work. Barging in where you were not wanted, is disrespectful," he snapped at her and Mizuki pressed her lips firmly against each other.

Endeavor watched the female closely. Her eyes changed. He would still see the fiery fire that burned within them. This time it was accompanied with something completely different. He could see dedication and yearning.

"Postpone my appointments for the rest of the day," Endeavor spoke to his assistant and she nodded. He didn't move his eyes from Mizuki, blue eyes heated. "Come with me, Brat." Endeavor walked away, Mizuki following him without a moment of hesitation.

She didn't know where he was taking her and internally hoped that he listened to her request. She forced herself in an uncomfortable and vulnerable state. It was something she never did. Nevertheless, it was needed.

Endeavor led her towards a personal training room, the area much more spacious than she expected. There were no mirrors on the walls like in the gym and the floor was lined out with wooden planks.

"I won't teach anyone who's satisfied with second best." Endeavor went to stand on the opposite side of the room, Mizuki's brows furrowing. He smirked mockingly at her and she knew trouble was on the horizon.

"If you really want me to teach you, then you have to show me why. If you manage to get a hit on me, I'll teach you. If you don't, you'll be busy with paperwork for the rest of this internship. Do I male myself clear?" He stated.

A grin broke loose on Mizuki's face and she chuckled. She could feel the rush of excitement pump through her body and a trail of sweat cascaded down the side of her face. She stepped into a stance, crimson eyes glowing.

"Crystal."

"Then, come at me, Brat!" Endeavor yelled and moved his head to the side when Mizuki launched, a punch moving past him. Mizuki's grin stayed on her face, her leg coming up towards his face, sparks crackling on the limb.

She coughed when a heavy punch settled in her gut and was sent crashing into the wall. She never expected the retaliation, her abdomen screaming at her in pain. She fell onto her knees, holding her stomach as she coughed.

"Bastard…"

"I never said that I would stand around idly. Don't underestimate me, Brat," he spat towards Mizuki, the ash blonde pushing herself up on shaky legs. It was heavy. It reminded her of the punch he gave the Nomu that sent it flying.

Mizuki chuckled and stepped into a stance. "I wasn't counting on doing so. If it was that easy, then it wouldn't be exciting at all," she said and then exploded from her spot. His face spelled out that he wasn't impressed at her frontal assault.

He held out his hand, Mizuki using her explosions to somersault over the male. She twirled in attempt for a kick but hid her fist. He easily blocked the kick, her fist nearing his face. He brough his right arm back, his fist landing a solid hit on her cheek.

Mizuki was sent flying to the side again, her cheek stinging in pain and she could taste blood from her mouth. She spun herself in the air and pounced once more, not letting his hit get her down. She still had enough energy to keep going._

Ten minutes later…_

Mizuki was on her one knee, breathing heavy as sweat dripped down her face. Her body ached, pain rocketing when she exhaled. She definitely had a few cracked ribs and internal bleeding wasn't farfetched with the amount of blood she tasted in her mouth.

He wasn't pulling his punches at all. She couldn't even come near enough to land a blow. She had used all possible ways to catch him off guard but his reaction time was monstrous. Even with her instincts, she wasn't able to dodge all of his attacks.

Then again, he was the number two hero. She knew that she wouldn't be able to finish this task easily. If she did, then she would've been disappointed in his strength. So, this is the strength of the man who obsessively tries to surpass All Might. It's frightening.

"Aimlessly attacking is futile. You're only wasting my time. You still lack discipline and perseverance," Endeavor stated with his usual scowl. Mizuki gritted her teeth as she tried to push her body up into a standing position.

She wiped away the blood that ran from her nose and mouth. She glared at him, one eye half lidded from the swelling. Shut up already. I know. I know that there's no way I could come close to a pro like you. It's frustrating! She thought angrily.

She needed speed. She needed brute strength. She frowned deeply and briefly closed her eyes. She would never come close to the strength he had. After all, she was female. She couldn't compare herself to the strength of men. Even her brother was stronger than she was.

That's why… That's why she incorporated her Quirk with her fighting. She tried to increase the strength of each technique. Yet, it helped her nothing if she didn't have speed. Usually her rocketing would be enough to get in a hit but with Endeavor, it was impossible.

Red eyes shot open as she recalled the older pro hero they met. What was his name again? Gran Torino. That's right. He could propel him throughout the air and increase his speed to a level that made him knock out a Nomu, cracking the sidewalk.

That was what she needed. She needed speed for strength. However, with her normal explosions, she wouldn't be able to be fast enough to cause a difference. She needed more. She had to give more!

"Then…" Mizuki widened her stance, pressing onto her legs as she gritted her teeth. Steam started to form around her legs, her costume starting to glow slightly. Endeavor watched the female, brows twitching and scowl deepening.

Heat up more! More! Until I reach the border! Then, go even further and keep it there! Mizuki told herself, sparks cracking on her lower legs as she pushed her legs to heat up even more. She resisted a hiss at the burning and then let out a breath.

Endeavor watched as the heat sunk into her boots, steam bursting forth. He could make out the waves that emitted from her legs and smelled the burning of the wood reaching his nose. She was pushing heat into her legs to explode at a faster speed? It wouldn't be enough to come close to him.

"Whatever you do won't change that you're still too slow."

Mizuki's eyes darted around, assessing all the angles inside the room. Crimson orbs took in all the possible movements as she thought about the older pro hero's movements. She wouldn't be able to mimic him completely, but she could still try.

"We'll see about that!"

Mizuki exploded at such a speed from her spot that it was difficult to follow her movement, the wood burnt beneath her feet. Endeavor dodged by moving to the side, Mizuki turning to dig her feet into the wall, only to let out another speedy heated explosion.

She kept her legs heated and whitened as she let lose condensed explosions on her feet while bouncing off every surface around her. Endeavor's eyes widened, noticing the familiar pattern that she was using.

She's moving like the Honoured Elder back at Hosu! He thought and with his brief distraction, had Mizuki pass by him, missing an attack with a few inches. She was moving fast. Much faster than before. Yet, he wondered how long she would be able to keep that condensed heat.

It burns like hell! I have to end this now of I'll overheat my legs! She thought, biting down hard on her teeth. She bounced off the wall, leaving blackened and burnt marks where she moved. She dug her feet into the floor once more and then let loose her ultimate condensed attack.

"Rwah!" She cried out and went in for a punch, fist pulled back. With her increased speed, she could do it. She could punch him. She could touch him. She increased her momentum by using all the surfaces in the room. She could do it!

Mizuki's eyes widened, disbelief and horror mixing when her face was grabbed and she was slammed onto the ground. She coughed up blood, her heated state immediately vanishing on impact.

H-He c-could still m-move faster than me? H-How…?

A gasp escaped her lips when she was thrown with enough force that the wall on the opposite side cracked on impact. She let out a chocked sound, her vision swimming as she took in Endeavor's figure. She fell onto the ground with a pathetic thump, her body quivering in pain.

Endeavor looked at the girl, his eyes narrowing on her struggling body. She did it again. She used the knowledge she had on a technique that she only saw once and incorporated it by using her own Quirk. She did it at Hosu when she copied his blue flames, carbonizing the cells of the Nomu.

She was intelligent and cunning. She always had another trick up her sleeve to get her to conquer the fight. If she had done it from the beginning, she would've been able to reach the top in the sports festival easily.

"It's over. You didn't even manage to touch me," Endeavor spoke, Mizuki's fingers digging into the wood as she tried to move. He could see how her eyes were screaming at her to stand up, her legs steaming from the aftermath of her technique.

"It's over…when I…say…it's over…!"

She was stubborn and she didn't know when to give up. It was an admirable trait but not enough for her to beat him. She stood an even less chance to get a hit in on him in her current state. He wouldn't be surprised if she couldn't even stand up anymore.

"Give up. You lost. You didn't hit me and therefore I won't train you," Endeavor told her and she growled. Sparks appeared all over her body as she tried to push herself up, her elbows giving out underneath her.

Damn it! Move! Move!

The door of the training room opened, the duo both looking at the entrance. A familiar boy stood with a blank impression on his face. A pair of different coloured eyes blinked at Mizuki and then looked at the male on the other side of the room.

"It's about time you returned, Shoto! You took too long recovering!" Endeavor shouted towards his son. Mizuki stared at the male with half lidded and tired eyes. She watched as he clenched his fists by his side, eyes firing up as he gritted his teeth.

"What do you think you're-""W-wait!" Mizuki stopped the male's angry outburst, his deadly glare directed towards his father transforming into confusion. He took in Mizuki's injuries, her trembling arms using the little strength she had left to push her onto a pair of unstable legs.

Mizuki breathed heavy, blood and sweat dripping from her face. Her legs screamed in protest, her body twitching in pain. She pulled her one leg back, stepping into a stance as she looked at Endeavor. She wore a big challenging grin, her one eye half lidded.

"I can…still move…!"

She wasn't fooling anyone, her stance fragile and unbalanced. She had enough strength to keep herself conscious, the pain and the adrenaline helping. However, she wouldn't be able to do anything more.

"Ridicules. You're barely able to keep your body upright. I'm not wasting my time with you any longer," Endeavor said, Mizuki's eyes flashing with anger. Endeavor gave her a look of indifference and walked towards the exit.

"Wait…" He didn't stop. "I said wait…!" He continued. "I'm still far from done!" Mizuki yelled at him as he stopped by the door. He didn't even glance back at her as he walked off, leaving Shoto in utter confusion.

He panicked when Mizuki fell onto her knees, his legs moving on their own. "MizukI, are you alright? You looked like you have serious injuries. Let me help you," he offered, blinking when the girl slammed her fist into the wooden flooring.

"Damn it…! Damn…it…! DAMN HIM!" Mizuki's body exploded in anger as she seethed. She breathed heavy, sweat dripping onto the floor as she glared. He knew from the start that she wouldn't; be able to come close to him. He knew it! He was mocking her! Humiliating her!

"Mizuki-""Screw him! Not fast enough? I should just give up? I shouldn't underestimate him? DON'T SCREW WITH ME!" Her body temperature spiked dangerously, Shoto not moving closer to her because of her anger.

This was the first time he saw her this livid. He could see the murderous intent in her eyes and it made him swallow thickly. What happened here while he was gone? What did his father do to push her this far?!

"This is far from over… I'll show him… I'll show him!" She cursed, punching the ground once again, bruising her knuckles. She then coughed, her body rippling with pain and she could taste the bitter metal that entered her mouth.

"You can kill him all you want later. Let me at least help you with your injuries," Shoto calmly stated and put a hand on her back. It was hot, but under his touch, the temperature slowly declined. Mizuki took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.

He helped her up and slung her arm over his shoulder, his eyes widening when he noticed the bruises she had on her face. "What did he do to you?" Shoto asked, a churning sensation resting in the pit of his stomach.

"He gave me an ultimatum. I get a hit on him, he trains me. I don't, I'm stuck with paperwork for the rest of my internship. He completely humiliated me!" Mizuki snarled and bit her bottom lip as frustration washed over her.

"I see." He didn't know what else to say to make her feel better. She was frustrated and angry. The only thing he could do for her currently was to get her wounds treated. He would handle everything after that.

"I'm sorry." Shoto gave her a perplexed gaze. "I'm sorry that you had to see me lose it back there. I nearly hurt you too. I'm not much of a hero with that type of behaviour, am I?" She said with a bitter tone.

"Don't worry about it. He gets under everyone's skins. I've also acted in such a manner," Shoto stated, both recalling his match against Sero. He then looked back at Mizuki. "Also, you pointed out that I have a hard head. I don't think I would've been hurt that easily."

Mizuki looked up at him with wide and blank eyes before she burst out laughing. "W-What does that have to do with anything?" She laughed, the statement too absurd for her not to. She soon winced in pain, her hand resting around her ribs.

"Geez, don't make me laugh. It hurt like hell," Mizuki scolded the male, yet didn't resist the small smile that formed onto her face. She didn't know if he was serious or messing around but she appreciated it.

"Sorry."

"Don't be so sensitive."

"Sorry."

"Stop saying sorry already!" Mizuki snapped, veins pulsing out from her head. His face didn't show any expression, not giving her any possible signs to read him. He took everything too literally, making it sometimes impossible to communicate with him.

"…Sorry."

"AGH! You're hopeless!"_

Later on…_

Mizuki let out a breath, stepping inside her room. She rubbed her hair with a small towel, small droplets of water dripping down her spiky hair. She felt refreshed, all her worries briefly washed away.

She could feel her lower legs stinging slightly but wasn't nearly as sore as her abdomen and cheek. She had bruises covering the whiteness of her skin and her body felt stiff. She rested her arm on her head, her face falling as she stood behind her closed door.

She lost. She hadn't felt this frustrated in a long time. Even after she fought against her brother and lost, she hadn't felt this unsatisfied. She briefly closed her eyes, sighing as she walked towards her bed. She plopped down, catching sight of her phone.

"We had a tough day today. We had to brew tea and then got a beating because it wasn't of good quality 0o0! I'm really not good at stuff like that but I'll work harder! How was your day?" -ChivalrousRed

Mizuki sweat dropped, snickering at the message. They had to brew tea? What type of internship did he have? Well, it sounded more productive than what she had today. She stared at the screen a faint smile forming onto her lips.

"I'm curious to taste your tea, though. I can't wait to have a taste. My day was nothing special. I got beaten up by the number two hero and put on paperwork for the rest of my internship." – BestDesignerMichan

She glanced at her other text messages, her brother sending her short texts where he cursed his time. She replied to her brother's messages, telling her of her epic loss. It seemed like neither one of them was going to have a good internship. So much for Aizawa warning them to pick carefully.

She put down her phone and pulled closer her peach coloured deigning book. She sat back against the wall, resting her glasses on the bridge of her nose. She opened up the small black case that held her designing pen.

It was the one that Eijiro bought for her on their first date. She gently took it in her fingers, tracing over the metallic surface. Having it near her made her miss his crazy smile a bit less. After all, she had a piece of him with her.

She hadn't been able to draw since she started with her internship. There were many things she wanted to put down on paper, though she was tired and was sure that she would only be able to do a few before turning in for the night.

"Eh? You're kidding! That's such an unmanly thing to do! Are you alright? I hope you gave him a piece of your explosions!" – ChivalrousRed

"Not even close. He's a prickhead, but he's strong. He didn't pull any of his punches. Besides cracked ribs, I have a few bruises. What about you guys? Any new trainings except tea brewing?" - BestDesignerMichan

Mizuki hummed in thought, the small smile she wore on her face not daring to go away. It was good to hear from him and despite not hearing his voice, she appreciated his texts. She missed his dazzling grin, his kind eyes and the way he would nervously rub the back of his head.

There was a knock on her door, crimson eyes glancing up. "It's open," Mizuki spoke a bit louder than usual. She waited for the person to peek inside her room and blinked in surprise at the presence that entered.

"I apologize for the intrusion. Are you busy? I can come back later," Shoto spoke up but Mizuki shook her head in reply. She took in his loosely fitted black t-shirt and dark blue tracksuit trousers. He was at ease, his one hand resting behind his head.

"I'm not particularly busy." Mizuki closed her designing book and gave him a welcoming expression. "What's up? Can't sleep?" She asked, duo coloured eyes staring at her. She looked completely different than usual.

"You wear glasses?" Shoto asked and watched as Mizuki's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She plucked off her glasses as fast as possible, the male reaching out. "You don't have to take them off. You look…different with them on."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment, Ice Bastard," Mizuki pointed out, her cheeks still warm from her embarrassment. She sat on the edge of her bed, the towel on her head falling onto her shoulders. He took in the bruise on her cheek, the skin of her legs flushed lightly.

"How are you feeling?" Shoto asked, a frown forming on his lips. Mizuki blinked and the followed his intense gaze on her injuries. She recalled the way he nearly lost his temper towards his father the moment he stepped into the training room, something very out of character for him.

Mizuki chuckled and sat back, using her arms as support. "I'm fine. I'm not someone to roll over and show my stomach…" She took in his standing figure, her eye twitching. "You can sit down, you know? I won't bite you."

Shoto hesitated a moment and then nodded. He softly murmured a 'thank you' as he sat down, Mizuki perceiving the tenseness in his posture as he did so. He was quite awkward when it came to human interactions. It was weird but at the same time she found it oddly adorable.

"Mizuki, about what happened earlier. He probably had this planned all along but I'll go and talk to him. He's wasting your time and it's unacceptable to keep you here without…" Shoto's words died down when Mizuki shook her head.

"Don't. It would be pitiful to have you fight my battle for me." Mizuki glanced up at the roof, a faint smirk on her face. "Besides, I'm grateful for him." Shoto gave her a blank look, confusion washing over him.

"He made me realize something that I was lacking. He reminded me of a few things that I have to work on in the meanwhile. I'll just have to make the best of what's laying ahead of me. Moreover, it would be selfish of me to even ask something like that of you because of your bad ties," Mizuki pointed out.

Shoto observed the calm expression that stayed on her face. Her eyes didn't waver from the words she spoke, the smirk on her face falling onto a small smile. He was surprised. He never expected her to be this level headed after what had happened. It was an admirable quality.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is up with you two?" Mizuki asked, bringing him out of his thoughts. He caught her soft gaze. She wasn't pressuring him to talk and yet, he was comfortable enough as he sat next to her.

"My Old Man has a strong desire to rise in the world. As a hero, he won a name for himself with a crushing force. Because of that, All Might is a great eyesore to him. Since he couldn't surpass All Might, he moved onto his next plan," Shoto said, Mizuki's face falling as his words started to sink in.

"You've heard of Quirk marriages, right?" Mizuki's eyes widened. "That thing became a problem for the second and third generation after Quirks appeared. Choosing a spouse based only on strengthening your own Quirk and passing it onto your children, forcing people into marriage," he informed her.

"He's a man with both accomplishments and money. He won over my mother's relatives and got a hold of my mother's Quirk. He's trying to fulfil his own desire by raising me to be a hero to surpass All Might," he stated.

Mizuki was in shock, sitting upright with her arms resting by her side. Shoto was the result of a Quirk marriage? If she took in the person who Endeavor was, it wasn't surprising. Yet, she felt a painful squeeze in her chest as she looked at his saddened expression.

"In my memories, my other was always crying. 'Your left side is unsightly,' was what she said pouring boiling water on me." His words echoed in her head, colour draining from her face and her heart dropping onto her stomach.

"But I already decided that I won't follow that path. I'll follow the path I make for myself. I made peace with my mother too. I went to visit her and told her everything about what had happened and about who I am now. She said that for me to move forward without anything holding me back would make her happy and be her salvation," Shoto said with a faint smile.

Mizuki was silent next to him, a shadow covering her eyes. He stared at her and then realized he had thrown his entire past on top of her. "Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to upset you… I don't know why I even told you everything…" he trailed off.

For some odd reason, he felt content while sitting next to her. It was peculiar to him. She was comfortable to talk to and before he knew it, he said more than he needed to. What was going on with him-?

His eyes widened when he was pulled into a warm embrace. Mizuki had her one arm wrapped around his shoulder and the other one around his head as she held him into her chest. A shaky gasp came out from him, not sure of what was happening.

He felt the faint trembling of her hands, her heart beating peacefully in her chest. He couldn't see her face and didn't know what she was thinking. However, for some strange reason, he relaxed in her embrace, welcoming the warmth.

"It must've been hard to carry all the luggage," Mizuki spoke softly, Shoto's eyes briefly widening. He hid his eyes and bit his bottom lip. Why? Why was she being this kind? Why was she the one comforting him?

Mizuki in haled deeply and the let go of the male. She gave him a smirk and ruffled his hair roughly. "I'm glad that you're making your own path. I'm curious to see where you're going to end up, Ice Bastard," Mizuki said.

He put a hand on his head where she ruffled his hair, the sensation still present and the warmth never leaving. He didn't quite know how to react. After all, no one had shown him this type of affection before.

"Thanks, Mizuki." She gave him a blank stare. "I can understand why everyone respects you so much," Shoto said and Mizuki's eyes widened. She watched as a small smile formed onto his lips and couldn't help her own smirk, a chuckle escaping her lips.

"Don't mention it!" She said and then became serious, pointing at him in warning. "If you ever tell anyone about what happened, I'll murder you," she threatened. It was shocking at how fast her attitude would change.

"Why?" He asked, uncertain as to why she wouldn't want anyone else to know about her peculiar caring side. It was a good quality to have as a future hero, was it not? He didn't understand her reasoning at all.

"Because!"

"That's not a reason."

"Oh, shut up, will you? Some day when you're all grown up, I'll tell you," Mizuki countered towards the impassive face of Shoto. He cocked his head to the side, still not sure. However, the smirk on her face made him chuckle. She was strange and rough around the edges.

Even so, a friendship blossomed.


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