Hi Y'all! Here is the last chapter for 2018, Chapter 12. Happy Holidays to all! Please enjoy! PLUS ULTRA!
Minami huffed and crossed her arms, feeling irritation rise within her at another one of Present Mic's incomplete answers to her questions.
Why won't he tell me anything about the entrance exam, he has to know something, right?
"it's your turn Mini-Might!" Present Mic's energetic voice broke her out of her thoughts as she looked up and refocused on the board game they were playing in the apartment to pass time. Glancing at the All Might Themed game, she rolled the dice and moved her piece several more spaces. She looked back up to Present Mic, pouting a bit.
"Come on Mic, you have to know something about the entrance exam results! Pleeeeasssse!?" Minami begged,
Present Mic pinched his sun glasses and tipped them forward down his nose a bit, getting a better look at the girl. Minami regarded his green eyes.
"I already told you little listener! I don't know a thing! I'm not the one that makes those decisions, I just run the test! Ya dig?!" The DJ hero laughed loudly at the girl and shrugged his shoulders.
Minami sighed and tossed her head back, staring at the ceiling, feeling aggravated.
"When's dad coming home?" She leaned forward again towards the coffee table as she sat on the floor, resting her cheek on her hand sullenly. "I haven't seen him in four days, and you're fun to hang out with and all Mic, but I don't need a babysitter! I can take care of myself!"
Present Mic laughed nervously, his eyes shifting around behind his tinted sunglasses as if some big secret had been discovered.
"What are ya talking about little listener?! I'm not babysitting! I just LOOOOVEEE spending time with my fans!" he dabbed as he said this, then peeked his head up from his arms to give the girl a big cheesy grin. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the 15 year old held his gaze, looking unamused.
Present Mic's upbeat staging promptly deflated and he dropped his head, feeling defeated at not being able to entertain the young girl any longer, "You're one tough fan to please little lady! Well, your dad asked me and the others to come here so you could keep up with your studies. Your dad is on a hero mission to take out some dangerous bad guys, and that's why he really hasn't been here all week. Along with that, and having to run Might Tower in Tokyo, and finish up a few more things he has for his teaching position at UA, he's a pretty busy guy ya know!"
Minami felt a twinge of worry cross through her at the thought of Yagi pushing himself so hard for a consecutive period of time instead of his normal three hours day.
Spending lots of time with Present Mic, Midnight, and Cementoss has been fun this week, Minami thought to herself as she remembered watching girly movies with Midnight while eating chocolate and braiding eachother's hair. Later on, Cementoss had even taken her ice skating at a local park where an ice rink was constructed for the public to enjoy during the colder weather. She smiled as she recalled how vividly he had clapped at her pirouettes.
but I just want Dad to come home…I hope he's ok…
She noted her emotions must have crossed her face because Present Mic seemed to scramble to try to come up with a positive way to spin what he just explained to her.
"But no worries, I'm sure your Dad will text me soon with an update! Now, let's not focus on that, you've studied hard today, so now it's time to get this party started with some rocking tunes!" Mic grinned like a fool as he grabbed his phone and selected his play list to start blasting a techno song, desperate to keep his promise to All Might to keep her entertained. Minami felt mesmerized and simultaneously amused by his awkward dancing and swaying, feeling a blush rise to her face as he seemed to really get into his DJ-ing/partying as he stomped around the living room in what almost looked like a ritualistic dance.
This…..is nice…. She thought to herself hesitantly, her eyes drifting to the wall clock to see it was 7pm. She felt a pang of longing for her normal routine.
She thought about how normally at this time, she would be relaxing and decompressing for the evening with Yagi, usually watching a movie or television. Sometimes after a particularly trying day, she would even curl up against his side while she would stare at the T.V. tiredly, feeling Toshi's paternal doting as he would card his fingers through her hair softly, or wrap her up in a hug; all of which had become almost essential in keeping her anxiety in check some days due to her previous living situation which had been anything but stable. Her routine was something much quieter and soothing than the current loud pro hero prancing before her. While Present Mic was entertaining for her, Minami ground her teeth as she also felt herself approaching her mental limit.
Her phone rattling and dinging on the coffee table drew her eyes back forward. Minami snatched it up as she bit the inside of her cheek, gripping her phone tightly in her hand.
Maybe it's Dad?! Or Izuku? He still hasn't texted me back…she thought eagerly.
Opening the text, she saw it was from Mina, whom she had exchanged phone numbers with after the exam.
I was accepted into UA! 3 3 did you hear back from UA yet?!
Minami felt numerous emotions cross through her. Happiness for her friend; concern as to why she hadn't gotten a response yet; fear that she didn't get in and would get left behind.
Beginning to text her back, she was interrupted by a high pitched shrieking that was heard above the loud racket of the techno music that was playing, making her jump.
Snapping her head up, she saw Present Mic jumping up on top of the sofa chair, pointing at something on the ground with a horrified look on his face.
The girl craned her neck forward over the low coffee table and saw a centipede scurrying across the wood floor. She squeaked and jumped up onto the couch, "ewing" the entire time.
"What the hell is going on here?!" a deep voice shouted over the blasting techno music.
Minami's head swiveled to see Yagi standing in the doorway in green gray cargo pants and a loose white polo shirt as he removed his coat, looking at the chaotic scene with a stunned look on his thin face. Minami felt joy fill her heart at his arrival home.
"Papa!" Minami cried excitedly, then promptly wobbled as she fell off the back of the couch in her haste to get to him.
"Oomph!" she felt the air knocked out of her chest as she hit the hard floor back first, wincing with the momentary spark of pain shooting through her spine. Hearing Present Mic's techno music stop abruptly, her father's warm chuckle filled the room at her clumsiness as he stepped closer to stand over her, his hands on his hips as he grinned down at her.
"My girl! Are you alright?! Seems you took quite the tumble there!" Minami blinked for a few moments, then giggled, reaching her arms out for him to help her up.
"I'm ok dad! Help me up?"
Having been separated from Minami for several days straight for the first time since he met her in Oklahoma, Toshi felt his heart clench at her response. He couldn't resist but to reach down and pick her up, lifting her to be balanced on his hip with one arm while wrapping her in a tight embrace with his remaining arm, rubbing her nose with his own in an Eskimo kiss before tucking her under his chin.
Minami snuggled into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around his slim frame, burying her face into his shoulder as she felt safety and love wash over her, her anxiety ebbing away slowly.
She could hear Present Mic walk behind them and towards the front door, saying good-bye hastily as he was eager to escape the centipede which was still at large in the room somewhere.
Toshinori rumbled a good-bye and thanks to him as they heard the door slam shut. Walking to the couch with the girl still in his arms, he sat down and shifted her to his lap, pulling back a bit to look at her. Toshi smiled softly at the girl. Minami looked up at her father and noticed the even darker than usual circles under his eyes, and decided he looked absolutely exhausted.
"Well hello little Minami, glad that I'm home?" Minami laughed and smiled,
"Yes! I missed you!" she threw her arms back around his neck. Yagi laughed quietly and patted her head, then slowly took her hand and held it in his lap, squeezing it.
"I'm sorry I was gone for so long, but I had to help Naomasa with a dangerous stealth job that required some real muscle to take out a few nasty villains," Yagi paused to grin and curl his free arm to show off his bicep to her.
"Mic texted me that you seemed antsy these past few days without me, everything alright little one?" Toshi's voice grew more concerned as he regarded her.
Minami took his hand into her own, feeling a bit nervous as she ran her thumbs over the rough skin that sported many light, small scars; proof of years of fighting villains. Despite Yagi's thin form, she noticed his hands were still giant.
"I…I felt scared sometimes, like I couldn't relax, and I always felt a bit on edge. I don't like not having you here, I feel safe when you're here. When you're not here, sometimes it reminds me of before you came to get me, back in Oklahoma," Minami explained quietly as she continued to stare down at Toshi's hand.
"Oh my girl…" Yagi wrapped Minami in a tight hug, confirming what he always suspected, that she still had remnants of anxiety from her time before she came to Japan. "I promise, you'll never return to that lifestyle, and we'll work harder on settling your fears," Minami nodded against the crook of his neck, swallowing thickly and releasing a sigh.
"In the meantime, I think I have something for you that will definitely improve your spirits!" Toshinori pulled away once more to take something out of his pocket. Minami blinked as he plopped an envelope in her lap. Looking closely, Minami could see the wax UA emblem seared into the lip of the thick paper.
"It's here! my letter!" she grasped the envelope tightly in her fingers and started tearing it open. A small circular cassette instead tipped out into her palm. Minami looked at the plastic roll inquisitively before it was gently taken from her fingers by Yagi, and set onto the coffee table. A projection on their living room wall started up immediately.
The boisterous form of All Might in his neon yellow pin stripe suit took shape; he waived excitedly at the camera. Minami jumped, not expecting to see her father's muscle form staring back at her, but grinned and looked up behind at Yagi, who smiled back and pointed forward, reminding her to pay attention to the projection.
"Young Yagi! I'm here on UA's behalf to inform you of the results of your exam!" All Might flashed one of his dazzling smiles at the camera and gave her a thumbs up.
She watched the large hero clear his throat as he proceeded to explain to the camera her written results first,
"Your written exam was OK, but you scored below average it seems," Minami winced at that statement, and bashfully looked at Toshi to see his reaction,
"I'm sorry dad…Looks like all that tutoring was for nothing…" she said sadly. Toshi just shook his head and pointed back to the projection.
"It's not finished yet my girl, just keep watching!" he said, a bit exasperated. Turning her head again, she perked up a little as All Might still grinned as a screen came down behind him in the recording. On the screen, recordings of her destroying bots appeared from the practical portion of the exam. Minami stared at the recordings within the recording, an odd feeling crossing her as she watched herself on film.
Is that what I look like on camera? My hair is a mess! She grimaced slightly until All Might began talking again.
"However, your performance was quite spectacular during the practical portion; you really went Plus Ultra on those test bots!" All Might laughed cheerily.
The recordings of her paused when it showed her hovering over the girl who attempted to bully her, trying to protect her from falling concrete.
"One of the most impressive feats during your exam was when you focused on protecting and rescuing another examinee; rescue is one of the most important tasks that a hero can perform in the field. While villain points are also important, UA's hero course is structured around the concept of rescue! Now that's heroism at its finest young Yagi!" All Might flexed his biceps at the camera, showing his approval. Minami could begin to feel hope inch its way back into her heart.
It can't be…but…why would they focus on all the things they liked if I didn't do well? Except if….
"It's why you were awarded 32 rescue points, along with the 26 villain points you earned! Giving you a total of 58 points from the practical!"
Minami felt stunned as a scoreboard popped up behind All Might then, showing her in 9th place with her awarded points. Looking up several spots, none of the other names rang a bell except one. She felt excitement buzz through her as she saw Izuku's name as well.
"Therefore, it is my utmost pleasure to inform you of your acceptance to UA! We hope you will accept our humble offer and will join us in the future!" All Might grinned as widely as Minami had ever seen him as he extended a hand towards the camera.
The recording ended abruptly then, with the circular cassette shutting itself off.
Silence filled the room for several seconds as Minami processed what had just happened.
58 points…9th place… accepted into UA despite crappy written exam?..I'm in…I'M IN!
Leaping off her father's lap, Minami squealed in delight, jumping onto the wood floor in front of her and turned around, grabbing her father's shoulders, shaking them.
"You knew! You knew I was in! And you didn't tell me sooner?! Papa! I'm in! I'm going to UA!" the annoyance she felt at her father for keeping the secret from her was instantly cancelled out by the delight she felt about her acceptance. Yagi laughed as he put his hands up defensively.
"I didn't know for sure until I had to make the acceptance recordings and your name was on the list! That was only a few days ago. I didn't want to tell you something so important over the phone, so I figured it would be better to see your reaction in person." Toshinori grinned and winked at her. Minami huffed dramatically then laughed.
"However, I do want you to know that I was not a part of the judging committee, but even if some of the other teachers were and they vouched for you, it is because of your talent and not your blood," Toshi leaned forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking a bit more serious. Minami seemed unsure of his statement. His gripped tightened slightly at her uncertainty.
"Your hard work paid off, and that is the reason why you're going to UA, not because you are my daughter, you understand? I may have many secrets my girl, but I never lie." Yagi gave Minami a stern look, committed to the idea of making sure she understood she got in on her own merit.
Besides, even if Cementoss and the few others who know who she is selected her purely because of our familial relation, which is highly unlikely, it's plain to see her raw talent, and that I'm sure caught their eyes, Yagi reminded himself mentally, covering all his bases on said topic of favoritism.
Minami smiled softly, and looked Yagi in the eyes, "I get to be like you Papa, I can follow in your footsteps…" but Yagi surprised her by grinning instead and shaking his head.
"No my girl, you will walk your own path, free of all the bloodshed that has covered my own. But I will walk alongside you, and you will be better than me," giving one last pat on her shoulders, Toshi stood from where he sat on the couch, grunting in pain at the large cracking that came from his knees. Coughing into the crook of his arm, he looked at his phone as he got a text notification.
"Well, let's get going the beach, I'm meeting with Izuku regarding his acceptance into UA, and I'm sure you want to catch up with him, hm?" Yagi commented as he walked back to the front door, but stopping himself first as he just remembered something.
"First! before I forget, I want to give you this," Toshi turned and stalked off into the back of the apartment and into his bedroom. He returned holding a folded piece of clothing. Minami eyed it, thinking how it looked warm.
Unfolding it, Yagi held it out to show it was a large UA hoodie. "This used to me mine, I wore it my second year at UA. It'll be big on you, but you're a UA student now! You should show it off to the world!" Yagi smiled as he handed it to her.
Looking at the hoodie, she could see the UA emblem looked a bit worn, but to Minami it was perfect. She quickly pulled the hoodie on over her own t-shirt and found it went nearly to her knees. Yagi laughed at how much the sweatshirt dwarfed her.
"Well, it least it's warm kiddo! Now let's get to the beach!" Yagi grinned and gave Minami a thumbs up.
And there's chapter 12! So 2 short chapter updates within a week isn't too bad. Next chapter is meeting at the beach and the first day of school! Let me know if you guys liked this chapter! Thanks again! I hope to have another update within the next few weeks. Happy New Year!
