"Only one hour?!"
Izuku almost screeched as he watched All Might pour tea for them, Akemi sitting next to the hero, clipboard in hand as she smiled dangerously.
"Yeah." The man replied, leaning away from Akemi to avoids the dark aura she's emitting. "That's the limit to how long I can use my powers for now. With the barrier I should be able to pull it up by at most, half an hour, and maintain about three hours of muscle form, Young Akemi's barrier was originally repairing my physical damages, but after the Nomu, everything that was healed was undone again... I really overdid it this time."
"Due to the circumstances, I really can't blame you." Akemi sighed, "But what's pissing me off is that you spent all five hours on small crimes that morning where there were already pro heroes on their way!" She smacked him with her clipboard, and All Might spat out some blood.
"See?! You're spitting blood again!"
Akemi ultimately offered All Might some tissues and pushed the cup of tea across the table.
"Here."
"Ah, and more importantly, the sports festival." All Might spoke up after cleaning the blood off, "You still can't regulate One for All without the barrier yet, can you? And since outside help is forbidden this time, what'll you do?"
Izuku mused in silence, before his eyes widened. "But there was one time!" He exclaimed, "when I aimed a punch at the hand villain and the Nomu took it, there wasn't any damage."
"Ah." Akemi spoke up, "That would be your subconscious at work."
"Huh?" Both of them turned to look at her.
"That's your first time aiming directly at a person, right?" She pointed out, "Izu, you've seen All Might's powers firsthand. You'd know that this power would kill anyone, so you subconsciously controlled it, even when you broke my barrier."
Izuku sighed, scratching his head in thought. The conversation with All Might and Akemi've been stuck in his head for this entire time. And even so, he still couldn't control his power consciously without Akemi's help.
"Ahh~, I really wanted to wear my costume..." Izumi looked up, and glanced over towards Ashido.
"To keep everything fair, we can't." Next to her Ojirō explained, "Oh, and Midoriya, won't it be tough for you? Since Kimura's not allowed to help you..."
"I'll manage somehow." He grinned back, and watched as his classmates returned to their discussion on the competition, until Iida barged in.
"Everyone, are you ready?" He looked around the room, "wait, where's Akemi?"
The class started.
"Ah! Right! Where is she? She's usually the earliest!" Uraraka began to fret, "and isn't she supposed to do the opening speech today?"
Iida walked into the room, "where is she? This is most unlike her..."
The door opened again, and a familiar face poked their head in.
"Ah! Here it is!"
"Wha..." Ojirō blinked, "who's that?"
"Kōki-san?" Izumi blinked.
The girl smirked wide, "Hey there, Midoriya-nii."
"Everyone, this is Kimura Kōki, she's Akemi's younger sister..."
"Hah? But she's way taller than Akemi!" Hagakure exclaimed, "how's that even possible?"
"And Kōki-san, what are you doing here?" Iida asked, "You aren't supposed to be here, are you?"
"Meh, mum bought several support companies last week, so we got invited." The girl shrugged and looked back out the room, "Nee-chan! Mum! Over here!"
"Wha- Wait no mum!"
Then Akemi's pushed into the room along with Kimura-san.
"Oh my God!" Ashido squealed. "Your hair's so pretty!"
Izuku gaped. True. Akemi's hair is done beautifully. The golden and brown strands in her hair from her quirk are braided into a laurel crown, and the rest tumbled down her back in beautiful curls. She gave them a sheepish grin and brushed back a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Mum did this one for me." She said, face a little red.
"Alright alright, put your stuff down you need to head to the backstage go go go!"
And with that Kōki-san dragged her sister off and their mother jogged off with a wink.
"What... Just happened?" Sero asked, "and, wait did Kimura's sister just say her mum bought several support companies?!"
"Well who do you think Akemi-chan is?" Uraraka interrupted, "Her dad's the world-famous Kimura Geikyō! The same one who redesigned Google's base in Japan! And her mum! Kimura Suzumi is the daughter of the head of the Hayashi Financial group. She's going to inherit it soon!"
And as the class gaped and chatted over Akemi's wealth, Todoroki approached him, and all thoughts about Akemi's family flew out the window.
"HEY!"
The mass cheered, and Suzumi leaned forwards in her seat among the heroes.
Her daughter is going to shine.
"PAY ATTENTION, AUDIENCE, SWARM, MASS MEDIA OR ANYONE WATCHING IN FRONT OF THE TV SCREEN RIGHT NOW!" Present Mic's voice rang loud and clear, "THIS YEAR'S HIGH SCHOOL RODEO OF ADOLESCENCE THAT YOU ALL LOVE, THE UA SPORTS FESTIVAL, IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"
"EVERYBODY, ARE YOU READY?!"
"IT'S TIME FOR THE STUDENTS TO ENTRE THE FIRST -YEAR STAGE!"
Suzumi watched as 1A entered, led by one Midoriya, who Akemi has told her about. As the classes poured in and Present Mic continued his announcement, she spotted Akemi in the shadows of another entrance, calming herself down next to Midnight, who patted her back comfortingly. And soon, the woman ushered her daughter out and towards the stage, before she stepped onto the stage and announced.
"Time for the Player's Pledge!" Midnight cracked her whip. The crowd cheered and stirred at her appearance, to which she cracked her whip again.
"Please keep quiet!" She called, "Representing the students is Kimura Akemi, Class 1A!"
And taking a deep breath, Akemi stepped onto the stage, head held high.
She tapped the mic, and the audience quieted slightly.
"I have some words, for competitors and audience both." Akemi's voice echoed through the arena, and Suzumi smiled brightly.
"To my fellow year-mates, those aiming to win, longing for victory, I'd like to give you some personal advice." Akemi's voice took on a darker tone, and her eyes widened. Oh this will be interesting.
"When outgunned, outplan; when outplanned, outsmart. Counter one skill with another and use every situation to your advantage. Grasp the reins and rudder then force it your way." Her tone turned forceful, golden eyes glaring over every one of the competitors. There's a slight start in the audience as she said those words, not quite expecting this. But Suzumi knows her daughter.
Akemi's kind, she's understanding, a little aloof and lazy at times, funny and always with a sense of humour. But when Akemi's determined, don't get in her way. She've seen how far Akemi could go for what she desires, and it is absolutely ruthless.
"Make the fight YOUR game, YOUR story. Play it like chess and weave it like a spider's web. So what if your opponents gain the upper hand? When they do so, break it." The harsh words seem to scare the students a little as Akemi grabbed the mic with her white-knuckled fist, "When outplayed however you outrun you outlast. Trash talk or be honourable, fight fair or kick 'em in the crotch, I don't care, it doesn't matter. Catfight or not a weakness is a weakness so please, find it. Sink your teeth into it and don't. Let. Go." She levelled everyone in the arena with an intense gaze, "Hindsight is 20-20, guys. And while no amount of anxiety will change the future, neither will any quantity of regret alter the past."
She fell silent for several seconds, then opened her mouth again. "Good luck." She said, before looking up and staring at the heroes' seats.
"To those now watching this festival, I really don't have much to say." She said, "but I do have a few facts which I want to remind you all."
"Ever heard of the English word, 'Sonder'?"
Suzumi's eyes widened.
"'Sonder' is a noun. Referring to the realisation that every passed by, everyone around you, is just as vivid, alive, and complex as you." She says, eyes sharp. "And if everyone's life is a story, then I can tell you this."
"Everyone is a hero of someone's story as they are villains in another's tale." She says. "And in whose story do you want to be a hero? And in whose, you wish to be a villain?" She smiled, and it surely sent shivers down the others' spine, " 's up to you."
"Choose well."
She closed her eyes and took a step back. Then in a loud and clear voice, she shouted her pledge.
"And At Last, I Pledge. To Everyone In This Arena And Beyond." She grins, "That We Will Not Give Our Best But More! So Go Beyond, "
"PLUS ULTRA!"
The stadium cheered, and Suzumi could only smile with all her might as Akemi stood tall and proud on stage.
And she's being deep again.
Please RnR for more of deep and philosophical Akemi!
