It really hurts. Akemi hissed a little, but that's nothing. She rolled into a crouched position and leapt into a somersault, before landing and ducking to the side to avoid a wave of explosions.

Ark. Dammit. Akemi ducked low and did a series of spins and backflips; she isn't very good at backflips yet but they'll have to do. Akemi finally landed and pressed her palms to the ground, ready to charge it full.

"DAMMIT DON'T YOU DARE!!"

"WATCH ME!" She roared back and that instant, Bakugou soars close enough to let off an explosion in her face but Akemi's having none of that. Raising her arm and pushing the telekinesis of her quirk to the brim the cement bent to her will and rose to take the blow.

FORBIDDEN SKILL: OVERHAUL

Through overcharging things with her quirk energy, she can maximise her telekinesis to control and deconstruct and reconstruct anything.

Akemi leapt back, and columns of cement rose to catch her, as others flew through the air to hit Bakugou. She stood as they caught her and she controlled for more to rise and attack Bakugou, as more and more was exploded and evaded.

She hears Present Mic's cheers but didn't quite listened to any of that. Her head is already hurting and straining from the focus she is putting behind this move. This was initially supposed to be a forbidden move, used only in emergencies. But through the last few weeks of workout she had significantly uped her control and focus, which means she should be able to safely use this.

Then Bakugou leaps onto one of her columns and she tries to throw him off. But the teen jumped off himself then with his explosions, blasted his way up towards her.

Akemi takes and solidified the light around her in a dome, which blocked his explosion. Akemi can usually only handle using eight basic skills at a time, or five special skills. As for forbidden skills... Well she should be able to handle another two basic ones. Akemi hissed as her head throbbed, and waving a hand upwards she bought a column up to hit her opponent.

Her dome shattered. Akemi takes slightly as Bakugou flew in screaming bloody murder, blowing his way through layers of cement. Akemi grunted as the last wall was broken through and the teen slammed into her, taking her to he ground.

She lost grip on the charged energy in the biggest column— the one she was standing on, and the free-form energy blee it into pieces, and the debris rained down oh them.

The coiling golden energy coursing through her lashed out, losing control. As Akemi and Bakugou hit the ground she didn't get up. As Bakugou blew his way near to her she didn't move.

The debris was raining down on her, around her and Akemi curled up. No longer in the present as the energy around and in her exploded outwards.

There was a blinding pain in her right hand and forearm, and she slipped away.

The world went black.


The arena was holding their breath in anticipation as Midnight walked onto the stage, kneeling by Akemi to check if she is suitable for battle.

Izuku was gaping. Iida, nxt to him, has stood up in alarm.

That's when it happened.

Even when Akemi fell and stared as the column collapsed, she had been buzzing and crackling with the golden coils that is her quirk. And even now she is, but that one moment, as Midnight touched her, the entirety of her right arm...

Just exploded.

His hands flew to his mouth. As Midnight recoiled and dust rose. As it settled he could see that her arm is slightly deformed, like his own after he used One for All twice, with his broken fingers.

The energy.

Lost control.

Izuku's eyes widened at it's implications. What would've happened if she completely lost it, what would've happened if Akemi's energy lashed out, out of control, in her entire body?

This time it was her arm.

Her ARM.

Izuku bolted out of his seat and whirled to face Iida, who seemed to have the same realisation as he did.

Her right arm.

Akemi's a writer. She's an artist, her right arm— her dominant hand is—!

He disn't listed when Midnight announced Kacchan the winner. He didn't listen when the crowd cheered.

All he knew, is that Akemi might just have her life ruined.


When Akemi woke up. She was in the infirmary. She was silent through the entire conversation with Recovery girl. Due to her quirk there wasn't any scar left on her hand but—

Her words... The cold, hard truth.

Akemi was soon released. She heard her friends coming but avoided them.

They don't need to see her like this.

Akemi slipped back into the locker rooms, and looked at her unbandaged hand. It looked fine, but as Akemi dug through her bag and pulled out the familiar book and pencil, the moment she held her trusty tool... Nothing was the same.

With trembling hands, Akemi flipped her sketchbook open, and her pen touched the paper.

It's over.

The moment the first line was drawn she trembled. Akemi curled in on herself and choked out a sob.

Nerves damage. She slammed a first against the tabletop and hiccuped — damned nerves damage.

The doors slammed open and Akemi only curled in further.

They don't need to see her like this.

They don't.


If Hiroi had to pick one most heartbreaking moment in his life, it'd be this one.

His breath caught as he saw her. Curled up and miserable, gripping her favourite pen and sketchbook in arms, sobbing her heart out as all her hard work—

Her dreams—

Ruined. All ruined.

Hiroi was speechless. None of them could move. Uraraka, from Akemi's class had her hands clasped over her mouth as Akemi finally cried. Shaking. Tenya was trembling. And Midoriya looked away.

And Hibiki...

Oh, Hibiki... He looked towards the girl. She looked calm, but her hair shielded her face.

Then she stepped forward.


Akemi was still sniffling slightly when a hand grabbed hers.

"Akemi?"

Oh.

Hibiki. She wanted to say, but her voice won't make another sound, other than that broken little sob.

"Akemi, I know you love drawing. You loved it. You've always loved it. Drawing and writing saved you before you met me. It kept you alive and you love it." A pair of arms pulled her in a hug, and Akemi realised belatedly, that Hibiki's quirk works with skin contact.

"So please forgive me for this, okay?"


Oh Hibiki, you self-sacrificing martyr.

I know you wanted Akemi to win, but I guarantee you'll like what's coming next.

See You Next Time!