The following days contained the same activities. Training, training, and training. For Shouto, this was the norm, for Akemi however... He looked towards the girl, now leaning against the wall panting for air as sweat dripped down her chin, and the shadows under her eyes seems to have darkened. The girl had always had them but now she looks a bit like a panda.

"Focus, Shouto!" He looked back towards his father and dodged one of his punches, before sending up a rush of ice, trying to immobilize him.

Three minutes later he joined his classmate next to the wall, chugging water down his throat.

"Tired?"

"You think?" Shouto glanced up towards the girl, who chuckled before tapping him on the shoulder, a warm energy poured in and he felt the exhaustation leave him, though his muscles are still sore as hell. He slumped, and glanced at Akemi.

"I'm mostly mentally drained," She grins, "But I'm dealing with that right now... done."

"Kimura! Again!"

"Yessir!"

Shouto sat down on the bench, watching as Akemi dodged blows after blows and ooh, here comes the dirty moves. That girl is merciless. Over the past few days of intensive training Akemi had finally mastered how to use her quirk with minimal concentration and had broken her limit of only being able to use five skills in the same time without overdrive. As for Shouto himself, he had gained more control over his flames so that unlike the sports festivals, where he had merely been throwing flames all over the arena, he can actually control it's direction. Though he still haven't mastered how to use large scaled attacks safely.

Though with Akemi here it's a lot easier to do so, she did something similar to what she did to Midoriya to him and kept his energy levels under a certain point, keeping his flames from going wild even when he loses control. He was surprise when that man gave her an approved look as she did so, and needless to say, so was she. Akemi had later jokingly whispered to him that she didn't know that the infamous Endeavor can look approved of something, much less someone, he actually had to struggle to hold in a laugh.

Though Akemi's quirk is supposed to be a perfect counter to most quirks, it wasn't long before she was groaning on the ground from a punch and Endeavor declared a short recess.

"I swear, he hits almost as hard as him..." He heard her mumble, and winced.

Wait, almost?

"Akemi, you said almost?" He turned to face her, and she haled slightly before sighing.

"Telekinesis, remember?" She smiles bitterly, "My quirk is strong, and that has to come from somewhere."

He nodded, and looked away.

"You working on any new moves?" She spoke up and looked towards him with a smile.

"Not really, mostly just controlling my flames." He responded, to which she hummed.

"I have a few ideas, and I'm sort of thinking about trying out overdrive again." She grins, "If I can control that, and figure out how to safely use astral energy or at least control it, it'll be awesome."

Shouto smiled slightly as the girl continued to rant, until one of her quistions stopped him.

"Hey, wanna stop by Hibiki's internship later on?" She suggests, "She's working for her mum right now and Tenya's coming along."

"I'll think about it," He replied.

"She's interning in the psych ward."

"...Fine."


Tenya stood at the front gates of Ueno private, glancing down towards his watch.

Weird... Akemi's usually early.

Well that'd be an understatement, she'll be standing here sipping her Starbucks mocha hours before you arrive.

"Tenya!"

Ah, there she is.

He turns to face the girl, a little surprised at the sight of Todoroki-kun, trailing a little behind her.

"Akemi!" He greeted, "So... Am I finally beating you at arriving early?"

"Nope! Today's an exception. I'm sore all over." She grins, "How's your internship?"

"Splendid!" He smiles, though inwardly he knew he wasn't feeling so. Manual was right, despite his brother healed and uninsured right now, if it hadn't been Hibiki he would've to give up his career, and indirectly Stain had nearly took one of his oldest friend's life. He might not be Hibiki's best friend but she certainly is his, and Akemi... The look on the girl's face as she realizes how gravely hurt Hibiki might've been was jarring, he don't want to ever see it again.

Akemi's smile fell slightly, before returning but softer, more comforting, she probably noticed, Akemi've always been very empathetic. "Tenya..." She started but he cut her off.

"Anyway, what is Todoroki-kun doing here?" He asks, in an attempt to change the topic.

"Nah, he's stalking me." Akemi jokes and the teen elbowed her in the ribs (Though due to height difference it hit somewhere else) "Oi watch it Peppermint!" She gave him a glare, to which Todoroki raised an eyebrow. She chuckled and turns back to him, "He's just tagging along, since Hibiki's working in the psych ward."

"Oh, right." He smiles, Tenya doesn't know the details or what happened, but Todoroki's mother is in the psych ward of Ueno Private. It had surprised him at first, and back then he had wanted to ask his classmate about it but the look Akemi gave him as he was about to speak stopped him from doing so.

"Ah, hey guys!"

It's Hibiki, jogging out towards the gates and flashing the security her staff ID before the glass door to the side slid open and the three of them went in. "Usually interns aren't allowed to bring guests but mum pulled strings." She grins and Akemi chuckles, "Oh, Todo-chan!" The teen blinked a little at the nickname and Akemi laughed, "You're here to see Rei-san, right?" He nodded, "Well, you're in luck 'cause I'm interning in her area." She grins and Todoroki blinked, "You probably already knows the way but whatever, c'mon!"

Tenya could only smile and shake his head as Hibiki and Akemi began to chatter, about everything and nothing, filling the silence with their voices. For a moment he relaxed, watching fondly as his friends chatted with one another animatedly, but the creeping shadows that had a hold of his mind returned and the smile fades.

She could've been dead, she could've been in his brother's place. Hibiki... Hibiki coul've died.

And it was all Stain's fault.


Current Poll Results~ (from both the poll and the reviews)

Akemi's paring:

Todoroki Shouto: 9

Midoriya Izuku: 1

Iida Tenya: 2

Seiba Hiroi: 0

Ueno Hibiki: 3

Kaminari Denki: 0

Bakugou Katsuki: 2

Tokoyami Fumikage: 0

Iida Tensei: 1

Others (Please state in review!)


Hibiki's pairing:

Todoroki Shouto: 0

Midoriya Izuku: 0

Iida Tenya: 3

Seiba Hiroi: 0

Kimura Akemi: 3

Shinsou Hitoshi: 2

Others (Please state in review!)


Alright, which do you want me to post first: a Todoroki vs Akemi scene (not Cannon to this AU), or the cover image? Comment to let me know! ( they will both probably be up by next week.)

Onto the comment replies!!

To darkpaladin89: Atomic spaghetti...? And as for Hisashi, I'm gonna wait till his appreance in the manga, don't wanna change too many stuff.

To alpspe01: Vote received! Third vote for Akebiki!