EIGHTEEN FUCKING DAYS LEFT BEFORE THIRD SEASON YASSSSSSS!
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Ahem. Sorry 'bout that. Just a little excited~ Anyhow, the Sports Festival Arc will be officially starting in the next chapter. Also, I wanted to thank everyone who's been supporting this story since I began publishing it, your reviews, likes and all that really mean a lot to me. Also, a certain Guest has pointed out that Izuku, being Kira's best friend, should see she isn't doing all that well. And yeah, he really should! The thing is, Kira is exceptionnally good at hiding when something's wrong. Add that to the fact that Izuku is very occupied, what with having One For All and all that, and it gives a pretty good excuse as to the why and what and how of the whole situation.
However, I can assure you guys that Izuku does, in fact, know that she isn't okay. Well, mentally, at least. He simply has no idea about her physical state. But! He thinks that Kira will come to him if things get too bad, because that's what she used to do. But hey, I think we all know that's not how it'll happen, right?
Okay, I'm done ranting. Also, for more information about the poll, look at the author's note at the end of the chapter!
Warning: Kira's language, Kira's stubborness and Kira's bad mood.
Enjoy!
Kira's eye twitched.
It would seem the official mediatized report of the Villain attack on USJ the night before had confirmed Class 1-A's involvement in the incident. The rest of the U.A. High students were in a frenzy. While she hadn't seen it earlier that morning, she now realized that this sudden popularity wouldn't be all that beneficial, and even less so when it came to the Sports Festival in a month from now.
"Look, it's Suttoki-san!"
"She's got the same Quirk as Endeavor, right?"
"They say she's got bad temper!"
"I heard she beat up a third of the Villains by herself!"
"Eh, really? She doesn't seem that impressive."
"Watch out, she might hear you!"
Ignoring the stares and rumors, the teen held her head high and kept on heading for her classroom. The day was over, but she still needed to grab her things.
She thought back to her training. It hadn't been very successful, if she was to be honest. Her movements were stiff, she couldn't stop thinking about everything that was happening, and she had tired herself out way too fast for it be normal.
Maybe I should go see Recovery Girl-
"What business do you have with Class 1-A?" Iida's voice from the other hallway drew her attention.
"We can't get out!" That was Mineta. "What's your problem with us!?"
She turned the corner, and froze. The hallway was filled with students who had come to see for themselves the famous 1-A rookies. Their link with the attack had been but rumors before, hence why no one had bothered them until now.
Damn, I miss those days now.
"Oi, people!" she called, annoyance lacing her voice. Her exclamation gained their attention, and most turned to look at her. "No offense, but you're in the way. Get lost and stop staring already."
Kira didn't want to be rude or anything, really! However, she was tired and angry and also hungry, so them blocking the hallway was kind of the last straw.
"What'd ya say, girlie?" snapped one of the students.
She glared at him. "I said: move, or I'll remove you."
He paled dramatically at that, easily noticing the lighter that had slipped into her palm and which she was now clicking open. He instantly scrambled away, disappearing in the mass of students. With a tsk, the ginger easily reached the classroom, the rest of the onlookers moving out of her way.
"K-Kicchan!" Izuku greeted her. He handed to her her bag, already prepared. Damn, he knows me too well. "I-I think you scared them a little… Are you… are you alright?"
"Uh? Yeah, just tired. Don't worry. And thanks for that," she ruffled his hair.
He let her do as she pleased, too used to it by now. "Of course, Kicchan."
"Still, those people-" Mineta started whining again, but was cut off by Bakugo.
"Don't bother with them. They're just here to scout out the enemy."
You're really full of yourself, aren't you? Kira sweatdropped along with the rest of her classmates.
"Well, well, well… I came to see what the famous Class A was like, but you all just seem pretty arrogant."
At the new voice, the fiery teen snapped her eyes to the entrance of the class. In the doorframe was now standing a purple-haired boy, with heavy bags under his eyes and a facial expression that not even the dead would envy.
"Are all the students in the Hero Course like this?" he inquired flatly. "Seeing something like this makes me disillusioned." Kira simply narrowed her eyes at him, but didn't say anything, and so he pursued. "There are quite a few people who enrolled in general studies or other courses because they didn't make it into the Hero Course. Did you know that? The school has left those of us a chance, though. Depending on the results of the Sports Festival, they'll consider our transfer into the Hero Course. And… it seems they may also transfer people out."
Bakugo was not happy, that much was obvious.
Funny thing was, none of his classmates were either, agreeing with him for once.
"Scouting the enemy?" the boy then repeated Bakugo's earlier claim. "I, at least, came to say that even if you're in the Hero Course, well… If you get too carried away, I'll sweep your feet out from under you. I came… with a declaration of war."
Silence ensued, soon broken by Kira's snort. "Pretty bold claim for someone who didn't make it, isn't it?" He tensed at that, and she rolled her eyes. "Of course, the Entrance Exams for the Hero Course aren't suited for everyone's Quirks. I'm sure most of the people you have just mentioned would actually have been able to make it in if it hadn't been for the physical part. That's surely why the school agreed to give you that chance to prove yourself during the Sports Festival, right? But no matter what, general studies student, don't forget that we all got into this course because we worked for it."
Her ruby eyes hardened.
"We've trained to get where we are today. We did our best, and managed to make this first step because of our determination. Do not think some misplaced bitterness will be enough to overcome hard work and efforts. Oh, and please don't forget: talent and luck are also important skills for a Hero. If you can't handle every situation with the cards you've been dealt with in life, then you have no business entering the Hero Course."
The ginger wanted to leave. She was still hungry, and she also wanted to take a shower and a nap, and maybe do some meditation while she was at it. She also had homework, and those damn pictures which still needed to be transferred into her computer.
Otherwise said, she didn't want to waste her time with petty rivalry any longer.
"OI!"
Guess I ain't going to take that shower anytime soon.
"I'm from Class B next door!" suddenly exclaimed a guy with weird-looking glasses, popping up from nowhere. "I heard you fought against Villains so I came to hear 'bout it! Don't get so full of yourselves! If you bark too much, it'll be embarrassing for you durin' the real fight! And- wait, you're the girl from the first day!"
Great, he remembers my 'amazing entrance' from the first day, she sweatdropped.
"Could you stop screeching already?" she grunted, rubbing her ear. She propped her bag onto her shoulder. "Listen, I don't care about petty arrogance. I say what I want 'cause I can back it up. Can you tel me the same?"
"You bitch…" growled the boy.
"Look, I'm done here. I'm tired and I want to eat something too," she concluded, heading out. She sent a wave to her friends. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"W-wait! Kira! It's your fault if they hate us, do something!" protested Kirishima, borderline whining.
"Who cares?" she snapped back, not slowing down. "What matters isn't who barks the most, but who bites the harder. If these guys can't handle the same level of jerk-ness they're ditching around, then its their problem, not ours, and most certainly not mine." At that, she stopped in her tracks, and sent one last glance to the group. "Aim for the top, all of you! The Hero Course won't settle for people who do any less."
After what, she took her leave.
As soon as she disappeared, tears started streaming down the face of a very inspired Kirishima.
"That was so simple… and so manly…"
"She's a girl," deadpanned Kaminari.
"She's right, though," mused Sato, grinning.
"W-what?"
"Aim for the top, uh? Only the truth, then," nodded Tokoyami.
"Not you too!"
"Now we'll just be at a disadvantage at the Sports Festival!" protested Mineta.
"Tche," Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets, leaving too. "Carrot's too nice with those extras."
The rest of the students sweatdropped at the comment. How exactly had Kira been 'too nice' with that little outburst?
It took only another second for Izuku to figure it out.
She encouraged them. He felt dizzy, all of sudden. She insulted them, shoved them around, and then smacked the facts in our faces: we all have to do our best.
"Aim for the top, all of you! The Hero Course won't settle for people who do any less."
… I really was an idiot. Kicchan, Uraraka-san, Iida-kun, Kacchan, and all the others are going to put their all into the Sports Festival so as to achieve their dreams. I might finally be on the path of becoming a Hero, I might have All Might supporting me, but it means nothing if I don't work by myself for it! If I don't make my own efforts, than what am I still doing here!?
"Deku-kun, you alright?" Uraraka tapped his shoulder, worried.
"Uh? Yeah, just thinking."
"What about?" wondered Iida, curious.
At that, Izuku beamed at them. "Kicchan really is too nice, sometimes."
The rest of the students still around fell anime style.
There really was no point in trying to understand those three's madness.
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"I can't believe you dare show your face after leaving like that."
"I apologize, Nami-sensei! It won't happen again!"
The woman narrowed her eyes at the girl. The ginger had been cancelling their meetings since she started school, which had pissed the woman off. A brat with a half-hassed drive was even worse than a brat with none at all.
"Think you can handle it?" the woman snapped, pointing her Bo staff in the teen's face.
Kira straightened and looked at her straight in the eyes. "Hai! Please don't hold back!"
The teacher stared at her for a while longer. This kid's eyes had always been steeled with determination, something she could grudgingly admit to appreciate. Now, though, this steel had been replaced by a spark like none other, a will new and reborn from the ashes of the last.
Akazuki Nami liked it. She liked it a lot.
"What are you waiting for!?" she barked. "Grab your staff and let's get started already, you're wasting time!"
"Yes, ma'am! "
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The training had been harsh and merciless.
Kira felt as if her heart could stop at any second.
Nami-sensei must have noticed something was wrong, but she didn't say anything, thankfully.
The teen knew she wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. However, she couldn't bother everyone with her problems, not right now. They were all focused on the Sports Festival, and so was she.
I'll see about it later.
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"Hey, Kira!"
"Ren!"
She hugged tightly her brother, before pulling away and handing him back his phone with a sheepish expression.
"I forgot to give it back to you last time," she apologized. "Hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"Nan, don't worry. I'm just glad I didn't loose it," he admitted, ruffling her hair in affection. "Now let's go, I'm starving!"
"More like you're happy not to be cooking for once. Nao-san gave you the role all too happily, I presume?" she teased.
"Only because he knows I'm the best," he sniffed.
"Arrogant much?"
"More like aware of my numerous talents."
She snickered at that, and he simply smiled as they entered the restaurant.
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She checked her running time with a frown.
I'm slower.
This wasn't good. She had stopped going for her early runs each morning, but it wasn't an excuse. She needed to get back in shape, and fast.
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Kira had been going through her moves for ten minutes when the door of the training room slid open, letting enter Todoroki in his training clothes. The ginger dropped her stance, sweat already covering her arms and neck.
"Need some time off again?" she smiled at him.
"I am ready for that spar you promised me, if the offer still stands," he replied, putting down his bottle of water.
She beamed at him. "Sure! I'm in dire need of a sparring partner anyway. The classes I'm taking… Well, I can't really go all out. Don't hold back, alright?"
"I'll ask the same of you."
He took his stance before her, and she narrowed her eyes, mimicking him. She could already tell he was a lot more used to this kind of thing than she was. The only spars she ever took part in where during her classes, and they were restricted by rules and whatnot.
Here, though, it was free-for-all.
"Here I come!" She really shouldn't say it, but it was habit. She'd get rid of it soon enough.
She ran up at him and aimed her fist for his face. He easily deflected it and took the opportunity to punch her sternum. She bent over to avoid it and kicked him in the stomach, but he grabbed her foot and twisted it. Easily following the movement, she used her free leg to try and hit his head, but he moved out of the way barely in time, letting her go in the process. She landed back on her feet and crouched in a defensive stance.
Her face split in yet another grin, and Todoroki's lips faintly twitched upwards.
This is going to be fun!
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The teen checked over the pictures like she had done at least five times over now, if not six. There were more than two hundred of them, and she was starting to memorize even their order considering for how long she's been studying them.
She felt her headache worsening, and finally moved her eyes away from the screen. She wouldn't get more info tonight.
I'll try again tomorrow.
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Kira was panting harshly. Bent over, hands on her knees, she could taste the blood coming up her throat. Hell, she could smell it. However, she couldn't allow herself to show her weakness, not with Snipe watching her like an hawk from a tree farther away. She had agreed to the escort after all since she wanted to do some training outside of U.A., but she never thought they'd actually have someone watching her all along.
That's it, she grunted internally, swallowing back the blood and bile. She scrunched her nose at the awful taste, and quickly gulped down some water. I'm running my laps on the school grounds now.
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The ginger stared in wonder at the flame dancing gingerly in her palm. As always, the fire was bright and warm and comforting. It was another part of her, really. Now, though, it felt different. She hadn't really paid attention to it until now but, ever since the USJ incident, her control over her Quirk had greatly improved.
It vanished as she thought back to two weeks earlier.
Back when fighting the Villains, she made a resolution. So as to be able to wield her powers to their full capacity, she accepted to loose herself to it. She accepted that she couldn't control it.
Fire is like an animal, she mused, starting to toss a ball of heat and light in the air. I can't control it. I've tried for a long time, and managed for a long time, but that control of mine has reached its limits. If I want to keep improving, then I need to move on.
I can't control it… but I can fight alongside it.
And then, the teen stiffened.
Her eyes snapped back to the ball of fire she had been playing with.
This can't be possible…
Or… could it?
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"You're tiring faster than usual."
"I-I'm –cough, cough- not…"
Todoroki frowned as the girl kept on coughing. They started sparring three times a week but, for a few days now, she seemed to be getting worse. He knew from that time when they met outside that she had been injured during the Villain attack, but failed to see to what extent.
It wasn't getting any better, though.
She was growing more and more exhausted. The smallest effort tired her. Her movements and reaction time were sluggish, her hits were weakening at each spar and she often lost her balance. Her muscles stiffened, sometimes failing to answer to her commands.
It wasn't his place to ask, or even worry. If she wanted to act stupidly, then he had no right to judge-
"You should go see Recovery Girl about this. It has been going on for long enough," he frowned slightly.
"I-I'm fine," she protested, not at all convincingly.
However, he couldn't stand seeing her in that state of weakness any longer. Suttoki Kira was reckless, Suttoki Kira was cheerful to a fault, Suttoki Kira was strong and- and that… that wasn't Suttoki Kira. Not the one he knew, not the one he had grown to respect.
"You can't even stand up anymore."
"Shut up!" Adamant to prove him wrong, she forced herself to stand.
He raised an eyebrow. She was shaking, but wouldn't back down from this.
Stupid girl.
But he dropped it. If she wanted to keep hurting herself, then it was her choice. It's not like they were friends or anything, so worrying wasn't his job. In the end, she was but another classmate he would have to crush, after all.
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"Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope."
The pictures revealed no more secrets than the last time she checked them. Annoyed, the teen stood to go grab some water. As soon as she rose to her feet, though, the room started spinning. Slamming her hands on her desk to stop herself from falling, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply until she regained her balance. She started coughing again, but ignored the blood once again when she went to get her drink.
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"Kira, you okay? You seem…"
"I'm fine, Ren," she assured, lying through her teeth. "Just kind of tired. I've been training a lot for the upcoming Sports Festival. You'll come, right?"
She was pale, too pale. There were dark circles under her eyes, clumsily covered by some makeup. Her hair, usually wild and untamed, was now flat and lost its shine.
"Wouldn't miss it, Little Spark," her brother assured, deciding not to question her anymore on the subject. She was a big girl, after all, and he trusted her. "Just don't overwork yourself, alright? Being dead on your feet the day of the festival won't be of any help."
"Of course. I'll kick their asses, just you wait!"
He laughed, not seeing how her arm seemed to lock into place for the rest of their dinner.
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Kira was having a hard time breathing.
Her feet wouldn't move.
Damn it.
She couldn't hide it any longer.
"Kicchan, are you alright?" Izuku frowned, worried.
"I'm… I'm…" Dark spots danced before her eyes. Her chest hurt, she couldn't breath properly, her heart was beating too fast. "I'm… not…" Sweat was glistening on her skin, rolling down her temples. Her head started spinning. "Not… fine…"
Her shoulders stiffened, she started falling.
"Ki-Kicchan!"
She closed her eyes.
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When Kira came back to her senses, the sun was slowly setting down.
I missed class.
"Good, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"… Recovery Girl?" The teen tilted her head the woman's way. She frowned. "What happened? Why am I here?"
"You should already know that, young girl," scolded the Hero, who sit next to her bed. "You collapsed earlier today. At first, we believed it was merely because of exhaustion, but a classmate of yours then kindly informed us that you have had some… peculiar symptoms, for the passed few weeks."
"Who-"
"Not important. What is important is this: why didn't you come and tell me?" the woman frowned. "This is serious, Suttoki-chan. Your heart… I need to know exactly what happened to you."
"I…"
Kira wanted to disappear under the earth and never come back up. She never thought someone could make her feel so ashamed of herself.
Then again, it was really stupid on my part.
She sit up, wincing at the slight pain she felt in her skull. She must have hit it when collapsing and, considering she didn't have any energy to spare for the use of Recovery Girl's Quirk…
"Hagane hit me. Twice," she then answered, looking back at her hands. "I-I don't really know what he did, though. It hurt a lot, much more than a normal kick should have hurt. I assumed it was because he was wearing some iron armor or something at the time, but I guess… maybe he did something with his Quirk?"
"The most plausible cause, yes," the woman nodded. Her traits then softened, and she patted the girl's shoulder. "We believe Hagane used his Quirk to mess with the iron contained in the cells of your blood."
"W-what!?"
"It has been accumulating and coagulating in your arteries ever since the attack," pursued the Healing Hero. "The more physical efforts you did, the faster it worked, seeing as your blood moved faster. It weakened considerably your heart capacities, hence why you were so exhausted."
"C-can anything… can anything be done?" Kira was honestly afraid of the answer.
"Yes." Relief flood over the teen. "A fairly easy treatment, really, which is divided in two parts. The first one shall be administered by myself today, and the second part will consist of the operation tomorrow: your arteries will be cleaned of all the blood and impurities which accumulated over the last weeks."
"Won't it start again, though?"
"That would be where the first part of the treatment acts. We will force your cells to return to their original energy charges so that they stop attracting each other. It should be done in barely ten seconds, really, but…"
"But it'll hurt," easily understood the girl. "No worries, I can take it. Don't really have a choice anyway, right? Better that than dying because of my stupidity anyway. I'll take it as punishment."
That earned her a small smile from the woman, who quickly pulled out her equipment for the procedure. She couldn't drug the teen or anything, else it'd mess with her blood and it'd interfere with the first part of the treatment, so the ginger would simply have to bear with the pain.
She quickly set everything up, sticking little balls of metal on Kira's arms, legs and torso. Once she was done, she activated a weird, black screen above the girl's bed.
"Ready?"
"As much as I'll ever be."
"I'd suggest you keep your mouth shut. Don't want you biting your tongue, now."
Agreeing, Kira obeyed and gritted her teeth together, bracing herself for the pain that was about to come. After a few more seconds, Recovery Girl started the procedure.
Good thing Kira had shut her mouth so tightly. Otherwise, everyone still on the campus surely would have heard her scream.
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The operation the next day went smoothly. It took two whole hours to clean up everything but, when Kira awoken, she didn't regret it one bit. She no longer felt any pain, though that might have been the drug still in her system, and realized how she had always taken her heart for granted.
This could have killed me. She let her gaze wander through the window. She would be allowed to leave the hospital the next day, if everything turned out to be working, and she would even have some more time to get back into shape before the Sports Festival, which would be held in five days from now. I was so stupid… Had I went to Recovery Girl earlier, would all of this have been avoided? No, Hagane did screw with my blood pretty badly. Her eyes hardened. I wouldn't have lagged in my training so much, though. I need to work extra hard until the festival to catch up, now. Of course, no way am I pushing passed my limits again. For all I know, I'll end up hurting myself too badly to be allowed to take part in the event.
Satisfied with her decision, Kira then closed her eyes, allowing herself to get some much needed rest.
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"Kicchan!"
Kira hugged her best friend tightly. It felt that, ever since they started school, they hadn't been able to hang out together as much.
"What happened to you?" Izuku asked, worry etched over his features.
"Hagane injured me more than we first thought during the USJ incident," she admitted, rubbing the back of her head. She didn't want to lie anymore. "I thought I could work things out on my own but… well, you saw how that turned out."
"Are you alright now, though?"
"Yup, back on my feet and ready to rock n'roll!" she assured.
And she truly was. She had been handling her training schedule very strictly for the passed four days –which had been given to all students so that they could prepare properly for the festival- and she felt more ready than ever.
"Izuku, tomorrow's the Sports Festival," she then said, more seriously. "Are you ready to aim for the top?"
Determination shone in his eyes, making her smile.
"Hai! I won't stand for any less!"
"Good. If you're going to be a Hero, then you always have to aim higher, right?" she nodded, approving his drive. "Though, Izuku… tomorrow, we don't know what the games will be. If it ends up that we have to fight each other-"
"Don't go easy on me," he instantly said. "I'll fight you with everything I've got too!"
"Awesome. Don't chicken out on me, alright? I've been itching to fight you for a while now." She extended her fist to him. "Let's do our best, Izuku, and show to everyone what kind of Heroes we'll become."
"Right!"
They bumped fists. Tomorrow promised to be the start of something great, Kira could just tell.
Okay. Honestly, I have no idea why this ever came up. I just thought to myself 'why the hell not?' and well, it really fits Hagane's powers too. I honestly can't wait to show you guys what other habilities he has. Anyhow, if you have any questions about this chapter -it was a little messy, after all, what with everything happening all at once-, don't hesitate to ask.
Now, considering the poll! Considering all the demands I've been getting, I've decided to narrow it down to two potential pairings:
A) Kira/Shoto
B) Kira/Katsuki
I've been getting so many demands for both, so I'm honestly lost right now. To all of those who didn't do it, and even those who told me in their reviews, I'd ask that you go vote on the poll on my profile so that I can get a better idea of what's the favored pairing. Also, the poll will meet its end after the Kamino Ward Arc (I think it'll be the end of the third season, but that's really just a guess). Anyhow, once there, the pairing will be officially decided. Until then, vote~!
PS: I think that Kira/Katsuki's in the lead right now.
Anyway, you guys are awesome! I'll see you around, and look forward to the Sports Festival!
Plus Ultra!