Yosh! Here's the first chapter of the Training Camp Arc! Now, I know that I said that I would post one chapter per week, but I've realized that I can't do that since most of the readers probably only watch the Anime, and don't read the manga. Otherwise said, I can't publish chapters as often as I'd like, because I don't want to give spoilers about the third season. I'll be careful with that, but it unfortunately means that I won't post as often. But hey, better that than spoilers, right?
Warning: Kira's language, Kira's suspicions (again) and Kira's fear.
Enjoy!
"So… Given what happened… we're on the lookout for the Villains," announced Aizawa-sensei. "And we've had to cancel our usual accommodations at the last minute. We won't reveal our actual destination until the day we depart."
"UH!?"
"But- but I already told my parents!"
"They're going to worry…"
"Can we tell at least our family?"
"Guys, think about it," Kira rolled her eyes a little. "If our family doesn't know where we're going, then surely the Villains won't either. Information is very easily leaked, you know?"
"One way or another, that damn Deku should have killed him," grunted Katsuki. "Less trouble for us."
Instantly, the rest of the class started correcting him, and Kira could only chuckle as Aizawa-sensei lost control over his class, none of the students listening to him any longer.
Poor Aizawa-sensei… Though something tells me he'll make us pay once at the training camp, just like for me when I made him- FUCK!
The cat-sitting! I need someone to watch them for me!
She let her head hit her desk with a 'THUMP'.
This was going to be a pain.
.
.
"Tadaima~!" Hagane walked into the bar, his usual grin in place.
"Do you have the information?" inquired Kurogiri.
Shigaraki Tomura barely glanced up from the castle he was building up with the playing cards, though was obviously paying him attention.
"Of course I did, who do you take me for?" he scoffed, throwing a file on the counter. "Though I gotta say, having someone on the inside sure tends to help."
"Knowing the identity of your informant would allow us to avoid injuring them if they ever faced us," pointed out the bartender. He had been wondering about the identity of this mole in the Heroes' ranks for a while, now, but Hagane always refused to tell.
"Nan, they'll do their job just fine," he chuckled, mirth glinting in his purple eyes. "Still, don't you find it ironic? How far one can go to protect those they love, even to the point of becoming what they hate the most… Oi, Kurogiri! Give me some sake, and my money while you're at it!"
"Hai, hai," he sighed, getting to work. The man had done his job, after all.
Shigaraki's castle fell, and the man-child finally deigned to take a look at the file. Opening it, he read over the contents quickly, his eyes crinkling in appreciation.
"Figures you'd find out their location so easily," he remarked. "And am I to believe the team on standby is ready to move out?"
"Whenever you give the word," confirmed cheerfully the black-haired Villain. He grabbed the cup of sake offered to him, downing it in one go. "Whew, that hits the spot alright!"
As he started chatting about the exploits of his sweet spitfire once again, Shigaraki's smirk only widened as he took in the information. Hagane might be annoying at times, but he sure was an effective info-breaker. Only his Master would have been able to find out the location of the training camp of those students, which said enough about the talents of his purple-eyed underling.
"And now, we know where and when to put the plan in action." His eyes crinkled even more, which would have worried anyone sane of mind. "Otsukaresama."
.
.
"You want me to… what?"
"Watch my cats for me?"
"… since when do you even have cats?"
Kira simply shrugged. Naomasa sighed, but she could tell he was amused.
"Alright, I'll do it. You have fun at your training camp, okay? I'm sure it'll be great."
"And why do you believe that?" she wondered, rising an eyebrow.
"Not telling~"
She huffed, knowing he was teasing her. After another minute or so of small talk, they hung up, and the teen rubbed her temples, glancing to her computer and the numerous stalker-ish pictures exposed on it.
She stiffened.
Wait. Could Nao-san… be in this too?
But she quickly shook this theory down. Naomasa would never work with a Villain, even if it was to protect her or Ren. Plus, if she started doubting everyone, then she would end up alone for real this time around.
I'll keep my mouth shut for now. I'll talk about this to someone as soon as we're back from the training camp.
The first trimester of school was finally over. Two weeks had gone by since then, and Kira had spent all of her time training, but also hanging out with her friends a little. She managed to find an excuse for not participating in the endurance training at the pool –which had not been an easy feat, mind you-, but she did pass more time with the girls, though always on the school's grounds.
And finally, it was time for the training camp to begin. Early in the morning, all the students of Class A gathered before the academy, where the buses that would get them to the camp were already waiting.
So was Class B, though.
"What? Some Class A kids are getting extra lessons!?" exclaimed Monoma, as annoying as ever. "That means some of you failed!? Uh? How weird is that? Everyone knows Class A is totally superior to Class B, but now this!?"
He was however chomped behind the head by Kendo. He instantly slumped to the ground, mildly unconscious, and Kira sweatdropped at the display.
This happens often, uh?
"Sorry about that," the other ginger grinned sheepishly. She then turned to Kira, and bowed. "I also wanted to apologize for his actions the other day. Monoma is an idiot, but he doesn't actually mean any harm."
"Yeah, we've got a few of those," nodded the red-eyed teen, shrugging. She patted Kendo's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Though, think you could show me that technique? I feel like it could really come in handy."
"Uh? Sure!"
The two girls exchanged dazzling smiles, and most of the boys from both classes slightly backed away.
There's two of them…
After what, both classes however had to part ways. They quickly climbed in their bus, Kira taking a seat next to Ashido. Aizawa-sensei soon followed, looking as tired as always.
Then, to everyone's surprise, someone else came in.
"Yo!" The newcomer grinned, offering a peace sign. "Nice to see you guys again!"
Kira gasped, and her brother's grin widened as he ruffled her hair.
"R-Ren!?" she finally managed to blurt out. "W-what? But why… When did you… How come… What…?"
"Ah!" He laughed a little. "Knowing you'd be this shocked, I would've done this sooner. Anyhow, it's great to see you again, Little Spark."
"Suttoki-san is going to be accompanying us to the training camp," announced their teacher, taking his seat. "He'll be the one who'll take care of feeding you all, so I'd suggest you all play nice with him. I won't stop him if he decides to feed you dirt because he feels like it."
The rest of the students gulped at the threat, before welcoming the white-haired man with loud shouts and cheers. Ren laughed yet again.
"Stop that, Aizawa-san. A little more and they'll really be scared of me," he rubbed the back of his head.
Kira could have sworn she heard the girls of her class swoon at his easy smile.
Ren's a charmer and he doesn't even realize it.
"Hey, Kira?"
"What?
The bus started advancing.
"Why… is your bag moving…?" her brother asked, mildly concerned.
"Uh?"
Looking down, she realized he was right.
Ugh, no…
Opening it, she didn't even startle when Deku jumped on her lap, offering her a cute meow and soft eyes. Ashido burst in laughter, scratching the cat behind the ears. Kira groaned, rubbing her temples.
"I don't even know why I bother trying to keep you home anymore," she grunted.
"Why is t-t-there- achoo!"
Ren cursed under his breath, instantly backing away. Kira snorted, only remembering now how allergic to cats her brother was. He rolled his eyes, muffling another sneeze. Kira simply smiled back, but it didn't fully reach her eyes.
Chaos soon took over the bus and, as Ashido started chatting with barely restrained energy, the ginger sunk in her thoughts, staring at the mess of white hair in front of her.
Ren…
Just exactly what is going on?
"… right!?"
"Uh?" Kira blinked, looking over at the pink girl. "Y-yeah. Totally!"
Satisfied, her bubbly bus partner started talking again. Deciding to think about this all once they reached the camp, Kira reported her full attention on her friend, and soon found herself joining the conversation.
One hour later
"Hold on just a second. What kind of rest stop is this?"
As told, they stopped one hour later to take a small break. However, it was in the middle of nowhere, and the bus of Class B was nowhere in sight either. The only thing present other than them was an old car, a little farther.
Two figures suddenly jumped out of the said car.
"Rock on with these sparkling gazes!"
"Stingingly cute and cat-like!"
"We're the Wild Wild Pussycats!"
The students could only watch as two women suddenly appeared, yelling and striking poses. They were obviously Heroes, but not many had heard of them. One was a blonde with two purple dots on her cheeks, while the brown-haired one had red markings.
"They're a four-member Hero team who all work under a single Agency!" exclaimed Izuku, having a fanboy fit. It had been a while since that happened. "This veteran team specializes in mountain rescue operations! They've been in business for twelve years now-"
One of the Pussycats instantly slapped her hand over his mouth, eye twitching. "We're eighteen at heart!"
Everyone sweatdropped a little at the reaction.
Must be a sensitive subject, snorted Kira.
"Anyway… These are the Pro Heroes who will be helping us out this time," presented Aizawa-sensei. "The Wild Wild Pussycats."
"This whole area here is our territory," informed the other woman, the one who wasn't busy strangling Izuku. "Your lodging is at the foot of that mountain over there."
Understanding started dawning on Kira as the rest of her classmates started muttering nervously about returning safely to the bus. She slammed her fists together, a few sparks flying around, and she took a step forward.
"We have to go there ourselves, right?" She was almost bouncing in place. "Please, please, please tell me that's what we have to do!"
"Ah! I like your spirit!" replied the brunette, smirking. "But you are right. It's now 9h30 A.M. I'm thinking… around noon, at the earliest?"
Panic seized the students, who tried to make a run for the bus. The ginger simply laughed at their silliness. Shaking her head, she then quickly made her way to her classmates sides. Reaching them, and without further hesitation, she grabbed Kirishima's and Kaminari's collars before darting ahead, ignoring their cries to stop her.
"Let's go, boys!" she cheered, pumped up. "This is going to be fun!"
And she jumped over the railing, dragging the two boys down with her. Their screams and Kira's laugh echoed for a few seconds, before a loud crash followed.
…
…
…
"Are they… okay…?" wondered Mineta, a little worried.
…
…
…
"ARE YOU FUCKING NUTS!? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!"
"Oh, Kira…" Ren facepalmed.
"Well, that was something," snorted the blonde. She then turned to the rest of the frozen students. They instantly started running away again. "Also, kitties who don't make it there by 12h30 won't get any lunch!"
She slammed her foot on the ground. Instantly, the earth started shifting, dragging back the students. Then, without hesitation, she threw them off the cliff. As they started falling, her partner leaned over the railing to offer some last instructions.
"This is our private territory, so feel free to use your Quirks! You've got three hours to reach the facility on foot! Now, make it through… the Beast's Forest!"
The students managed to land safely, somehow. When they rose to their feet, it was only to find Kirishima and Kaminari whacking Kira over the head, while she simply apologized for scaring them, even though she was still laughing.
"… the Beasts' Forest?" then echoed Izuku, freezing.
"It's like a name straight out of Dragon Quest…" sweatdropped Jiro.
"U.A.'s got a few too many weird place places like this…" muttered Sero.
"Well, no point in complaining. We better start moving!" announced Iida.
"Err, guys?" Kira somehow managed to speak despite still being shaken like a ragdoll by the other two. "She named this place the 'Beasts' Forest', right?"
"Yeah, why?" wondered Ashido.
"Well… I think I found the beasts, is all."
And as if on a cue, a gigantic monster stepped out of the shadows. Kirishima and Kaminari instantly let go of Kira, shocked. The rest of the students screamed as it roared, the noise making the whole forest shake. Koda instantly tried to calm it down using his Quirk, but it held no effect on the beast.
"T-they're dirt monsters!" warned Izuku, eyes widening.
"Great! So we have to pass through by force, uh?" replied Kira, slamming her fists together again. This time, though, fire encased her whole arms. "Let's get moving people! I don't know about you…" She jumped, slamming her fists on the head of the snarling monster. There was a definite crack, before it exploded in pieces. "But I'm starving!"
She easily smashed her way through another one, which had been attracted by the noise. This snapped her classmates out of their initial shock, and they soon started moving too, heading for the foot of the mountain.
5h20 P.M.
"They're finally here!"
At the woman's announcement, her partner, the homeroom teacher and the Archivist gathered to greet the students. They were barely shadows, though they were approaching quickly their location. Exhaustion was clearly written over their faces, but all were running.
"Ah! I win! In your face, Spikey!"
At the exclamation, the four adults glanced Kira's way. The girl was panting heavily, scratches covering her face and her sleeves a little singed on the extremities. The tips of her hair were also on fire still. On her shoulder, Deku was asleep.
Katsuki was next to her, scowling and his hands shaking.
"Fuck off, Carrot! You cheated!" he retorted, pissed off.
"Did not!"
"You pushed me off the fucking tree! How is that not cheating!?"
"I didn't push you off the tree! I utterly destroyed the tree you were coincidentally standing on, and you fell!"
"Bullshit!"
"Stop fighting you two!" intervened Iida, waving an arm between them.
"K-Kacchan, just drop it…" pleaded Izuku.
"Shut up Deku!"
"Kira, stop antagonizing him," sighed Shoto, wiping his forehead.
"But it was an accident! I only realized he was in the tree once it started going on!"
"Then why the fuck did you yell 'Timber! Spikey's going down!' beforehand, uh!?"
"… you have no proof of that."
"WHY YOU LITTLE-"
He had to be bodily restrained by Kirishima while Kira laughed yet again, her cat now licking the scratches on her cheeks while her three other friends shook their heads in mild exasperation. Ren simply facepalmed again at the antics of his sister.
"'It'll only take three hours', yeah, right…" grunted Sero, a little dizzy.
"So hungry, I'm gonna die…" whined Kaminari.
"Sorry. That's how quick we would've made it," informed cheerfully the leader of the Pussycats.
"Mew, mew, mew!" laughed the blonde. "We actually thought it'd take you longer! And you all dealt with my Earth Beast pretty easily too. Not bad… not bad at all! Especially you five." And she pointed to said five students.
At that, Izuku, Iida, Katsuki, Shoto and Kira looked over at her, straightening a little as her gaze weighted on them.
"I'm guessing your past experiences allowed you to act without hesitation?"
"Dunno," shrugged Kira. "Just seemed fun. Say, are we doing this again tomorrow?"
"NO!" snapped the rest of the students.
She rolled her eyes at that, but didn't insist.
"Hey, I've been wondering…" Izuku pointed at someone behind the little group. "That boy. Whose child is he?"
Wow, curious much? Never knew Izuku could be so forward with someone he barely knows.
"Oh, that's actually my nephew," answered the brunette. "Kota! Come over and say hello. You'll be spending a week with these guys, after all."
Izuku, friendly as always, approached the kid. Kira narrowed her eyes, instantly noticing how the boy glared at her best friend, who extended his hand to him.
"Hi! I'm Midoriya Izuku from U.A. High School's Hero Course. Nice to meet ya!"
There was a moment of stillness.
Then, the kid went and punched Izuku right in the jewels.
Oh, snap! That must have hurt…
"Nephew!" barked the leader of the Pussycats. "Why'd you punch Midoriya in the junk!?"
"I can't abide jerks who wanna be Heroes," seethed the boy.
Abide? Isn't he a bit young for that kind of statement?
"Precocious brat," smirked Katsuki, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"You two are a lot alike," mused Shoto.
"A lot alike!? Buzz off. Don't wanna hear anything from you, Mr. Threw-the-match!"
"Man, still bitter 'bout that?" snorted the ginger, running an hand through her hair, watching as the kid quickly disappeared inside. "Though he's right on one point, you know? Awful attitude, superiority complex, violent and rude… Yup, practically twins!"
"Fuck off Carrot!"
"Okay, enough of this sideshow," interfered their teacher before another fight could break out. "Go get your luggage from the bus. Drop your things off in your rooms, then come to dinner in the mess hall. After that, you'll bathe, then it's bedtime. The real training starts tomorrow. Now hurry up."
"Hai!"
.
.
"Itadakimasu!"
Everyone started digging in.
Many instantly melted in place.
"This is amazing!"
"Can I have some of the sauce?"
"Fish, meat, veggies… What a feast!"
"That's a manly supper!"
"Oi, pass the soup!"
Kira smiled softly as she watched her classmates enjoy the food. Her brother was walking around the tables, placing more and more plates before the students, a grin stuck on his face. He was profusely thanked for the food as he passed, and he was obviously pleased by this.
Ren finally reached their table. He smiled, placing down a plate of pancakes before his sister. Her eyes widened at the familiar smell of spices, and he laughed, ruffling her hair again.
"Who's the greatest brother in the world?" he teased.
"Mmm…" She took a bite, relishing in the flavor that reminded her of home. She then grinned at her brother. "Not you! I'd say you're number two right now, though who knows? My mind might change depending on what we're eating for the next few days…"
"Cheeky brat…" He muttered, before a glint of mirth flashed in his eyes. "Or… I could just serve you that dirt Aizawa-san mentioned earlier! How about that?"
"You know what? You're the bestest, greatest, coolest brother alive," she instantly corrected herself, taking another bite. "And the awesomest cook ever."
"That's what I thought," he nodded in agreement. He then looked at the rest of the table. "You guys are enjoying the food?"
"Yup! It's really awesome, Suttoki-san!" exclaimed Kirishima, wolfing down his rice.
"Please, just call me Ren," corrected the one-eyed man, chuckling. "Otherwise you'll make me feel old."
"Well, the hair fits already," snorted Kira under her breath.
He instantly snapped his eyes to her. "What was that?"
"I said that your hair is the most beautiful in the world?" she batted her eyelashes innocently.
"Of course it is," he snorted. He stroke a pose, hand through his hair. "I'm the most gorgeous man you'll ever meet."
"I dunno, Nao-san isn't all that bad…" She teased.
He instantly blanched, grabbing her shoulders. "No! He's way too old for you! Plus, there's the no-dating-before-you're-thirty-nine rule!"
Her friends laughed at their antics, but Shoto looked mildly concerned.
"You can't date before you're thirty-nine?" he echoed, confused.
"What? No, he's joking," instantly assured the ginger, a little amused. She pinched her brother's hand, which still was on her shoulder, and he instantly pulled away with a hiss of pain. "Aren't you, Ren?"
"Of course, of course!" he laughed, turning around to head back to the kitchen. "No, really not," he then muttered under his breath.
"I heard that!" Kira yelled back.
"I don't care!" he retorted, the doors closing behind him.
Laughing under her breath, she then reported her attention on the food, her stomach demanding justice.
"You have… a strange relationship with your brother," then remarked Shoto. There was the ghost of a smile lingering on his lips, though. "It seems nice."
"It is," she confirmed, smiling back at him. "Even though he can be a little overbearing when he wants to, I know he just wants to protect me. And we haven't seen each other for a while either so, to be honest, things are kind of awkward right now between us."
"Y-you call that awkward?" Kaminari choked on his noodles.
"Trust me, once we're back to normal, you'll find us fighting in an hallway and trying to strangle each other," snorted the ginger, waving her fork at him for emphasis. "Literally."
They all seemed rather intrigued at that, and she wasted no time in sharing some of the happiest memories she could remember. Talking about those things made her feel better and, while she still doubted her brother's innocence, she also knew that he was more than probably doing this to protect her, just like he tried to do when hiding all of the pictures from her in the first place.
Silly Ren… We'll find some time to talk, anyway. We have the whole week, we'll be able to catch up soon enough.
.
.
"… there're what."
"Hot springs!" beamed Uraraka, already changing out of her clothes. "It's so fun! And we have an whole side just to ourselves too!"
"We're gonna have some much needed girl time!" cheered Ashido.
"W-wait, erm, guys?" Kira backed away a little. "I'm not… I can't… I mean, I- I've got some training to do, so I'll just… you know… go…?"
As she tried to escape the room, though, Jiro stood in her way. The ginger gulped a little. The purple-haired girl was much smaller than Kira, but she could be intimidating when she wanted to.
"Kira, you know you can trust us, right?" She narrowed her eyes, fists on her hips. "You said you'd stop pushing us away!"
"I-it's not that!" protested the girl, growing agitated. "It's just… I just don't want to- no. It's more like, err… Well, you see…"
"Kira-chan, what's bothering you?" kindly asked Tsuyu, a towel already tied around her. "We'll help as much as we can, you just have to tell us what's wrong."
Yaoyorozu stepped forward and grabbed her hands. "We're your friends too, Kira-chan! Please, let us assist you!"
"I just…" She bit her lower lip.
Her head lowered, and she mumbled something under her breath. The other girls exchanged a glance, not having understood a word. Kira repeated, but it was still too low for them to hear.
The ginger grew frustrated. "I said that I can't swim, damn it!"
Silence ensued. The teen heaved out a heavy breath, letting herself fall on the nearest bench, unable to look at the other girls in the eyes.
"My Quirk consists in creating and manipulating fire," she bit out. "In the water, I can't use it. I'm basically useless. So, I've never learned how to swim. And now… now…"
"Kira-chan…" Tsuyu tilted her head in wonder. "Are you afraid of water?"
The ginger's head simply sunk lower, if possible.
I'm so pathetic…
An hand fell over her head. Startled, she snapped her eyes up at Yaoyorozu, who simply smiled softly at her.
"That's why you didn't want to come with us to the pool a few days earlier, right? But you don't have to be strong everywhere, Kira-chan," she remarked, her tone gentle. "It's okay to have weaknesses too."
"B-but this is so ridiculous!" protested the girl, somewhat angry at herself. "I can fight Villains… and monsters… and even confront a more-than-pissed-off Katsuki… but I just can't get over that stupid… stupid… Ugh!"
"Kira-chan, we'll be with you, you know?" remarked Uraraka, placing a supporting hand on her shoulder. "We'll go in all together, and we won't leave you alone at all!"
"I'll even hold your hand if you want!" added cheerfully Ashido, slinging an arm around the girl's neck. "So come on in, alright? Or else you'll miss out on the fun!"
The hotheaded teen looked at the five other girls, at loss for words. Honestly, she had been expecting a few laughs at the irony, a jab or two, some taunting… But no. These girls just took it in stride, and showed immediate support.
I need to stop acting so distrusting. I said I would make efforts, right?
It all starts with the most basic things.
"Okay. Okay, I'll go," she accepted, and Ashido whooped in victory. "I won't go too far, though! If I can't touch the bottom, then I'll definitely panic."
They nodded in agreement, obviously eager to go, and Kira sighed internally.
What have I gotten myself into?
.
.
Kira stared at the water.
The water stared at Kira.
Well, not really, of course, but it felt like that for the ginger. It felt as if it was staring at her, ready to engulf her and trap her and suffocate her to death.
To be honest, it made her feel a little dizzy.
Come on, girl, she bit her lower lip again, almost drawing blood. It's just water, damn it! You can do it!
An hand slipped in hers, startling her.
Ashido simply grinned. "I told you I would help, didn't I?"
That calmed the ginger down a little. Smiling back, she then allowed the pink girl to guide her nearer to the water. The other girls instantly went in, dropping their towels as they got in, and Kira hesitated one last second before closing her eyes and doing the same.
Submerged to the neck, the only thing keeping her from flapping around and panicking was Ashido, who still held on tightly to her hand. Breathing heavily, the fiery teen took a moment to breath in and out. Once calmer, she slowly let go of her friend's hand, and clung to the sides of the bath for dear life.
"Oh my God…" she muttered, realization dawning on her. "I'm in the water…"
She couldn't remember the last time she took a bath or went to the pool. The only contacts she ever made with water was when it rained, when she drunk it, when she washed her hands or when she took a shower.
"You did it!" beamed the black-eye girl, patting her head proudly. "You were great, Suki-chan!"
"I-it's thanks to you, Ashi-chan," replied the ginger, starting to feel better. "Thanks for helping me out."
"Anytime!"
"Ah, I've never felt this good," sighed happily Uraraka, sinking even lower in the water. "So relaxing…"
Kira closed her eyes again, trying to grow accustomed to the foreign feeling. It was warm, which already was a plus and, as the minutes passed, she found herself completely calmed down.
It's just like when I meditate…
"Meow!"
There was a splash. Startled, the girls shrieked, backing away from the source of the rippling water. After a second or so, a very wet cat popped out. Blinking, the girls then exchanged a confused glance as Deku quickly swam to join his mistress.
Then, they burst into laughter.
"T-that scared me…" Jiro gasped, holding her stomach.
"Best prank ever!" chortled Ashido.
"Deku, you little devil," Kira's shoulders were shaking with laughter as she held the cat in a tight hug. He simply answered by licking her nose. "Aw, you're the only one who can get away with this, you know that? That's because you're so cute. Yes, you are! Uh, uh, the cutest little thing alive!"
As the ginger cooed, the girls muffled their laughs at best. It wasn't often that they saw this side of their fiery classmate.
Looked like even the tough girl had a soft spot after all.
"Hey!" Kaminari's voice snapped them out of their thoughts. It came from the other side of the fence. "You girls alright?"
"We're fine!" called back Ashido.
"Just Kira's cat that scared us!" added Jiro, smirking.
"Wait! Maybe one of them is hurt! I should check on them to make sure!"
"Mineta! I swear to God, if you dare peek over that damn fence, I'll fucking tie you by the nuts to a tree branch and let the Earth Monsters feast on your fucking entrails!" snapped Kira, eyebrow twitching. "And that counts for all of you!"
"As if there was anything to see anyway!" snapped back Katsuki.
She waved her fist in the air. "You want me to come over and drown you, Spikey!?"
"Say yes! Say yes!" pleaded Mineta.
"Enough!" That was Iida. "Girls, apologies for the trouble. Mineta-kun! Try anything and I'll let Kira-san handle your fate! And you, Bakugo-kun! This is no way to talk to…"
He started lecturing the boys.
Loudly.
Kira shot a deadpan look at the girls, who groaned in answer.
"Plus Ultra!" suddenly echoed from to the other side.
Wait, he's actually coming!? Kira clenched her fist, ready to punch the little bubble-fuck into next week.
As he reached the top, though, none other than Kota stopped him. Startled, Mineta fell back. The ginger sighed in relief. Apparently, the teachers had thought of everything, and placed the kid to keep watch.
"Thanks, Kota!" beamed Ashido.
The little boy glanced their way, scowling. His scowl however soon vanished and, next thing the girls knew, he too had fallen from the fence. There were a few startled cries from the boys, until Izuku's exclamation reassured everyone he had caught the child.
The green-haired teen then left to get him to Mandalay, and the ginger sighed heavily.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted," she remarked, pulling herself out. "But I'll head out now."
"So soon?" wondered Tsuyu.
"I'm still not really confortable," she admitted. "Water isn't my element. Plus, I actually do have some more training to get done before going to sleep…" She raised an eyebrow, easily noticing none were listening any longer. Instead, they were all staring at her… arms. "Oh. Yeah."
"Kira-chan…" Yaoyorozu frowned sadly. "Those scars…"
The ginger glanced to the mentioned scars, brushing over the burn marks. "That's how my Quirk activated, actually. I never really explained it before, but… well, when I was four, my parents died in a fire. It was Hagane who did it. You know, the guy who showed up at USJ? Anyway, I managed to save my brother and myself in time because my Quirk activated due to… the trauma. I can't really remember what happened, to be honest. Nothing, actually. I just know all of this because that's what I was told."
"I'm very sorry for your loss," the black-haired girl lowered her eyes.
"Don't sweat it. It happened a long time ago. It was harder on Ren, really." She smiled a little at that. "That's kind of why I've decided to become a Hero, too. I've decided that I wanted to help people, and that I was going to find my parent's killer so that Ren could finally find some peace. Just some justice for him, you know?"
They nodded, understanding. Tsuyu then looked at the other marks on her skin. The wounds looked fresher, deeper.
"Are those results of the Hero Killer attack?" she asked, as blunt as ever.
"Yup!" Kira lifted her arms so that they could see better, somewhat proud. Even though she had been scared shitless and nearly being killed wasn't something to brag about, she took great pride in knowing that she fought, and won. "A knife pinned me to the wall. Like, literally. And that one's because of another knife that just divided in three. Nasty thing that was…"
"They're all healed, though, aren't they?" pointed out Uraraka, looking a little pale despite the warmth of the bath. "Why are you covering them in bandages?"
"I just don't want people to feel uncomfortable when seeing them, so I simply hide them," shrugged the ginger. She then shook her head, rising and grabbing her towel. "Anyway, I really should get going now. I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?"
"Don't push yourself too hard, or else you'll be tired tomorrow!" warned Yaoyorozu.
"See ya!" waved Ashido.
"Kira!" The ginger looked back to Jiro as she reached the door. "You don't have to hide them. You were never one who gave a shit about appearances, why start now?"
The red-eyed teen blinked, surprised.
Then, she laughed. "You're right. Don't know what came over me. Thanks for the tip, Kyo-chan!"
The other girl simply waved in acknowledgement, and Kira left the baths without another look behind.
For the first time in a long while, she felt better.
.
.
"Kira?"
"Oh, Ren!"
The two of them blinked, obviously not having expected to run into each other so late. The white-haired man was wearing a light yukata, apparently heading for the baths.
There was a moment of silence.
"Kira, I'm-"
"Ren, I can't-"
They both stopped, surprised, before chuckling a little. She gestured for him to go first, and he sighed a little, running an hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry, Kira," he then said, his tone lower. He couldn't even look at her in the eyes. "I know I haven't been around enough. I know that you're going through a lot and as your big brother, I should have been there for you."
"Is that why you decided to join the training camp?" she wondered.
"Well, it was the best opportunity," he admitted. "Without the threat of a Villain attack due to the secrecy of the location, it was the perfect time for me to see you. We can finally spend some time together, and I get to take care of you again, even if it's only for a week… I'm sorry, Kira. I'm so, so sorry for everything…"
"Don't say that," she cut him off with a hug. He blinked, startled, before hugging her back tightly. "It's not your fault, only Hagane's. You don't have to take responsibility for this situation."
His grip tightened around her shoulders. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"
"I know." And that's what scares me.
"We'll get through this together, Little Spark," he assured, pulling away. He then lightly kissed her forehead. "No matter what."
The ginger took a few more seconds lingering in the familiar atmosphere. It felt warm, comforting.
It felt like home.
"I love you, Ren."
"Love you too, Kira."
They hugged once again, both obviously relieved to finally be back together after all this time. They only ever had each other, after all, and being separated for so long had taken its toll on their relationship.
That, and the secrets of course.
"… achoo!"
Shoot, I forgot about Deku!
As if on cue, the little cat purred. She was so used to him being around, she had completely forgotten he had been hiding in her shirt.
"Okay, enough hugging," she finally pushed him away, taking pity, but also scrunching her nose. "You stink, go take that damn bath."
His hand fell on her head, and he roughly ruffled her hair, earning a squawk of protest. "A-achoo! Watch your l-language, brat! And- achoo!- was it necessary to buy a cat?"
"Sure was. Now get lost already, old man!"
As they returned to their usual banter, though, Kira couldn't shake off the feeling that things weren't the same as they were before.
.
.
Kira was going through a series of gracious movements, some sort of choreography that relied on the control of one's body and their focus. It was an excellent way to calm down and a rather light, easy training that was suited for before sleeping. She had learnt it from Nami-sensei, surprisingly, and did it whenever she felt like simply meditating wouldn't work on her agitated mind.
Ren's earlier statement had truly scared her. She knew he'd do anything for her, hell, she knew that. But how much was anything? The more she thought over it, and the more obvious it became: if her brother ever had to choose between her and the whole world, he'd watch the world burn with her safely held in his arms. It was a truly frightening thought, one she didn't like one bit.
"Mind if I join you?"
She snapped her eyes to Shoto, who was now standing next to her. She offered him a small smile, simply nodding. She didn't feel like talking right now, but he didn't comment on it, easily falling in pace with her slow movements.
After a few more minutes of comforting silence, voices echoed farther away. Soon enough, Iida, Izuku, Kirishima, Katsuki, Kaminari and Sero showed up, chatting excitedly about the training they'd do tomorrow. Well, saved for Katsuki. He looked as pissed as ever, though obviously too tired to try and pick a fight.
"Oh, Kicchan!" exclaimed Izuku, spotting them. "Todoroki-kun!"
"Hey guys," she grinned, feeling a little more relaxed already. "Going to sleep already?"
"We're starting rather early tomorrow morning," pointed out Kaminari.
"What are you guys doing?" wondered Sero, curious.
"Just some relaxing," she shrugged. "It'll help us sleep, and we won't suffer from cramps in the morning either."
"For real? That's so cool!" beamed Kirishima. "Ne, can you show me?"
"Uh? Sure. You guys feeling up for joining us too?" she proposed to the rest of the group.
"Hell no," growled Katsuki, already stomping away.
They watched him leave, before the ginger rolled her eyes and glanced to the other four, who simply nodded in agreement.
"It is truly a wonderful idea," remarked firmly Iida. His eyes widened a little. "I know! I shall fetch the rest of the class so that they can join us!"
"Wait-"
But he was already gone. The ginger sighed in resignation, and the rest of the boys simply chuckled, knowing how Iida could get about training.
Five minutes later, all of the class, saved for Katsuki, Tokoyami and Yaoyorozu showed up. Katsuki because he was Katsuki, Tokoyami because of his Quirk, and Yaoyorozu simply because she was already asleep and too cute to wake up.
I didn't think I'd be teaching the whole class, sweatdropped the girl, not really knowing what to do.
An hand fell on her shoulder.
"Why don't you simply show them what to do?" Shoto proposed calmly, obviously noticing her state. "Actions often work better than words."
She smiled brightly at that, knowing he was referencing to how she pummeled some sense into him back at the Sports Festival. Feeling a little more confident, she then turned to face the rest of her friends.
"Alright! Everyone, start by putting some space between all of you. Once you're assured that you can move freely without risking to hit someone, then keep that position. After what, I'll show you the first basic steps. It's really easy, so copying it shouldn't be a problem…"
"You were right, Aizawa."
The man barely glanced at Mandalay, keeping his eyes on his students. He had been wondering what they were up to when he found them gathering outside, and had been surprised to find none other than the hotheaded ginger leading the pack through a series of choreographed, harmonic movements.
"They're rather determined kids, uh?" mused Pixie-Bob. "Training this late despite knowing that they'll be going through hell starting tomorrow… And as a class, too. Good chemistry, and impressive trust."
"I like them. Especially the ginger one," mused Mandalay. "She has a fiery spirit."
Ren snorted at that, and Aizawa's lips twitched slightly upward.
A fiery spirit?
That was mildly putting it.
Well, some sweetness to make the bitter chapters incoming pass a little better. Also, I know there's a name for the relaxation techniques/choreography used by Kira, but I just can't remember the damn name and I can't find it no matter how hard I try. So, if you know what I'm talking about, or maybe have an idea, don't hesitate to tell me!
Thanks for your reviews and your support, it really means a lot to me. Please keep commenting, and look forward to the next chapters!
Plus Ultra!