"Neko! Neko! Koneko! Wake up!"
I shifted and opened my eyes, immediately regretting my decision. The bright light hurt my eyes. I winced and closed my eyes again.
"Neko, look at me!"
A shadow fell across my face. I opened my eyes again, meeting the crimson eyes above me. I groaned, a hand reaching for my stomach.
"Don't," Katsuki grabbed my hand. "You're badly bruised. You idiot, why didn't you run?"
"I had to save you. I couldn't just let you die." I coughed. "I told you I don't play around when it comes to people's lives."
"But you almost died!"
"I'm fine," I struggled to sit up.
"No, you're not." Katsuki helped me sit up.
"Okay, fine. But I will be. Eventually." I winced.
Another shadow fell over us. I looked up, All Might was standing above us.
"That was a very brave thing you did, stupid but brave." He knelt beside us. "You would make a great hero young one."
My eyes widened, I flattened my ears and looked away. "I only wanted to save Katsuki. I was being selfish."
"But you risked your life for him. So that makes it heroic."
"Just take the compliment, idiot," Katsuki grumbled.
I went to kick him but hissed in pain. Moving hurt like hell.
"Let's get you to the doctor." All Might picked me up and carried me to the ambulance.
Several reporters surrounded us. They shoved microphones in my face, shouting questions. I tucked my tail between my legs and flattened my ears, trying to seem smaller.
"Did you know the victim?"
"What is your quirk? People saw letting off explosions exactly like the villain's."
"What made you run into the fight?"
"Do you want to become a hero?"
Before I could answer any questions All Might called out. "Give her space. She's injured."
The reporters backed up a little but continued to ask questions. The medics quickly came and took me from All Might. They laid me on a stretcher and put me in the ambulance. I caught one more glance at Katsuki before they shut the door. I felt the ambulance drive away and people began hooking things up to me. I was so out of it that I didn't even realize that they gave me an IV. When we got to the hospital they rushed me to a room. I couldn't make out much of what they were saying but I heard someone say I was going into shock. I was in and out for the next few hours. All I remember is seeing Katsuki's face every time I woke up. I had no idea if it was real or not. When I fully came to, the room was empty and there was shouting outside my door. I could make out Katsuki's voice and his mother's.
"I'm not leaving till she wakes up!"
"That could take all night! You need to get home and sleep! You just survived a villain attack!"
"And so did she! She saved my life, if she hadn't been there I would be dead!"
"No, All Might saved your life. Without All Might you'd be dead!"
"All Might would have brought back a dead body if it weren't for her!"
There was absolute silence in the hall, then the door opened. I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I heard the person walk across the floor and sit in the chair by the bed. They took my hand and ran their finger across it.
"Hey, you idiot. Wake up soon, okay?" I recognized Katsuki's voice.
My heart sped up, and I heard the monitor respond.
"You're awake, aren't you?"
I opened my eyes. "How'd you know?" I asked sheepishly, laying my ears back.
"Well," he suddenly seemed embarrassed. "I held your hand and talked to you for hours but your heart rate never sped up like that."
"Oh," I looked down. "Hey, Katsuki, can we talk?"
"We are talking." He replied.
I laughed then winced. "No, like talk about what happened."
"I guess. What is it?" He met my gaze.
"I just really feel bad about, well... kissing you without your permission." I looked away, keeping my voice low.
"Oh," he cleared his throat. "It's–it's alright. I mean you saved my life, I can't be mad at you about that."
"But I took it, your first kiss, didn't I?" I looked up at him.
"That crap doesn't matter to me." He grumbled. "It's stupid. Love just gets in the way."
My eyes widened. "Oh, I see."
Suddenly my chest tightened, my breathing grew labored, my vision became spotty, my heart rate sped up. The voice in my head came back.
'See? You're unloveable. No one cares.'
Everything came crashing down at once. Itsuki's words when he broke up with me.
'You really thought I loved you? Idiot. You're weak. I can't have someone like that in my life.'
Anzu leaving. She left so abruptly.
'She couldn't stand you. You wouldn't leave her alone.'
I gripped my head. I knew that wasn't true, but I couldn't...a sob escaped my lips.
"Neko? Neko, are you okay?"
I couldn't say anything, everything hurt. I shook my head.
"Mom! Mom!" He sounded scared.
People rushed in, I heard people shouting. A cool cloth was suddenly pressed against my forehead and something was pressed against my lips.
"Drink." Someone said softly.
I did. A cool liquid ran down my throat, it cooled my entire body. I opened my eyes and saw Anzu.
"Anzu?" I asked.
"She's delirious." Someone said.
Anzu took the glass away and set it down. I heard people talking to my left. I looked over and saw Katsuki and his mother. It took me a moment to figure out who was who.
"What did you say to her?" Mitsuki asked sharply.
"Nothing! We were just talking and suddenly she started breathing hard." Katsuki defended.
"An anxiety attack like that doesn't just happen, something had to of triggered it. Now, what was it? What was the last thing you said to her?"
"She was apologizing about something that happened. And I told her it was fine." Katsuki shrugged it off.
"And what was she apologizing for?" Mitsuki glared at him.
"Nothing."
"Katsuki,"
"It's nothing."
"Katsuki, tell me this instant or so help me I'll—"
"She kissed me alright! She was apologizing for that. I told her it was fine, that it didn't matter to me. Love only gets in the way."
I felt my chest tighten again. The nurse beside me quickly grabbed my hand.
"Miss, it's alright, it's alright. Calm down."
"Katsuki, how could you?" Mitsuki's voice was low.
"I didn't do anything."
"Katsuki, you broke her heart, that's what you did. She likes you, she really does. And you just straight up told her that you don't want to love or need anyone."
Katsuki looked shocked. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to keep my tears at bay. It was more than that but neither of them knew that. The nurse stroked my hand which calmed me a little.
"She... loves me?" Katsuki asked quietly.
"I wouldn't call it that yet but yes, she likes you very much."
"Koneko?"
I opened my eyes, Katsuki was staring at me.
"Is that true?" His voice was soft and I found myself melting a little.
I didn't trust my voice so I just nodded. Katsuki cursed, his eyes wide. I wanted to hide, I tried to curl in on myself but it hurt too much to move.
"Neko, shit, I—"
He was cut off by the door opening loudly. I jolted to a sitting position, wincing and gasping at the sudden movement. The nurse grabbed me and carefully propped me up. I looked over and saw my family. My mother was still in her doctor's coat, Eiko was still in her uniform, and my father was still in his suit.
"Koneko!" Eiko exclaimed and rushed towards the bed. "Are you alright?"
"I—I don't know," I replied, my voice quivering slightly.
"She'll be fine." The nurse spoke up. "She has a few cracked ribs and burns, some bruising on her stomach and she will probably suffer from headaches for the next few days."
Eiko looked scared for a moment. "You got all that just to save him?" She glanced at Katsuki.
"Eiko," I started, trying to keep my voice steady. "It was worth it. Don't blame him, I'm the one who chose to run headfirst into the fight." I touched her arm.
"It's not fair!" She exclaimed.
"Eiko," Mom stepped forward.
"It's not fair! Look at him, he barely has a scratch on him. And you, you have cracked ribs, burns, bruises. Yet they are calling him a hero! A hero! And you, the true hero, are getting scolded for saving someone's life! It's not fair!"
Eiko's shouts rang around the room. We all stared at her.
"Eiko," I whispered. "It's okay, I'm fine really."
"But you're not," Katsuki whispered.
"Katsuki, I'll be okay."
"No!" His palms crackled. "Eiko's right…" he trailed off. "It's not fair. People are bashing you for running in and helping when you're the real hero."
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. Was I a hero? I didn't want him to die, not because it was the right thing but because I loved him. Was that considered heroic? The media didn't think so but Katsuki thought so, All Might thought so. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize Mitsuki had ushered everyone out of the room until it was just Katsuki and I. I looked over at Katsuki. He didn't meet my gaze, shifting from one foot to the other. That was very unlike him.
"Katsuki?" I started.
"No, I need to say something first." He stopped me. "I—I'm sorry. I didn't know about your feelings and I caused you to have a panic attack. It was my fault, my stupid thoughts set you off—"
"Katsu," the nickname rolled off my tongue before I could think. "You didn't know about my feelings because I never told anyone. Your mother practically forced it out of me."
"Not even your sister?" He asked.
I laughed. "Gosh no, she would make fun of me 24/7."
"Neko, I guess this might be a good time to say… I don't hate you." He winced. "I mean I just, I can't hate you. I mean—" he growled. "Why are feelings so damn hard?"
He suddenly leaned down and kissed me, he was gentle but inexperienced. He pulled away a moment later.
"I can't explain it any better." He whispered. "It's just too hard."
"It's alright. I knew what I signed up for when I fell for you." I smiled, tail coming up to brush his hand. "So do you want to be my boyfriend?"
He scoffed. "You think you could handle me?" He paused. "Look, as much as I want to, I don't think we're ready. And I don't want you to get hurt again." He touched my cheek. "The moment the villain knew I cared about you, even a little bit, he targeted you. I can't let that happen again."
"Alright," I smirked, ears pointed forwards in confidence. "We'll see how long that lasts. You can't keep your hands off me."
"What?" He growled.
I grabbed the front of his shirt. "You heard me, Katsuki."
His breath ghosted across my lips. Only a few more inches. I closed the gap before he could pull away. His hands automatically found my waist. I pulled away.
"See? You can't keep your hands off me." I whispered against his lips.
He growled and pulled away. "Watch me! You just caught me off guard that's all!"
"Alright fine, how about a bet?" I grinned. "If you can keep your hands off me for say a year we won't date until you're the #1 hero. And if you can't, we start dating. Deal?" I held out my hand.
He smirked. "Deal." He shook my hand.
I smirked back. He paused and I raised a brow. He looked away and muttered something under his breath.
"What?" I ran my fingers across his hand before pulling him down. "So Katsu, are you ready to give in?" I murmured, my lips brushing his.
"Stop that!" He pulled away.
I shrugged. "I didn't say I couldn't touch you."
"You little cheater." He gasped. "I see what you're doing!"
I laughed. "I guess I've been caught." I winced and pulled my hand away to cradle my ribs.
"Neko?" Katsuki knelt by the bed. "Are you alright?"
The nurse suddenly came back. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I almost forgot her next dose of medicine."
Katsuki backed up. I tore my eyes away from him and looked at the nurse.
"Now this may make you sleepy." She messed with something on the IV bag.
"Oh," I murmured, watching the medicine drip in the tube. "Katsu,"
He stepped back over. "What?"
"You should go home and get some rest. You can come see me tomorrow. Also, tell my sister I'm fine." I reached out and touched his hand.
He glanced at it then nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow." He stood up and walked out the door.
I watched him leave, ignoring the pain in my chest. For some reason, it hurt to watch him go, even though I knew he'd be back tomorrow. My parents walked in after him.
"Koneko, what on earth possessed you to run into the fight like that?" Mom practically exploded.
"Ayumi, calm down please."
"I will not! Look at her now!"
"Mom, I'm fine." I tried to break them up.
"What was happening in your head?"
"Um..." I hesitated. How about 'Katsuki, Katsuki, Katsuki, must save Katsuki'? "Look I didn't intend to fight. I was only planning on watching but then I saw Katsuki and I needed to help him. I couldn't just let him die."
Mom sighed. "Koneko honey, sometimes you have to leave these things to the heroes."
"But I will be a hero!" I exclaimed.
"But you're not yet!"
"Please let's just calm down," Dad said, cutting us off.
As soon as he said calm down my body started to relax. I guess the medicine started to kick in cause I felt exhausted.
"Koneko?" Mom asked.
"It's just the medicine, ma'am." The nurse said. "It's fully kicked in. She'll be asleep for a few hours."
Mom walked over and rubbed my ears. I purred quietly. She smiled down at me.
"Okay, sleep well." She whispered.
"I'll be fine Mom." My words were slurred as I drifted off.