Day 5: Achilles Heel

At an abandoned warehouse in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Ochako Uraraka stood, tied to a pillar. A blond girl in a sailor suit and a Cheshire smile was skipping and gushing sweet nothings to herself.

"Why are you doing this?" Ochako asked.

"Why to make a point, my dear Ochako," Himiko answered nonchalantly.

"A point!?" Ochako spat in anger. "You kidnap someone just to make a point to society!?"

"I never said society. I'm not Tomura," Himiko countered. "I wanted to get a point across to you."

"Huh?" Ochako said, confused. Anger subsiding. "What are you talking about?"

Her captor sat down on the box in front of her. Creepy grin never leaving her face. Her tone; however, became serious. Something uncharacteristic for the bloodthirsty teen.

"You see Ochako-chan," Himiko began. "Izuku-kun has become strong but he isn't invincible. Although I would enjoy it if he bleeds even more, I will be the one that will kill him."

."Get to the point!" Ochako snarled.

"You see Ochako-chan, Izuku-kun still have many weak points but in time those will slowly be amended," Himiko explained. "Except for one. Well two but the other one is protected by continued rotations of heroes hiding in the shadows."

'What is she talking about?' She thought. 'Deku-kun is amazing. He's strong, determined, reckless at times, kind, nerdy and is already a hero. At least to me, he is. He has room for improvement yes; but as she said, they will disappear with time and experience. So what is this weakness that she keeps pointing out?'

"Oh? You really don't know?" Himiko asked making the girl flinch.

'Did I just say all that out loud?' Ochako asked in her mind.

"It seems you've picked up some of his habits," Himiko said with glee. "That is so cute!"

The brunette felt her cheeks become warmer. The thought that she was becoming somewhat like her amazing friend was flattering. Trying not to give the psychopathic girl the pleasure of knowing she was getting under her skin, she turned away.

"You see. I've been watching him for a while now," Himiko said creepily. "And I noticed something."

"What!?" Ochako shouted. Glaring daggers at the blond.

"He trusts you completely, Ochako-chan," Himiko said. "And he would do anything for you."

Ochako was now very confused. The girl was not making any sense. She was talking about Izuku one moment and talking about her the next.

"The reason I'm saying this is because I want you to realize that you've become a weakness to him. You've become something necessary to him, like air. He would charge into danger without a plan or second thought if you were involved." Himiko explained. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that you've become his Achilles Heel."

"What!?" Ochako screeched. "That's not true."

To that Himiko laughed. Her eyes narrowed and her smile turned evil. She came to Ochako and slammed a knife inches away from her Carotid Artery.

"Well then," Himiko said. "Let me show you."

Izuku panted. He had run from the station. After receiving a text message from Ochako's phone.

Dear Izuku,

Earlier today, I have taken the liberty to pick up Ochako on her way back to UA. I wanted to have a talk with her. Afterall, we have a lot in common.

Attached to this message is the location of where I have taken her. She will be fine. That is if you come alone.

With love,

Himiko

The door was unlocked. Preparing himself for an ambush, he went inside. It was dark save for a small room at the end of the hall. When he entered, Himiko was sitting inside. A screen showing Ochako attached to a webcam was beside her.

"Welcome Deku-kun!" Himiko greeted.

"Deku-kun!" Ochako said. Alarmed.

"Let her go Toga," Izuku said coldly.

"Oh but what fun would it be if I just let her go," Himiko said playfully. "I did go to the trouble of kidnapping her."

"Let her go!" Izuku said sharply. His body was trembling. "I will not play your games!"

"Ah, ah, ah," Himiko said. Waving a bomb trigger which froze him in place. "But you will. Unless you want poor dear Ochako to stay in one piece."

"Deku-kun! Don't worry about me," Ochako shouted.

Izuku gritted his teeth. He looked helplessly at his friend then glared at the psychotic girl in front of her. His face shadowed by his hair. He activated his quirk, the power alone crushed the ground beneath his feet and created a crater.

"I swear, Toga. If something happens to Ochako," Izuku threatened.

"Now, now that won't be necessary," Himiko said. She pulled out her phone and pressed a few buttons. A countdown began on the screen. The feed from Ochako then split. Three civilians were hanging over a vat of what seems to be acid. On the railing that they were hung from was a small bomb set to detonate at the same time as the timer. A text message bearing the coordinates of both Ochako and the civilians was sent to Izuku. They were located on opposite sides of the prefecture. "Here's the game. Ochako-chan has a shrapnel bomb placed just a few feet away from her. She is in the first set of coordinates that I sent you. On the other hand, three innocent civilians are hanging by a thread to a corrosive end. Now the timer will detonate both bombs at the same time. The question is, who would you choose? Your friend? Or those that depend on you? Of course, there's also the option of taking me into custody but are you willing to sacrifice both Ochako and the people just to win? Oh yeah, you have about a minute to get there and save them."

Ochako sat by the hospital bed. Izuku had been in a coma. She has not moved from her spot for two days. Some of the staff and pros had tried to get her to rest but she would suffer an anxiety attack every time. Inko as she had come to know his mother, had bawled her eyes out. Though when she tried to apologize for her friend's current state, she was declined, stating that it was Izuku's nature. Her time spent either passed out by his bedside or crying just like his mother. Their classmates had visited him some hours ago. Bringing her food as well as a change of clothes. She tried to avoid sleep. The nightmare that had just happened kept replaying in her dreams.

Flashback

There she was still tied to the pillar of the building. Trying everything that she could to escape. She knew that her friend would save the other hostages because there was more of them there. Oh how wrong she was. Right when the timer for the bomb in front of her reached zero the door slammed open. Bracing herself for the explosion. When nothing happened a few seconds later, she opened her eyes to be met by emerald ones. Izuku had used himself to shield her from the explosion.

"I'm so glad that I made it in time," the boy said in relief.

"Deku-kun!?" Ochako shouted. Horrified at the implications of him being there.

"Are you alright Uraraka-san?" Izuku asked.

"Yeah I am," Uraraka answered. "Deku-kun! Why are you here!? Those people!"

"Shhhhh, it's alright," Izuku comforted. "Now let me get you out of this."

He used his quirk to pull the ropes apart releasing the gravity manipulator. He made a motion to scoop her up but fell instead. To Ochako's dismay, Izuku had sharp objects protruding from his back. She picked up her best friend, wrapped her arms around him and placed his head on her shoulder.

"Deku-kun!" She called. "Stay with me! The paramedics are coming!"

"It will be alright Ochako," he said. "I will definitely save you."

"I'm safe, Deku-kun!" She said. "Now stay with me! Please! Don't leave me!"

"Thank you Ochako, for everything," Izuku said with a weary smile before his entire body went limp.

"IZUKU!"

End of Flashback

The tears just kept on falling. Recalling the memory had caused them to fall again. The guilt was crushing her inside. Eventhough All Might came by and told her that they had managed to save the civilians thanks to the mic that was hidden inside Izuku's mask. The words that Toga said were burnt into her mind. She looked at the sleeping boy. Defeated.

"She's right. I have become your weakness."