I stared down at the paper in front of me, though unseen I could feel my face screwing up in a mixture of horror and trepidation.

"I'm sorry what did you say?"

The man, Mr. Kenta Haruno whom held the extended paper, gave me a kind, patient smile and began explaining the meaning of the sheet over again in a loud enthusiastic manner.

"You see young miss, U.A. is a very prestigious school and as such requires a certain level of heroics in order to enter! Not all students have what it takes to be a U.A. student you see. In order to find only the best of the best, our tests must require certain perilous situations, some even call them dangerous and cruel! Which means in order to keep the school free from all potential lawsuits we have to have you and your parental guardians, signatures."

Blood slowly drained from my face as I listened as the man's explanation, for the second time no less, shattered years of planning and training.

It's funny the way the world works, how a piece of paper specifically designed to prevent injury ends up causing it instead.

The bitter joke reverberated in the back of my mind as I began to try and figure a way around this new obstacle. Realizing with a start that the man, Mr. Haruno, was still patiently holding the paper out to me, I quickly bowed my head in embarrassment. Throwing up my arms in an apologetic manner I stuttered out a response.

"O-oh sorry! Yes um, I'll be sure to have everything signed in time for the test!"

Straightening back up in his chair after finally passing on the forms to me, Mr. Haruno gave me one last cordial smile before bidding me farewell and requesting I send in the next applicant. Spirits low I managed to remove myself from the chair and slip out of the room, muttering to the next student that it was his turn. Making my way back to class, I gazed down at the form that would ultimately decide the course of my life from here on out.

I could forge his signature...But he would refute it as soon as he found out I was accepted and that might bar me from attending. Maybe I could approach him when he's in a good mood and tell him it's for a field trip. No that won't work as if he'd let me attend a field trip….

Growing more frustrated by the minute I entered the classroom and returned to my seat, safely tucking away the paper into my bag. Letting out a short sigh, I put it to the back of my mind and tried to focus on the lesson, when suddenly I felt something softly bat against the side of my head and clatter onto my desk. Repressing the need to cry out in shock, I looked down at a triangularly folded note before turning to see Amari beaming a smile in my direction. Quickly, I unfurled the note and read the hastily scrawled, yet beautifully handwritten note.

'Is everything ok? You look worried and you didn't answer the teacher when you returned to class! Give me one finger if it's bad and a V for victory if everything is fine! ~Amari 3'

Feeling a rush of warmth as I read the few sentences, I turned and raised two of my fingers in the way I had seen other girls in my class do with their friends. Satisfied with my response she gave me a quick glee filled grin before returning to her own notes. Letting my hand drop back down onto my desk I felt my cheeks heat up as I replayed her reaction in my head.

Cute.

The rest of my classes passed quickly as I desperately tried to come up with both a solution to the U.A. form and what I was going to tell Amari at the end of the day. Checking the clock that rested above the exit, in an annoyingly lopsided manner, I watched as the hand ticked away.

How much should I tell her? Surely not everything, but if I tell her just enough for her to piece together where I get the injuries from, will she go back on her promise?

Rubbing my temples with my uninjured arm I sighed.

No. I'll just tell her the extent of it, the reason I don't go to anyone for help, and my plan to be rid of the cursed man. Hopefully that will be enough for her.

Interrupting my thoughts the bell sounded off, signaling both the end of the school day and the beginning to one of the two important talks I was expected to have today.

Well here goes nothing.

"-And that's it. I'm not sure why he does what he does...but he has gotten away with it all on three separate occasions now. All that happens is we end up moving and I get a slap on the wrist for saying such outlandish things about my 'loving' father"

I spit the last few words out venomously, shuddering slightly at the satisfaction it brought to finally speak of his vileness out loud. My shirts collar was now damp with angry tears that had fallen at some point during my long winded explanation. While I had only planned on telling her the general idea of what was happening and what I planned to do. I had instead gotten caught up on a few choice stories which had been especially rough and that had felt particularly good to vent to my new friend. Amari had silently listened to my entire story pausing me only to ask a few quick questions and to bring me into a light embrace when the tears had begun to fall. She wore a sympathetic frown that felt more compassionate than it did pitying and waited patiently for me to continue when I had a hard time getting the words out. Taking a steadying breath I began to structure my jumbled thoughts into a more comprehensible sentence.

"So realizing that I had to either wait to turn eighteen or run away and become a street urchin. I began devising a plan to gain the credibility that even outranks that of a police officers. A hero's credibility. If I can get accepted into U.A. , the school that has spit out some of the best hero's of our time, then maybe just maybe, that bastard can be thrown into jail to rot out the rest of his miserable life!"

Visibly shaking from the anger that had been slowly building up since the beginning of my story, I slouched down against Amari, slightly surprised at the intensity I had spoke. Abashed at my outburst and not wanting to see what look my friend was currently wearing, I averted my gaze to my worn shoes. After an uncomfortably long silence she finally stirred, lightly placing her hand on my bandaged shoulder.

"I think I know someone who can help."

Twisting around to face her so as to rebuke that idea, I was met with a determined gaze that caused my readied response to catch in my throat. Unknowingly waiving off my pleading look she quickly began to explain.

"Hear me out! I know someone who can help you out. He's a hero of a sort. He helps those in need that fall through the cracks in society, those that can't be rescued by heroes due to legal reasons or those that are often overlooked, like those street urchin's you mentioned. He helped me before and I'm sure he can help you Toru!"

I felt my mouth open and close wordlessly as I internally debated her proposal, every single time I've tried to get help it had ended poorly, how else could this end? But looking into her compassionate hopeful gaze I felt myself relent.

"Okay, I have time today since my father comes home late from work, if you think he can help I'll listen to him."

"YES! You won't regret this I promise! He'll definitely straighten out your father!"

Jumping up triumphantly she grabbed hold of my shirt and tugged me along, giving me a reassuring grin as she did. After we had walked a ways Amari suddenly stopped and pivoted on her heel to face me. Catching me off guard, I narrowly avoided running into her.

"Oh! I left my bag in class I'll be right back! It'll just be a moment I swear!"

Before I had the chance to suggest we both go since there wasn't any need to rush, she had already twirled around me and was halfway down the hall. Shaking my head at curious display of my new friend I felt a chuckle escape from me.

Such a weird girl.

It had taken them about an hour of travel to the rundown tavern, along the way I had asked Amari, on more than one occasion, if she knew where she was going and when we had finally arrived the appearance had did little to quell the apprehension I was beginning to feel over my decision. When we arrived we were greeted rather warmly by a dark misty looking man, whom was clothed in traditional bartender clothing. After leading us over to a table near the back of the bar he had returned only once to bring us a couple of waters. Eventually, after another half an hour of waiting, the smokey man returned with a small laptop, placing it down in front of me. Peering up at him I rose an eyebrow, knowing full well it would go completely unnoticed.

"Ummm how's a laptop going to help me?"

Ignoring my question the mist man opened the laptop and walked away, preoccupying himself with cleaning already spotless looking mugs. Turning to the computer screen I was met with a dark figure, the darkness of the room he was in doing an admirable job of shrouding any distinguishable features.

"Amari, may I have some time alone with our guest? We have much to discuss."

Sliding out of the chair beside me Amari reached over to give my hand a quick comforting squeeze before bounding off towards the bartender, seemingly starting an argument with him by the sound of things.

"So Miss Hagakure was it? I hear you are having some issues at home that the local heroes and law enforcement are unable to help you with. I have the means to stop these….issues and even get you into your beloved UA, if you so wish, but first I want to ask you. Is this truly what you want?"

Confusion wafts over me as I struggle to understand what he could possibly mean. Of course I want for my father to be locked up, why wouldn't I? He's been the catalyst of so many of my hardships over the years what else could I want?

"Ah yes Hagakure is fine, but I don't quite get what you mean sir. I want my father to go away I've always wanted this."

The man appeared to consider my answer for a time before responding in a leveled voice, as if each word had been carefully thought out.

"Yes I'm sure you do, but you see what I meant was are you sure you want to become a hero? If all you truly want is for your father to be locked up then what good is it to continue on the path to becoming a hero?"

The question caught me off guard, my mind blanked as I tried to think of a reason to attend UA.

"I uh, honestly never really thought about it sir. I guess if pressed for an answer I would say I want to be a hero to save people like me from going through what I had to."

"I see. Well that is admirable, might I ask which hero was the one who helped you up till now?" The man leaned forward in his seat clearly not expecting me to answer, which I realized with no small amount of indignation.

"We both know that there was no one, so I won't press for an answer. Miss Hagakure you may think I'm being needlessly cruel but that is not the case, I'm merely disenchanted by the current state of this world. Everyone seems to be under the impression that we are at peace, that the villains of this world wear costumes and are defeated by the just at every turn."

I opened my mouth to protest but I found myself unable to say anything in response to his words.

"Let us assume neither of us are fools Miss Hagakure, we both know that if you were to enter UA and become a hero there would be little you could do to help people in your particular situation. In fact most people who become heroes have no intention of saving people out of the goodness of their hearts, they choose that line of work simply because they have a powerful quirk and know they can become rich working as one. If you truly wish to help kids such as yourself why not instead pursue a life in child protection services or perhaps law school?"

Casting my eyes down to the length of table between me and the computer I considered his words. He was right, being a hero wouldn't necessarily mean I could help kids growing up in abusive houses. Most likely I would run into the same issue I've been running into, yet something still felt off about all of this.

"Sir? I feel as if you are dancing around the subject that you truly wish to speak about. I have to be back before long so I think you should just plainly say what it is that's on your mind"

A deep sounding wheeze began emanating from the speakers and it took me a moment to realize that he was laughing.

"I must apologize Miss Hagakure, I did not mean to take up your time and here I was saying to not assume either of us were fools, how contradictory of me. You are correct, I do wish to ask you for a favor in return for my service. Now, before I state what I would like you to do for me, you must understand something. I wish to change the current world Miss Hagakure, I want more than people just pretending to be heroes, I want more than a 'symbol' of peace. What I want is a world of true peace, one without hardship and strife. Do you ever wonder why there are so many villains Miss Hagakure? Villains are more likely to be born out of need, desperation, and poverty than anything else. I want to expose the system that seems to just create an endless supply of villains for heroes to fight."

"And what exactly is my role in this?"

Again his wheezing laugh could be heard over the speakers, the static doing it no favors, and maybe it was my imagination but I swear I saw a giant cheshire grin amongst the shadows of his face.

"Espionage, information gathering, Nothing more. I need someone to enter UA and who will not attract any attention. Who better than the charming invisible woman sitting in front of me?"

I kicked myself for blushing slightly at the small amount of praise as I processed the proposition over in my head. Something felt inherently wrong about all this, but try as I might I could not see it. My thoughts kept coming back to how this man had been willing to lend me some help when no one else had.

"How is it that you will be helping me?"

"Would I be correct in insinuating that you have accepted my proposal Miss Hagakure?"

"...Yes."

"Excelent."

Vaguely I became aware of the sound of slapping flesh on pavement realizing, in a moment of clarity, that it was the sound of my own feet carrying me up my driveway. Dark shadows clung to the edges of my vision, narrowing it and causing me to blink rapidly, trying and failing to ward away the heavy, sleepy sensation that hung around me. Without warning a sharp, blinding pain erupted from inside my head tearing away any and all scrambled thoughts or questions of how I had gotten here.

It was a dark room, darker than it had been when I had seen it through the digital screen of the laptop. There were vials, tubes, and machines everywhere, all attached to this one man that sat before me. Seemingly oblivious to the sounds and whirs of the mound of technology that sat beside us, he casually folded his hands together in a polite manner.

"I'm going to be frank Miss Hagakure, this will not be a pleasant experience. Most people do not adapt well to being….modified."

A hand squeezed mine, in what I assumed was supposed to be a comforting way. Peering at my raven haired friend that sat to the right of me, I felt a small ray of warmth spring up in my chest and begin to do battle with the overwhelming crushing sensation of fear that the man in front of me seemed to be giving off.

Collapsing to my knees, I felt tears fall from my widened unseeing eyes as a soundless scream tore from my throat. My head felt as if someone had drove an inflamed blunted axe through the center of my skull and left it there, the burning seemed to emanate and spread throughout the rest of my body wracking it with spasms as my limbs grasped for something, anything that could stabilize itself against. My vision blurred as the pain continued to grow, soon it was all I felt, all I heard, there was nothing but endless waves of torment which seemed to last an eternity when abruptly, it ended. Trembling I pulled myself up from the cold gravel of the driveway, my limbs only slightly under my control as the muscles contracted and locked up. The foul stench of vomit wafted up at me as I tried to steady myself on all fours, I faintly recognized the sensation of liquid trickling down from my lips assumedly finally overpowering my numbed nerve endings.

Shuddering slightly due to the chilled metal I was splayed out on, I clenched the sides of the table trying to calm my rising nerves and scattered doubts.

"Are you on the table Toru? I can't tell b-because well you know" Amari turned away a blush reddening her cheeks and ears. "I think he is ready to get things started...remember I'll be right here for you if you need me."

Amari stood by the steel table holding my folded clothes in her outstretched arms. Smiling at the concern I could see etched on her face, I tore my eyes from her and refocused them on the ceiling.

"Yeah, I'm on the table. I'm ready"

The man strolled into the room holding a small cage simply labeled blood, inside it I could make out a small animal roughly the size of a rat but it in no way resembled any rat I had ever seen.

"Let's begin."

Feebly I pulled myself along the long stretch of paved road that served as the complex's driveway, every inch feeling like a mile as it sapped what little strength I had. The low rhythmic sound of blood pulsing through my veins slowly began to drown out the rest of the world, every movement seemed slow and sluggish like I was moving underwater. Finally reaching the wall I clawed my way up it and leaned my still quivering body against it. Setting my tunneled vision on the door that marked the entranceway to my apartment I let out a shuddering breath before dragging myself towards it. Just as I was beginning to feel strength slowly return to my limbs another wave of pain cascaded through my system, gritting my teeth I pushed through it this time more or less prepared for what was to come, swearing to myself I'd at least get into my house before crumpling into a ball. Numbly my hand reached out and grasped the door handle and I fell rather than walked into the small complex. The ground rushed up to meet me but I ignored the loud thump and dulled pain it brought, instead I pulled myself inwards and dug my nails into the back of my skull in an attempt to displace some of the excruciating throbbing pain that railed beneath my fingers. I felt rather than heard my father call out to me and begin to make his way towards me.

Black tendrils whipped out of the man's body, plunging themselves towards both me and the tiny creature that resided within the confines of the cage. Stifling a panicked scream I looked down at where my body ought to have been and found that the tendrils had indeed burrowed themselves within me, their visibility ending where limbs and stomach began . Glancing up at the rat creature I saw it too had been pierced by the things and seemed to be in a similarly unharmed state. Puzzled, I began to formulate a question when it was cut off by the creatures pained squeals and writhing form from within the cage, red light seeped away from it and up the length of the tendrils. Terror gripped me as I watched the light crawl up the tendril and branch over to one of the many that had me pinned down to the table. Unable to look away as the light inched down towards me, I tried to slip away from the tendrils unsuccessfully. As the red light entered my body thoughts in a voice that was very much my own flitted through my head.

Oh? Why are we here right now?

Soundlessly I felt the door slam shut behind me, knowing that my father had arrived I gripped myself tighter willing myself into the smallest target I could manage. The pain finally left me but took with it all of my remaining strength, opening my eyes I watched my father sweep the floor with a sharp kick which managed to connect with one of my legs. I felt my head slump to my shoulder as my father furiously dragged me up by my arm. As if in a daze I stared on as his mouth formed obscenities hurling them at me apparently completely unaware of my current state. A fist slammed into my exposed stomach causing me to slump into him and sputter pathetically for the air that had forcibly been removed from my lungs. A dull rhythmic beat, like that of a heart, began to fill the air with its foreboding melody.

Struggling to pull in at least one breath into my body, I felt my body be ripped violently away from the door and tossed into the air. A brief weightless sensation washed over me before abruptly crashing to a halt as I was thrown through the glass table that lay a short ways away. The metallic smell of blood wafted up at me as I struggled to keep my eyelids open. Rolling onto my side I glanced down at the multiple shards of glass that hovered in place where my torso would be. Numbly I lightly stroked a finger along the length of each protruding shard watching indifferently as I felt it bite into the skin of my finger.

Warm leather creased under me as I shifted my position, uncomfortable with the way it clung to my nether regions. Letting out a sigh of displeasure I turned my gaze upon my traveling companion.

"So how am I supposed to know this worked? I don't feel any different."

A chuckle erupted from the front seat of the car as the black wisp man glanced back at me in the rearview mirror. "What you are asking me to do is supply an answer to a problem that has yet to be solved. This is only the second time I've seen him transfer a quirk into a human being. What did he tell you?"

Ignoring the unease I felt upon learning that I shifted my eyes away from his stare and back to the passing traffic beyond the window, something that was undoubtedly lost on him.

"He said to get somewhere safe while my body underwent the final stages of the...transference. So the plan is to sneak into my house and hide in my room until morning." Nervously I fiddle at the door lock on the window. "Why must I be the one to confront my father? Couldn't one of you just take care of him?"

Shaking his head he turned back to face the road ahead. "No, if you are to be useful to our cause you will have to overcome this yourself, this may seem cruel to you but your life is nothing besides the countless others we could save if the master's plan succeeds. We have all had our tasks, our challenges, this one is simply yours, believe in yourself as the master does."

The melodias pounding grew louder as my father strode over to me, eclipsing me in shadow as he blocked the only source of light. Lazily, my eyes drifted away from the shards of glass and studied the venomous look on his face. What had I done to deserve such a look? Why, when others were showered in love and affection from their parents, was I persecuted and tortured?

The familiar feeling of bitter rage began to swirl within me, my vision wavering slightly from the intensity of my glare. The haunting cadence amplified even further causing the room to almost quiver with each deafening beat. Blood seemed to stain the air with it's fragrance, stinging my eyes and infecting my sense of taste with it's overwhelming scent. Firm hands gripped my neck and pinned me to the floor and for a moment I relax. Staring up at my tormentor I watch gentle embers of fire dance along his lips as smoke filters out the corners of his mouth.

Is this how I will die?

"Hey Toru!" Amari's voice comes out warm but hesitant, as if she is grappling with something and is unsure how to say it. She looked at me and threw me a tiny worried grin. "See you tomorrow, right?"

A flash of adrenaline induced power coursed through me as I swung my uninjured arm upwards between us, pushing with all the strength I could muster against his chest in an attempt to push him off of me. Briefly, between the deafening bellows that seemed to shake the room and the irony smell of blood, I caught the sensation of lukewarm liquid cascading up my arm and rushing towards my palm before abruptly being knocked backwards onto my backside, vision obscured by an eruption of red. Energy drained away from me, leaving me slumped against the rapidly dampening floor. Unable to keep my heavy eyelids from sliding shut, I drifted off into a deep sleep, a smile creeping unbiddenly across my lips.

Oh? Well hello Tooru.