So, its been a while. A few years, to be exact. There have been no updates to the story. Why is that? Well, I'm not the type of person to like leaving people in the dark. Back when I was an avid reader, I know the pain all too well of reading a story that disappeared out of the blue. Truly, I love and appreciate all of you who have stuck by this story, and to those who still ask me to this day if it will be updated. Over the years, I made several friends who helped instill in me the love and passion for writing I have. I don't have those people in my life, anymore - and I don't think those same people will be there again, but it was all because of you that I was able to ever write anything. Ever. At all. I started this story when I was 15 years old, barely off the cusp of it and now I'm nearly 21. A lot of time has passed. I'm not taller, but I'm a little wiser (hopefully).
I will not be finishing this story. It comes with a heavy heart, and it would certainly kill 15 year old me to hear that, but that is the truth. It comes down to a few reasons
1. The older I get, the less comfortable I feel in writing characters who I no longer identify with unless they are my own personal characters I have created.
2. Although My Hero Academia/BNHA was a big part of my life, I cannot find myself liking the story anymore - and I haven't for a long time. I've moved on for stories that entice me more, and stories that to some extent I don't feel have let me down. I still hold great memories with it, and the people I got to meet within the community, but I can't say with integrity that I enjoy the direction the story has taken the past few years.
I blame manga schedules :P No writer should be subjected to weekly releases in doing both the art and the direction of a story.
3. As an extent of this, neither Izuku nor Ochako although remaining in my heart, continue to ignite that spark of passion that made me want to write in the first place.
I've grown up, but I've also just grown out of this fandom. Although theoretically, I'd love for many of you to join me in my other stories, I cannot force you to do that and I won't ask of you for it because I know the feeling all too well of finding a story in a fandom you really love, and then you find out most if not nearly all their stories are different and it feels like an outlier lol. It hurts more especially when you aren't familiar with these series or enjoy them.
Nonetheless, you people - who are the stars in the sky that I gaze at before I drift away to dreams, my readers and my old friends - you people deserve more than an untimely end. So, if it's any consolation I'd like to release what I have of the chapter I never completed, and engage with you what would have happened had I finished this story.
Thank you, for being my stars.
The bright morning sun cast it's gaze into the room of Izuku Midoriya, overriding his face with a sensational puddle of light. It spilled all over him and promptly issued a call to action. His eyes opened with a soft sniffle. A sneeze had found it's way up his nose. Oh, no! He thought, raising himself to his knees. The boy hoped that an innocent sneeze was the first sign of sickness. If that were true, it meant he couldn't be around anyone, in fear of not containing his disease. Even worse, if it was something to worry about, such in the case with many diseases during the season, his entire holidays may as well be spent in his room! The very image of such a thing was enough to make him consider precautions starting today.
Just to make sure, he carried a packet of tissues his mother had sent him and placed them tightly within the pocket of his winter pants. Izuku took a look outside his window. It appeared as if the harsh snowfall from yesterday had ceased. A smile curved up his lips. Perfect weather for sledding. His cheeks flushed a light pink as today's event sunk into his mind. That was right, Ochako was going to be there - they were going together! Sledding. Together.
He shook his head, stopping himself from being psyched up. After all, she and him had done many things together in the past. Was this truly different? Perhaps not, but he felt an added layer of pressure to perform. That was a given considering the acknowledgement towards his feelings. Izuku decided that for now, at least, it was best not to give it too much thought. The young man had a habit of deep-diving and overthinking wasn't going to get him anywhere. As he said that to himself, Izuku's smile increased. For some reason, he imagined Todoroki coaching him, his words echoing in his head. That's probably something he would say, after all.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
A trio of sudden sounds came from his door. It was really early, who could that be? Quickly, he rushed to his door and swung it open. Kaminari was standing there with a gleeful expression painted like a landscape over his face.
"Midoriya!" He said, in a voice that was much too loud for the time. "Man, what great timing. Come on, get ready."
"Ready?" He replied.
"Ah, don't play like that, Midoriya. Today's the day!" Kaminari patted him on the shoulder and started to leave before the boy could get another word in. "I'll be downstairs with the rest of us." Kaminari then ran off in a hurry, knocking on every other door he could find. What a strange sight. Izuku had never seen Kaminari so joltingly excited this early, much less out of bed.
Kaminari continued down the aisle, awakening whoever answered, some against their own will. He was met with angry faces, especially from Bakugo, but that didn't stop him. In a matter of a few minutes he was downstairs with his legs leisurely spread out on the sofa. He was already dressed as well, and with his snowboard by his side.
"You're way too excited about this," Jirou came down the stairs with a sluggish reply. She was rubbing her half open eyes. Unlike him, she had not been quick enough to change out of her pajamas. She was heading straight for the kitchen where the tea machine was and began pouring her cup. Kaminari didn't take too much mind to his eager uprising and continued to lay in peace.
"What's there not to be excited about?" He asked. "I've got this sweet new board and today's the day I get to test it out - with your help of course."
"Me?" She said, raising a brow.
"Wait, did you forget? I thought today I was going to be the master's student of snowboarding."
"Right." She said through a yawn. "I forgot I told you that." Jirou stretched her arm, a pop noise heard in the process. "Does it have to be today?"
"Of course." Kaminari sat up. "If it's not today then it'll never be. Besides, everyone's on their way." As he finished speaking, Ochako was seen lugging a giant purple sled down the stairs. She would have been using the attached ropes to carry it, but said ropes were already tied around another green sled?! The second fit nicely in the first. It was smaller, of course, but not so small it was unusable. "Woah, Ochako - nice ride!"
"Thanks!" She replied, heaving the sleds down the stairs. They barely fit in width in regards to the stairway. The first one got stuck underneath the railing and she had to use a mighty pull to break free. Next time she should probably just toss it out the window and float down with it. That was probably a better alternative, she thought, tugging it with her.
"You're going too?" Jirou asked, sipping on her tea.
"Yeah." She smiled. "I haven't been sledding in a while, and some of my friends are going."
"Oh?" Her classmate slyly raised a brow. Her sipping sounded much more teasing, if one was attuned enough to discern differences in how one would go about drinking. "What friends?"
"You know, Iida and Todoroki will be there..." Ochako shrugged her shoulders. The girl knew exactly what Jirou was about to get at and tried to play it cool, as if how she felt was nothing at all to sweat.
"Izuku?"
"Oh, he's coming for sure!" Kaminari interjected. "I just passed by his room. He's on his way down."
"Well, if everyone else is going I'll go." Jirou replied. "I don't have a sled of my own, so you wouldn't mind if I took this green one, would you?" Ochako glanced at her in surprise.
"You don't have one?"
"Nope." Jirou shook her head.
"Well, that was supposed to be for Deku-"
" I don't want to be left out of the fun. That sled can fit the both of you, right?" She glared at Ochako, a smug grin forming from her mouth. Ochako was stunned at how forward she was being. To hold her crush over her head like that so easily, without hesitation - she was a master at this sort of thing! How she wondered what she was like in the face of someone more obvious than herself.
"N-no, I don't mind at all." Ochako waved it off, showing how easily she fell under Jirou's spell in a sloppy attempt at trying to be chill. Her reasonability worn as a mask that was far too small for her put on a perfect display of her feelings for her friend. Had Kaminari not been so oblivious, perhaps he too would've noticed something was up, but nonetheless he was as dense as steel. Jirou took pride in what she accomplished. Ochako didn't know it yet, but she was doing her friend a well deserved favor. How else was she going to get them close for the whole day?
"Wait," Kaminari said, beginning to connect the dots with his fingers. "How are you going to teach me with a sled?"
"I'll show you the form and give pointers," Jirou replied. "However, everything else is up to you."
"What?!" Kaminari raised his voice. "What kind of teacher are you?!" It's possible he was expecting something more personal with her, given his reaction. Something that more closely resembled the type of deal Ochako and Izuku had been dealt, but this was better than nothing, and so he didn't give much to complaining fortunately. A day with Jirou teaching him was better than a day where he was up on a hill by himself. Still, maybe he had overestimated his faith in her catching on.
It was by then that Bakugo was downstairs, dressed appropriately for the weather in a coat that's shade were to match his eyes. Despite it being so early, Bakugo didn't look the least bit tired - not at all. There were no stretches, yawns, or even the crack of a frown that would break his normally aggressive poker face.
"Hey, Bakugo!" Kaminari greeted. "I didn't know you had a snowboard."
"Tch, I'm going to win that race." His snowboard was painted black with a crude skull that had been painted on the back. Soon enough, the rest came downstairs. One by one. Iida, Tsuyu, Izuku, Shouto, Momo all joined them.
"This is it?" Kaminari asked, noticing the low turnout. "Where's everyone else?"
"Some of the girls said they wanted to spend today focusing on their secret Santa." Momo replied.
"The same from our dorm." Iida added. "Although, some of them would rather have stayed in bed. It is rather early, after all - and you started quite the commotion."
"The earlier we are the more time we have." Kaminari said, defending his actions with a smile. "Besides, if other people have the same idea we do then they're bound to hit that hill too."
"Well, if that's the case then we're better off making do with that extra time provided." Iida said. One by one the students gathered up and started to head outside, each one following close behind. A familiar image, as not two days ago did Class A venture forth in bringing home a magnificent tree. The tree in question was now beautifully decorated and stood as though someone had taken a brush of nature and painted a perfect portrait over a tall mountain.
The ride there this time was not as claustrophobia inducing as it had been many days ago. There were far fewer people on the bus. Save to say, perhaps it was due to the time that they stepped on. As Momo glanced out the window all she could see was the darkness of the city. The everlasting glow of the night lights, blasting a colourful portrait of liveliness, even at such the hour. A fabrication, maybe, because surely there weren't as many people with their eyes open than there were lights to lie to us. Despite the illusion, one could appreciate the simplicity within it's beauty. Momo wondered, had she been allowed to go outside at night, prior to Yuuei, would she have found herself wandering the streets every night, lost in all it's beauty.
The night was not home to masterfully crafted paintings of urban architecture, however. It was home to many criminals and villains, people who preyed on the innocent and naive. That she knew far too well, and it was the exact reason her parents kept her so sheltered. She understood their reasoning, but whenever memories of her childhood flowed through her head, the girl could not help feeling some resentment. Even now, before she had entered Yuuei, her parents had pleaded to change her mind. She may have got on her knees and given in like other times in the past, but this was the first thing Momo completely stood her ground on. A proud achievement, though not all was too happy, as that happiness only came from a place of initial bitterness. Why did her parents have to be this way? Moreover, why was she thinking of them now?
Perhaps, it was all due to the holidays approaching so quickly. This was the first time she wouldn't be joining her parents at home. She'd made some excuse to get out of it last week. A poor, improper lie that she didn't feel too comfortable about doing. It was hard not to feel guilty, with all that her family had provided her, but she felt more at home in her dorm than in some mega mansion as of late. After all, the harassing of her private life, the prodding about reevaluating her career choices along with the likes didn't seem pleasant. Besides, there was this pressure of gift-giving. Now that she was old enough, it was about time to get her parents something. She regrettably still hadn't decided. How easy is it to give them something when they had everything?
She sighed, watching as the sun started to rise. The lights shut off.
Unlike the rest of the group, Iida was uncharacteristically sitting at the back. He had his head to the floor with arms crossed. His eyes were heavy, and from afar it looked as if he fell asleep. This wasn't the case. Though, he was tired. The young man was so caught up in his train of thought that he hadn't heard the footsteps of Uraraka making her way towards him. She sat down next to him and tried to call his name. There was no response. It appeared as if he didn't even register it. "Iida!" She said again, louder. Perhaps, too loud - as she embarrassingly got more than a few droopy faces striking at her noise.
"My apologies," Iida replied, ensuring his glasses didn't slip onto the floor and away from his grasp. "I was..."
"Are you OK?" Uraraka asked before he could trail off. Iida tried not to look at her, but he was able to tell that she was staring right at him. He wanted to deny any sort of trouble and wave it off with a pearly smile, but he couldn't. Even if he said so, he knew that wouldn't deter her, and a part of him didn't want to. "You've been strange, lately, even more than normal. You seem on edge these past few days - a lot more careful." He felt it in his chest. He needed to say something.
"No." He simply said. "No I'm not."
"What's on your mind?"
Iida took off his glasses and reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a cloth and began cleaning the lenses. "My brother." He started. "As you know, this year he was attacked by the hero killer, and because of this he was left without the use of his legs. Recently, he's been able to involve himself with physical therapy, and while I'm more than happy for his progress..." There was a shining glimmer in his eyes, one that he hid with a quick blink. He set back his glasses before continuing. "I... can't..." For a man so profound it was strange for the words to not so simply slip out.
Uraraka brushed her hand over his. Iida jerked his head towards her, now meeting her oak coloured eyes. "It's OK." She said. "I know how it is to feel powerless." A gentle smile curved up the corners of her lips. "You want to do everything you can to help your family, and it hurts when all you can do is stand by, but as long as you stick by them and move forward, it's all the help he needs." Iida took her words into consideration before proudly nodding his head in light of her wisdom.
"Thank you, Uraraka." The bus came to a sudden stop. It veered straight to the right, far outside of it's lane, right into the middle of an intersection. Iida nearly fell out of his seat, a first for being caught off guard.
"What's going on?!" Uraraka shouted towards the front, stretching her voice far towards her friends. Izuku was fixated outside the window, staring far ahead without saying anything, just to confirm the situation. His eyes widened, throwing his head back to everyone.
"There's a roadblock ahead!" He said, trying to carry himself as best he could past the cries of civilians. "All these cars are just stacked up on top of one another!"
"Whoever's holding us up don't look like any scrapyard workers either!" Kaminari added. Down the road, past the roadblocks and on the way to the hill was a street of small shops lined neatly along the plaza. Small businesses with no common theme among them. A cafe here and there, an electronics store that held more valuable rarities for a niche interest of geeks (like the author of this story!), a newly established vinyl shop that sold instruments on the side, with so much more that stretched down for at least half a mile. All of it trapped between a tower of vehicles that had been parked on the side, but by who?!
"Hey!" An older man shouted, pointing outside. "There's someone on the roof!" There was a man with the head of a hammerhead shark standing on top of one of the shops that stood at the edge. He had a sly grin and was being handed large bags, tossing them into a vortex that he had created with his hands.
"I know that store!" A woman chimed in. "They're going to bankrupt her!"
"Where's all the heroes, Mommy?!" A little boy asked. How observing. Upon further inspection, there were no other heroes around. That wasn't good. Strange, too. Could it have been a coincidence? What if the heroes around were already incapacitated? The situation grew more dire as moments passed. There was no one coming. Izuku, without a second thought, pushed past the civilians.
"Midoriya!" Shouto instantly stood up with every intent to follow, knowing full well what he was about to do.
"Todoroki, wait!" Momo reached for his arm, but was too late. "You don't have your license!"
"She's right!" Jirou replied. "Jumping in isn't legal for you." The girl was about to say the same to Bakugo, although he was already outside the bus, in the air alongside Izuku.
"Seems we have no choice." Iida moved up to the front, trying to reassure those ahead on the way. Uraraka followed closely behind, the rest of them doing the same, travelling as one large group. The bus driver turned to the teens leaving so quickly, issuing an order for them to stand down and wait for help. "My apologies, sir. We don't mean to worry anyone else here." He pushed his glasses up and spoke in a reaffirming voice. "This is our duty."
The group of young heroes exited the bus, speeding into the messy intersection and towards the tower of automobiles. "Asui, Uraraka!" Momo shouted, pulling a large metal pole out of her coat sleeve, her signature blunt weapon. "Give me wings, we'll take the top and ensure nothing else escapes!" She switched her direction to the class president. "Iida, you take Kaminari and Jirou through the front, rendezvous with the other three and ensure the other side is safe!" Without another word the plan was enacted. Uraraka took ahold of Momo and helped her fly into the air, Tsuyu propelling herself alongside them. She clung onto the surfaces and crawled as fast as she could.
"Hold on as hard as you can!" Iida commanded.
"Are you sure this is safe?!" Kaminari asked, latching on as hard as he could. Before he could get an answer, Iida's calves blew a hole through the air, lighting up beautifully in a large burst of blue flame, nearly catching his companions pants on fire. As high as it could go his engines pushed with a humongous burst of speed. The trio ran faster than the speed of a train up a foreign ice ramp left by none other than Todoroki in his rash movement. Had the ice not been so smooth, Kaminari might've skinned his knees off with the sudden change of pace!
They whirled loosely through the air, speeding right past a smirking Bakugo, who in the mere moment that his eyes met with Jirou, switched to a scowl. "Hey, I'll beat you!"
"Now's not the time to have a race!" Todoroki replied, sliding through the street, Izuku very closely leading in front of them. The street plaza had only been blocked off for a few minutes, but it had already received so much damage. Guard rails battered, windows smashed, the sound of several alarms blaring through their ears. There were around twenty of them. All mutants, all with the same jackets with the same sigil. Izuku recognized it instantly.
"Animal Kingdom!" Izuku yelled.
"Animal Kingdom?!" Bakugo shouted. "The hell are they doing here?!" The Animal Kingdom, as they formally called themselves, were a high profile of gangs comprised solely of those with mutants resembling that of common animals. As it was not so rare in their world, there were a lot of members. Recent as of the last five years and had influence similar to that of the Yakuza, but with the respect of a rock. That is, if rocks could give respect, they'd have more than these people. Through and through, they hailed themselves as beasts and acted as such. They were a large, rowdy crew that often hit up entire streets to steal everything that was worth anything in order to expand their reach. The destructiveness of their quirks, on top of their numbers made it difficult for groups of heroes to take them on, almost impossible for a simple patrol.
"We've got heroes!" Shouted one of the men. He looked like a hawk. Fitting, for how quick he was to notice.
Plot Notes that would have happened:
- Izuku and Ochako go snowboarding, in a way that is very reminiscent of old BNHA winter promotional material. In fact, you can say its like the entire scene coming to life. It was the inspiration for this story in the first place.
- All of the students exchange gifts on the 25th. I do not have the list of what they would have gotten one another anymore, but Ochako and Izuku would have given each other something they'd both love. Ochako, a limited edition All Might figure for Izuku, and Izuku to Ochako a jacket. A sweet, red leather jacket.
- Couples like Shouto and Momo would have formed, with Shouto coming to terms with how he feels about her and they decide to keep it secret. Toru and Ojiro would have been revealed to already be together, Kirishima and Mina would have remained teased. Kaminari and Jirou? Totally would've got together. Like, absolutely would have. Right out in the open.
- All Might would have shown up in an ill-fitting santa outfit on Christmas morning.
- Izuku and Ochako would have met each other, after the gift swap, and found each other in the hallway during the night. The window in front of them would show the evening snow. They would realize they're under the mistletoe, courtesy of someone (hint hint, Mina) and kissed.
- There would have been a little bit of a flash forward with jumping around the Japanese new year.
- The villains would have had a small little christmas together, finding comfort in each other before Shigaraki watches the tree alone at the end of the day. They're not the perfect family, but they had each other even at least for a moment.
I'm certain, that if you re-read this story you will definitely pick up on a lot more hints that I am forgetting about. Do be wary, it has been like 5 years. Nonetheless, I apologize that none of you could ever read this story in full and in some other world I wish I could've delivered the entire thing. Still, I've moved on. So, I feel the fans of this work deserve the chance to do so as well with the least they deserve: the conclusion.
"If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended." This would have never existed without you. Yes, you. You.
Thank you,
CaptainBloo.
