Paper over the cracks.


"Why else would you avoid me?"

His question caused you to freeze in place. There were many reasons for it, all that you couldn't tell him. "Because I like you. Because on the off chance there was something between us, you would still say no because being a hero comes first." His dark eyes looked genuinely confused. Who in their right mind would confess after breaking their crush's trust? You, apparently.

"I..." The words were on the tip of your tongue. Light suddenly filled the shadowy classroom, causing the both of you to jump back from one another.

"I'm so sorry, wrong class! I didn't see anything!" The student that intruded quickly slammed the door again. You could hear the panicked footsteps grow quieter until the sound disappeared. It was too late now, though. Heart pounding, there was no way you could continue when someone could walk in at any moment.

No words were exchanged, but you both silently agreed to continue the conversation later.

xXx

Principal Nedzu refused to give you more than a certain number of villain cases a week now, fully aware of your health predicament. Many of the teachers were also telling you to take it easy. You vaguely wondered if this is how Toshinori felt on the days he spat more blood than usual.

"So, did something happen?" Midnight took you out with her on your first free day off. You were relieved when she invited you to shop, grateful for the distraction. Something; now that was an understatement. With Aizawa being so busy with the students you still hadn't properly spoken with him.

"Yeah." You already apologized to Mic and Toshinori for keeping secrets. Especially Mic, who was torn up about his own silence on the matter. Kayama walked next to you, hand leisurely running through the clothes that stuck out from the store fronts as she thought.

"You seem alright now, health wise."

"It was only because I was doing too much."

"You never told me why." How many people would have stuck around for you? Both her and everyone else were too good as friends. You silently thanked them for it.

"A... lot of things happened. Sorry I kept you out of it." With a deep breath you confessed all the thoughts that were bottled up. "I don't understand him, Kaya. He's not the kind of man that's intimate on a whim. Then he says he's sorry, that he 'imposed'. But-"

"He did what."

xXx

The two of you sat inside a busy cafe, taking a break with a shared parfait. Midnight already had a few bags collected from the outing, and it was still pretty early in the day.

"The entire time I've known him, he's never done things without meaning to."

"He said it was an accident."

"Of course he would say that after the person he likes ran away."

"I... what?"

"How are you two so dense? It's obvious you like one another." She rolled her eyes for emphasis. It seemed so clear to her, but you didn't agree.

"I've never seen him like anyone!" You covered your face in shame. "Besides, I already messed up. He probably hates me!" You didn't apologize or explain yourself yet. He was still mad at you. "If he doesn't hate me already."

"Go ask him yourself, then." You choked at her comment. Her eyes sparkled with a plan only she could understand forming in her head. "Yes, and we'll get you the perfect outfit to do it in!"

xXx

Class 1A and their teacher were already at Takoba stadium. And you were on your way as well.

The only way to get to there quickly was by the train. You listened to the various chatter about your destination. It seemed a big event for the locals to bet on which school would have the most passing students. When the right stop came, you quickly disembarked with some nervousness.

What would you say to him when you saw Aizawa face to face? Wrapped in your thoughts, you bumped into the person in front of you on the platform.

"Sorry.." The man stiffened, dropping something. He bent to pick it up, your heart skipping when you made out the shape. It got quickly pocketed, but the man caught your shocked stare.

A hand. A human hand.

Grey white hair peeked out from his black hood. His eyes were red, but nothing like Aizawa's. "He's scary. Scary, scary..." Your own hand reached slowly for your cell phone.

Thoughts raced in your head. What did he want? Were you being targeted? Or was it the exam takers they were after? Was he alone? Instinctively you knew he was dangerous. You counted yourself lucky that Midnight was the last person you texted. She knew where you were, so the message could be kept brief.

-SOS.

His eyes focused on the small UA charm that dangled from your phone, suddenly making you regret the purchase. The way he smiled sent shivers of fear up your spine. The second you pressed send, the cell was ripped out of your hands.

He was fast.

You prayed that your call for help went through before the enemy turned it to dust before your eyes.

"Are you a new player? Did you come to fight?"

"Who are you? Why are you here?" You were in a terrible situation, having come here in civilian clothes. He seemed annoyed that you didn't recognize him.

"Not from UA? I thought you might be interesting, but looks like you're just an NPC." All the people in the station already scattered, except for one other that looked to be his ally. "Don't ruin my fun."

He sped at you, hand reaching for your face. The image of the phone disintegrating was strong in your mind. Was it only from his hands? Regardless, you didn't want to let him touch you. You managed to dive backward to the ground, grabbing hold of the folds in his sweatshirt and the sleeve of the outstretched hand. Kicking a leg up, you tossed him over your head with the help of your quirk. With barely a day of forced rest, you would hardly last long. The other person who stayed came at you with the intent to kill. You rolled away as his body smashed down where you had been laying. With a sharp intake of breath, you bit back a cry of pain.

The attacker began to shake, sprouting tough scaly skin like a crocodile. You didn't keep looking to see if his teeth were also changing. The gray haired man came back from his shock at being thrown.

"You heroes won't even let me watch the event?" He was definitely talking about the temporary license exam. It would be suicide for them to attack an entire stadium full of quirk users, but still. You couldn't trust him to only be a spectator. He didn't seem the type to hide away for long. You used your quirk for the second time to avoid him before the crocodile man tried to tackle you again.

He wasn't nearly as dangerous, but it was hard to fight them both. With your third attack you pushed the scale ridden body away, focusing on the real threat. Four, five, six times you blasted off waves of [eject] to stop those hands from touching you.

At number seven, you could feel the strain on your heart. Weak... your pulse felt weak. Like lightning that hand grabbed your shoulder, and in an instant there was pain. You never imagined the feeling of crumbling, but it was terrifying. His other hand dug into your shin in attempt to pin you down. Despite the pain as the air hit your muscle and bone, you pushed him away with blast number eight... and finally lost control.

xXx

Handsy hit the wall, surprised that his grip was broken. You heard another crash behind you, probably the sound of the other man hitting the tracks in a failed sneak attack.

"Kurogiri won't like it if I make a big scene." Spitting in contempt, the gray haired man turned his head toward his companion, and yelled out an order. "Take care of this, I'm gone."

The crocodile didn't seem to like that very much. He tried to climb back on the platform and get around you to follow the man that left him behind.

Your injuries were beginning to bleed now, flecks of blood getting pushed outward by your quirk. "I can't let him leave too."

It was difficult to get up, but you managed somehow. It took all your strength to shuffle forward. Being closer to the exit, you blocked off his escape.

"Get out of the way, bitch." His words meant nothing; he couldn't get past. You didn't know how long it would be until Midnight would be here, but you also knew she couldn't help you. Even before hitting your limit, you were in bad shape. Hah. You were probably going to die.

"Sorry, Shouta."

You laughed and took a step toward the villain. "I should have told him." It was getting hard to take a full breath, but you kept moving. Two more steps, one more. Your adversary had nowhere to run, his heels making contact with the wall you were pushing him into. He screamed, begging you to stop. "It hurts, doesn't it?" If you were going to die, then you had to make sure this guy couldn't do anything afterward.

His head hit the wall, caught between the pressure of your quirk and smooth concrete. What would give out first? Unable to keep up your shallow breaths, you fell. You were sure the man was still screaming, but it all seemed like a dream. Everything looked dim, and you could only focus on the low hum that resonated from your bubble.

"I'm sorry." You thought of Toshinori, of Kayama and Mic. Whispering out your apologies, you thought of Shouta. "I'm so, so sorry."

Still laboring with pain and feeling so utterly alone, everything stopped.


Taking a big leap with the story here. I hope it stays interesting to you readers... tell me what you think?

I'm more nervous about this than any other chapter. Hah!