There were a lot of times that Ashido truly couldn't understand what went through the head's of her classmates. Sometimes, the ideas they came up with just seemed ridiculous - funny, perhaps, but completely out the norm. She could see the suspicious gleam in Aizawa's eye every single time one of her classmates approached him with a question that was not related to class, and it didn't take much effort to understand why that look existed.
The ideas they came up with could sometimes be kind-hearted and driven by their positive outlook and desire to help. Those were the most pure ideas. Little birthday celebrations, spontaneous hangouts when someone had a particularly hard day; things like that, which restored Mina's faith in her friends.
But then there were the hair-brained ideas.
The ones that were driven by emotion. The decisions that were fueled by the raging desire to make up for a mistake, or ease the burning guilt that sat in their heart like a smoldering chunk of lead. The decisions that held upside, but their consequences could be deadly. The same decisions that were made because they were all trying to be heroes - and rightly, or wrongly, they'd get there.
Unless they died, of course.
"Did you not listen to me?!"
Ashido wasn't an angry person. She didn't snap at people commonly, she didn't yell, or raise her voice regularly, and she rarely let her rage take on the spotlight, since it was rather embarrassing to admit she'd blown her lid in front of everyone. Instead, she preferred to be jovial (or sad), and had no problem letting other people argue, while she remained on the sideline, trying to play damage control.
But this time...? This time Kirishima had managed to outdo himself.
It wasn't the idea of him going to save Bakugou - there was no doubt in her mind that someone was going to come up with the idea of going to save their resident explosion-expert. If Midoriya hadn't been bedridden, she would've been expecting him to come up with the idea, since he and Bakugou had the whole... possible childhood friends thing going on. Kirishma was the next closest person to a 'friend' that Bakugou had, so, no, Mina wasn't surprised he'd decided to take it upon himself to break the rules and try to save their classmate.
But the reason he was going was crossing the line - considering they'd just spoke a few days prior.
"You can't talk me out of this, Mina."
"DON'T!" She hissed, before taking a deep breath to ease the flames that licked at her words. "Don't act buddy-buddy with me after choosing to go on this... this... vigilante raid!"
Kirishima stood, unflinching from the barrage of emotions. His eyes locked onto hers, and she could clearly see the defiance that glimmered in the depths of his red orbs, only serving to stroke her temper further. It took all her concentration to avoid secreting acid from her pores - a side-effect of high emotional outbursts. When she became overly excited, or in cases like this, infuriated, she had a tendency to accidentally activate her quirk, resulting in embarrassing moments of nudity.
And quite frankly, if she burned through one of her favorite shirts, she was going to lose it.
"You can't talk me out of this." Kirishima repeated, and for a second, Mina wondered if he was saying to dissuade her from trying, or to persuade himself to remain steadfast in his decision. "I'm going."
"Why is that?" Mina whispered, trying to keep the emotion from her words. She was genuinely curious what suddenly drove the red-headed teen to such a length. Not only would he - and anyone who went along - be risking his place at U.A, but he was also risking his life. There was no replacing that. For Kirishima to be so eager to jump into a hideout, littered with the scum of the Earth...
He either cared a lot, or he wasn't thinking straight.
And for the life of her, Mina couldn't figure out which was the case.
"I need to save him." It was almost enough to calm the pink-skinned girl down. Almost.
"You don't need to do shit." Rage slipped onto her tongue once more, demanding its presence be acknowledged. At the very least, Kirishima was going to have plenty to think about if he survived. With nobody around - Mina having opted to corner the hardening quirk-user outside - there was nobody to stop her tirade, lest someone accidentally stumble across the scene.
A moment passed, Kirishima remaining silent, as if he had nothing productive to contribute. He continued to stare into her eyes, his jaw set and his gaze firm - not unlike his quirk. Ashido studied him silently, still fuming. He really wasn't going to bend on the ordeal. He was, for better or for worse, dead-set on going, and whomever he pulled with him... was just as suicidal as he was.
Maybe that's why she was so mad, though. She hadn't admitted it, but looking at the plan behind this mission... it was akin to suicide. The head-honcho of the Villain's Alliance, the guy who could disintegrate anything he touched, was nothing to be ignorant of. He'd almost killed Aizawa... and he also had the aid of gigantic Nomu's... creatures designed to kill All Might.
"I said that All-For-One could give quirks to others, right? He made others trust him or surrender to him by giving them quirks. But apparently, there were many given quirks who could not bear the burden, and became living dolls that couldn't speak. Just like the Nomus."
... If Kirishima went... and he brought a team with him... there was a high chance that they'd be running into him.
All-For-One.
They'd have no idea what they'd be running into... and they'd be completely at his mercy. Truthfully, Ashido didn't know very much about All-For-One. He was shrouded in mystery... with a quirk that seemed impossible to possess. His name had never come up in history, there was no face to name, and ultimately, even though All Might had fought him, she'd never once found a record of that fight.
It was like it had never happened.
For the longest time, she had wondered why? Why would the press not air a fight that would stand as All Might's grandest triumph, if the man was as deadly as he was rumored to be. What stopped them from dedicating a chunk of history to the biggest fight of mankind? There were no answers - or hypothesizes - that she could come up with to explain the mysterious cut frames from history.
But, All Might was no liar... and whatever she had stumbled upon, it had to have been real. Which meant that All-For-One was real, and still alive, working as the surprise final boss behind everything. Everyone - heroes and rebellious students alike - would be preparing for the League of Villains, with Shigaraki as their final obstacle... but only All Might would know about the real hidden threat, wouldn't he?
Which meant that if everyone went... they might run into him... and if they did...?
It would be immediate death.
"Kirishima. Please." Ashido's trembling anger dissipated, replaced by the overwhelming urge to just... cry. She was tired. She was scared. Her friends were planning to try and intercept the biggest known villain association in Japan, and only she knew what awaited them at the end of the tunnel. Kirishima turned away, no longer willing to listen, but she refused to stop there. "Please!"
He hesitated.
"You don't know what's waiting for you... there's things that we don't know..." All of a sudden, the difficult position that Midoriya had been in since entering U.A. was on display for her to witness. The vague answers, the inability to give a complete truth, the uncertainty - the guilt that came with lying. "If you go, you won't come back."
"Why do you sound like you know something we don't...?" Kirishima said lowly. He refused to face her, but there was no missing the accusatory tone in his words.
Ashido flinched. "W-what?" Was he... accusing her of something?!
"You heard me." Kirishima turned around, looking like he was seconds away from activating his quirk. His fists were tight, his face became stone-y nearly unreadable, but it was his eyes that were the hardest of all. "The Summer Camp. The USJ. The villains found us there... and I know it might have been because they wanted All Might the first time, but this time, it doesn't sound like they came looking for him..."
Slowly, Mina stepped backward, suddenly hyperaware of Kirishima's unspoken accusations. "You think I sold everyone out?! Are you out of your fuckin' mind?! Listen to yourself!"
"This can't be coincidence! There's no chance!" Kirishima retaliated. He leaned forward, his expression sharp and full of conflicting emotions, and for a tense second, Ashido thought their verbal argument was going to evolve into a full-on fist fight. But, he reeled back slightly, rectifying previous statements. "I'm not saying you did this-"
"Really? 'Cause that's what it sounds like."
"-But you've been acting weird. Like, really weird. Something's changed. Ever since you fainted." Mina's eyes widened. "You haven't been the same. What do you know?"
Ashido bit her lip. She couldn't admit it.
"What do you know?" Faintly, she registered that Kirishima took a step closer.
Her brain was moving slower than molasses, logged down by the rapid thoughts that bounced around the inside of her head like rubber bouncing balls, only gaining more and more energy the more they bounced. She wanted to grab her hair by the curls and tug until the roots gave way. She wanted to clamp her eyes shut and have the world fade away until she figured out what to do. She wanted to know what was right - but none of that would come to her, she realized.
"What do you know?!"
"I don't know!"
Silence fell upon the duo, Kirishima taking a sudden, surprised step back as the force behind Mina's words hit him. Genuine uncertainty slipped across his features, colliding with the firm belief he'd had only moments before.
Mina's breath came in heavy waves, each heave adding to the headache she was developing. "I don't... I don't know."
"What do you mean?" Kirishima asked slowly. His voice had quieted down significantly, as did hers.
She sighed, finally finding a way to pace her breathing. "The things I know... o-or the things I think I know... I'm not really sure."
It was true; even after all the deliberation she'd put into what she'd heard that fateful afternoon, she was still no closer to discovering the origins behind that mysterious conversation. Everything she knew - everything she thought she knew - was based upon weak, unfounded, speculation. There wasn't a single truth to the conversation.
Hell, she didn't even know if Midoriya's quirk was this mysterious One-For-All!
For all she knew, it was a skit... or some sort of elaborate ruse... something that wasn't the simplicity of the truth.
But yet, after each night she spent pondering over everything she'd heard, she'd come to the belief that it just wasn't possible. Midoriya was strange... but he wasn't a liar - or a fake. His desire to be a hero was purest in the class. If anyone would impress All Might, it would be him. And if anyone was to accept a quirk... destined to fight some evil overlord... it would be him that would be willing to do it.
For the betterment of humanity.
"What... what does that even mean?" It was hard to ignore the frustration that laced Kirishima's voice, but then again, she could understand it. He hadn't gotten a single answer, and she was leading him in wobbly circles - in the same circles she was lost within.
"I don't know."
The truth of everything. She didn't know a thing. Why did All Might give Midoriya Izuku - who was probably a formerly quirkless boy - a quirk that made him... everything he was? What was All-For-One's goal? Was he trying to capture Japan under his reign once more...? Or was it something that she couldn't even fathom?
But her lack of knowledge didn't solve the problem - she had revealed too much, and now, Kirishima was involved, whether she wanted him to be or not. His curiosity would only serve to create further problems if she left him in the dark. Rumors were the rocks that sank the boat, as her dad once told her. While he'd probably never thought that saying would apply to something so... big, it didn't change the meaning behind it.
With a reluctant sigh, she crossed her arms and looked directly into Kirishima's eyes. "I... I do have some things to reveal, okay...? But, I don't know what is what. And... it's not my secret to reveal."
"If these... secrets are putting anyone in danger, you need to say something," Kirishima started, only to be cut off.
"It's not that! Really; no one is doing anything illegal. Or traitorous." She ignored the bristle she felt, remembering the freshness of Kirishima's implications. He winced, and opened his mouth to respond, but she continued on, like nothing happened. "But, there's a lot that's happening in someone's life, and... I don't know." She snorted, despite the situation. "It's just confusing."
While she could tell he wasn't pleased, Kirishma sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "That doesn't really satisfy anything, but... I'll wait. But you owe me an explanation soon, got it?"
"Thank you." She meant it. "Does this mean you aren't going to go?"
An uneasy look passed over Kirishima's face. "I didn't say that. To be honest, I don't know what to think anymore. But..." Where doubt once laid, firm reality settled once more. "I have to do whatever is necessary to save Bakugou. Or else I'll never be able to look in the mirror and call myself a hero."
"You most certainly will NOT be going to save anyone!"
A new, thundering voice entered the fray, becoming louder and more pronounced with each passing moment - a voice that Ashido recognized all too well. It was the same voice that reprimanded the slackers in the midst of studying for an exam, the same voice that demanded order and restraint during class functions - and the same voice that she'd attributed to rules and organization.
Even without his quirk, Iida Tenya was fast. Maybe it was his powerful stride, or maybe it was because he always seemed to be on some sort of mission, but he had the uncanny ability to close the distance with a single stride. And this was no exception.
He was ramrod straight; his expression firm as he sized up Kirishima. "I will not allow you to put yourself in such danger! Mr. Aizawa has revoked our permission to engage in combat! Any further endeavors will result in expulsion - you can be sure of that!" Kirishima looked away." Furthermore... I cannot allow you, as my friends, to put yourself in danger for the sake of personal pride."
Ashido looked at Iida; what did he mean by that? And why did it sound so... personal?
"I understand your frustration, however I-"
"No you don't!" Kirishima barked. He looked at Iida, obviously tired of being defied by the people he'd approached for help. Part of Mina felt bad - he was only trying to do what he felt was right. Even if it was skewered. However... the other part of her knew that if he was allowed to go forward, he'd more than likely die as result. It was better to stop him than let him continue.
Iida merely raised an eyebrow. "I believe you're forgetting something."
The red-haired boy remained silent, but stared at the Class President with defiance.
"My brother was attacked by Stain. I know better than you believe."
That was all it took to deflate Kirishma's tirade. The energy, the fire he'd stored up until that point, came rushing out of his expression like air released from a balloon, and all that was left behind, was a worried teenager, staring hopelessly at a grim situation.
"I just want to do the right thing..." He whispered. "What kind of man... turns his back on his friends...?"
Slowly, Iida placed a hand on Kirishima's shoulder. "I ask you; what kind of man throws his life away for his friend? Trust in our superiors - let's say that Bakugou is successfully retrieved, but you end up perishing during your mission. Do you believe that Bakugou would be pleased with your efforts?"
Ashido had to admit; Iida had a great point. She hadn't considered the blonde boy's perspective in everything.
He was prideful, he was arrogant, and if the fight with All Might during the midterm test had proven anything, it was that the explosive-specialist preferred fighting his own way. And, if it came to it, he would lose his own way, too. Any rescue-attempt that was baked up from Class 1-A would more than likely be refused, because as ridiculous as it could be, Bakugou would view it as a handicap.
Even in the face of life-and-death, the blonde boy had a complex that was insurmountable, and if he were ever to overcome that looming obstacle, he'd either need a sincere shock to his life... or he'd need consoling.
"At the end of the day, vigilantism will not ensure Bakugou's survival - nor his retrieval. The best thing to do, at this present moment, is to believe in the people that protect us daily. If our faith in them waivers... then the villains have already won the day. Each attack, each terroristic movement, is an attempt to shake the foundations that have build up our society, and when you doubt those heroes, you're giving the villains what they want."
So that was why he was Class President. Maybe Midoriya was onto something, giving him the position and all...
Mina, honestly, had never considered the mental game that organizations such as the Villain's Alliance played. To her, the end-game was all about the possessions; who owned the most of the board? The final fight would always pit the strongest against one another, battling in a cataclysmic showdown that would only end in one of two ways: the good guy dies, or the villain is forced to surrender.
But if each strike instilled more than just property damage... if each 'failed' attack was also an attempt to sway the public's opinion in something, then perhaps there was more to each mounted offensive. She could still remember the day that Midoriya was cornered by Shigareki - an encounter that, supposedly, was designed because the disintegration villain didn't have an identity.
If he'd found it... and become aware that life was bigger than just ending All Might's life, than perhaps their goal had become larger than initially planned.
"Kirishima. Take my word for this." His expression became shadowed. "When you throw away the ideals you hold close to you, in an effort to do something bigger than yourself, you've already failed."
"He doesn't deserve this..." Kirishima muttered. "Bakugou is rough, but to be taken prisoner... I just want to do the right thing. I want to save him. As much as he might pretend he wouldn't, I know he'd do the same. He wants to be a hero, too. That's why he's here - that's why we're all here." What he was saying made sense. But... Mina shook her head, averting her eyes. "Yet, I feel like if I don't go, I'll be failing what it means to be a hero."
"We're not heroes yet." Ashido pointed out.
"You don't need to finish school to be a hero." Kirishima looked up. "It's more than that."
But, as confident in those words as he was, there was still the unmistakable shaken foundation in his eyes. He hadn't been fully convinced - he was likely debating the idea, even still - but he was no longer gung-ho about heading off into the unknown abyss. It was an improvement over earlier - though, Mina did feel bad. She felt... guilty.
She didn't want to see Bakugou - or anyone, for that matter - be hurt by people as vile as the League of Villains. Was it wrong of her to keep her friend from going? Technically, it was his choice, but that didn't mean she felt like it was appropriate to just let him dilly-dally into a place he didn't belong.
"It isn't up to you, though. Deciding who is a who, and who isn't," Iida said quietly. "If you're doing it because that's what you think a hero would do, then perhaps that isn't the correct reason, nor the correct choice."
'Midoriya...' Somehow, Ashido's thoughts trailed to the injured boy sitting in the hospital above them.
"I'll do it!"
He hadn't said those words because that was what a hero would say, did he? It was more than that - it was almost... simpler than that, wasn't it?
To Midoriya, being a hero wasn't the title, or the feeling - it was as straight-forward as could be. He only wanted to be a hero so that he could save people... so he could do the right thing. He didn't do it because it was what a hero would do... he did it because it was the right thing to do, and that's what made him a hero. It just so happened that those beliefs collided more times than not, and along the way, everyone just began believing that the right thing was the same thing that a hero would embody.
But even if he didn't know better, he was beyond that.
"I don't..." Heavily, Kirishima sighed. "I don't necessarily get what you mean... but..."
"That's why we're here - at U.A." Mina couldn't help piping up, despite having taken a backseat in the conversation. "We're all just kinda... learning. Weird when you say it aloud, huh? Who would've thought we need to learn to be heroes?"
"It's less about the heroics and more about the politics, Ashido! We, as U.A. students, are the epitome of the future generation, and we should remain dedicated to learning how to maximize our effectiveness!" The hand gestured resumed as Iida cut through the air with a chop, followed by a drop in his fist.
And just like that, the mood seemed to lighten.
From her pocket, Mina pulled out her phone and frowned. The day was drawing later - and while Kirishima was no longer certainly heading off into the waiting night, Midoriya was a totally different topic. He had been hesitant originally, although, no one could truly tell what went on inside that brain of his. He might be acting as if he was considering it, whilst internally, he'd already dedicated himself to the plan. And if she thought that Kirishima was difficult to convince...
She grimaced.
The conversation awaiting her was not going to be pleasant.
"Hey, Iida, I'm going to go see Midoriya, alright?" She didn't really need to ask permission from him - thus, the reason she didn't ask anything in the first place - but she was hoping the tone she dropped would suggest that it was personal.
Iida nodded. "I see, yes! It's a good idea to comfort our injured friend - and he is certainly taking Bakugou's disappearance hard. Very thoughtful of you, Ashido!"
"Right..." She said slowly. Recomposing herself, she stuffed her phone back in her pocket and smiled at the duo. "Well, I'll be off. Kirishima..." She said, turning to the red head. "... think about what we told you. And I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
It worried her that he barely composed a response.
But he understood by now... right?
"Heyyyyyyyyy!" With a couple of rhythmic knocks, the pink girl pushed the handle that led to Midoriya's private room - a result of his rather grievous injuries - and slipped inside, making sure to close the door firmly behind her. She smirked as she turned around - it was time to get her tease on. "Did someone ask for a super cute personal nurse?"
She even added a wink at the end, feeling the rush of excitement as Midoriya's eyes widened - despite his fatigued appearance - and a explosion of red rushed across his face. Honestly, he looked like he'd been sunburnt, and it was all so flattering, if Mina said so herself.
Appearance was something that she was on the fence about. She knew she was cute - she had great hair (in her opinion), a well-developed body, a sparkling personality, and plenty of confidence. But she also had some mild reserves about looking so vastly different from everyone else, especially compared to the other girls in their class. It wasn't enough to cause her concern, or make her feel inadequate, but once in awhile, she wondered how she stacked up against the others.
Especially against Yaoyorozu's... gifts.
"A-A-Ashido...?!"
"That's my name," she said happily. Though she'd only been in his room for a few seconds, the tension that had embedded itself on her shoulders from earlier, had seemingly vanished, just being in the injured boy's presence. It wasn't as if he were trying or anything; he was exuded that kind of sensation, like rays of positivity and relaxation. "So it was you, huh?"
"A-ah! I-I-I didn't... wha-what?" Midoriya was completely flummoxed, which pleased Ashido - secretly.
She shimmed into the room, being sure to mind his comfort level, even if she was teasing him. It wasn't as if he was going to tell her to leave, nor was he going to spontaneous combust, but she knew he was sometimes rattled rather easily, and he was just injured, so... she could take it a bit easy on him for once. A chair by his bed called to her, and she gladly took a seat, turning so that she could look at her companion, who pushed himself up in bed to get a better look at her.
As he moved, she got her first glance at the new wrappings on his arms, and she felt her heart strings tug ever so slightly. The smile on her face dipped momentarily, as well.
Underneath of those white bandages... what wounds remained? What stories would the surface of his skin retain? Part of her wanted to reach out and just... touch the wrappings. They seemed so tight, but the more she focused on them, they looser they appeared - almost like they'd fall off at any given moment, and the skin underneath would simply crumble away.
She shook her head; that would not happen. He was fine now.
"Don't lie - I know you wanted to see me," she said teasingly.
Despite the fiery blush on his face, and the stammering garble of words that tumbled from his mouth... she couldn't help but notice he never actually denied it. Plus, for some reason... she wanted to see him, too. And it wasn't just because of the Kirishima situation.
Even amidst the One-For-All/All-For-One conflict she had burrowed in her head, and the newly developed Kirishima/vigilante problem... she had found herself drawn to him. Whenever she drifted off during class, her eyes always ended up back on him, whether or not he was facing her. Sometimes, she would snap out of her daydream immediately, but other times... those were the dangerous times. The times when it didn't occur to her that she was lost within her mind, only to be drawn back by some sort of poking or prodding from a fellow classmate.
Or by Aizawa's unamused interruption.
And now, she was drawn right back to him, seeking him out even when it was getting late. Her father had told her just to remain at the hospital overnight - he was away for business, and her mother was working overnight from the sound of it. Since the train didn't run that late, she had silently accepted that she'd have to remain overnight, and a few of her friends reciprocated the idea, if only to support their injured classmates during a trying time.
She snickered as Midoriya sighed, evidently giving up at coming up with any sort of response. "So, how you feeling?"
He clenched his fist, slowly flexing and extending his bicep, as if expecting some sort of pain to come with the motion. After a few motion tests, he responded. "Good... a little sore, to be honest, but... considering everything that happened, I feel a lot better."
"You worried a lot of people," Ashido said lightly. It wasn't the first thing she'd planned on saying, but for some reason, the words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop to think.
"I know." Midoriya's eyes flittered downward, and he frowned. His posture seemed to slump, as well. "I didn't... mean to. I-I know that's... it doesn't mean much, but... I had to save him."
"The boy?" Mina asked.
Midoriya nodded. "If I didn't fight with everything I had... w-we... well..."
He didn't need to finish his sentence. They would've died.
The conversation took a moment to restart as the gravity of the implications settled down upon the two students. For Ashido, death remained a foreign identity, spoken only by those that had been touched by its presence. The closest she'd come to death was the USJ, although this recent attack by the League of Villains had come close, too. There was one similarity in both circumstances:
She had been away from the fighting.
It almost made her disgraced with herself. In a twisted way, she felt... invalid for not having taken part in the growth with her classmates. Was that the reason that she was lagging behind everyone else...? Class 1-B had been supposedly feeling that way, and while it sounded ridiculous, it also made some sense. The missing puzzle piece... was it interaction with villains? Actual experience? Had she missed chances to become... strong?
She stole a glance at Midoriya, and banished those thoughts immediately. The boy in the bed in front of her had been in the middle of both fights, and yet, she knew if she'd asked him, he wouldn't have wanted to be there. His only reason for wanting to be in the midst of the chaos was around the concept of preventing injury to anyone around him. But, otherwise, there was no chance that the soft-spoken, timid boy would have any desire to be thrust into life-or-death situations like that again.
"I'm glad you didn't die."
"M-me, too."
"You know... we haven't talked much since that day you walked me to the train station..." Mina suddenly said, putting a finger to her bottom lip. She slyly glanced at Izuku, a small smirk forming. "Are you... avoiding me?"
"N-n-no! I just, we, I mean...! We've all been so b-busy!" Despite the truth behind his reply, Ashido laughed heartily, her smirk morphing into a genuine smile. Izuku frowned. "You're just teasing me..."
"I'm sorry," Mina said in between laughs. She began calming down, taking longer breaths to stabilizer her voice. "It's just so cute watching you get flustered like that."
A blanket of silence fell upon the two students as Mina's words were processed by both parties. Now, she was the one turning colors as her voice was sucked away in an instant. "Eh...? I-uh..."
If it was at all possible, Midoriya's face became darker, and he could practically pass as a tomato. Of all the things she hadn't meant to say, that might have come the closest to the top. It hadn't really been on her mind, but now that she said it... she couldn't stop thinking about it. His cherry-red cheeks, the way they flushed red, tinging even his ears... the way his eyes widened, and for a moment, the marvelous green orbs that were so inquisitive, became overwhelmed by emotion - the good kind - as they darted from side-to-side. There was no denying it.
Midoriya Izuku was cute.
"So... uh..." With the suffocation of the silence beginning to have an adverse effect on them, Mina switched topics - reluctantly - to the 'real' reason she was visiting. "S-so... Kirishima's idea..."
The red began fading from sight as Midoriya sensed the seriousness of the topic. He looked down at his bedsheets, gripping the fabric tightly within his still-wrapped hands. "Yeah... it's dangerous."
"No kidding. I tore him a new one," Ashido said casually.
"I'm... not surprised. It's rather reckless. But..."
"But...?"
Midoriya looked up at her. "Is it the wrong thing to do?"
For some reason, Ashido wasn't angry. She didn't feel even an ounce of rage at what Midoriya was alluding to, despite having just blown up on her childhood friend earlier for the exact same allusion. It was hypocritical, in a way. There was almost no difference between Midoriya and Kirishima, minus the duration of the friendships - which, was debatable, as her interactions with Kirishima had been limited, if not completely non-existent during secondary school.
She had expected it from the both of them - their ideals were relatively similar, though driven by different forces. Kirishima was looking to prove himself; he wanted to act like a hero, not be a hero. And, perhaps that was the reason she'd become so irked. But Midoriya was a little different from what she could tell. He didn't really want to act because of the school he was going to, but instead, he acted because... why did he act?
It suddenly occurred to her that she'd never actually asked why he wanted to be a hero. Or what it was that made him so... danger-magnet-y.
"Why do you want to save him?"
He rose an eyebrow. "He's... my friend."
"He's treated everyone like dirt," Mina pointed out. "I'm not saying that's reason to leave him alone, but I mean, he hasn't done anything to earn this level of dedication. You could be throwing your life away, dude."
"I know." His voice was so quiet. So soft.
"So why...?" She responded, equally as quiet.
"It's hard to explain..." Midoriya relented reluctantly. "Kacchan and I... we ar- used to be friends. And I know that... it isn't really a reason to save someone, but... s-someone once told me something." Mina leaned in. His voice was so soft, but she also wanted to catch every word of what he was saying. "The primary essence of being a hero is butting your head in. No matter who is in trouble... it's your duty as a hero to save them."
"So it is because you want to be a hero..." Mina mumbled.
"N-no... I wouldn't quite that say, either." Midoriya interrupted. "I guess... I'm doing it because I want to. It's not about being in the heroics course, or being a hero. It's because it's the right thing to do."
"Kirishima said something similar. He wanted to go because it was manly, yeah. But he said it was the right thing - the thing a hero would do."
"W-well, that's just it. It's not... really about what a hero would or wouldn't do. I-I mean, yeah, the primary essence is butting in, b-but, you can't just do heroic things because that's what a hero would do, because it's more than that." Mina frowned; this seemed to be going in an odd, half-made circle. Izuku seemed to catch on. "Think of it like this: you block a bullet from hitting a civilian... why did you do it?"
Mina paused for a moment.
Obviously, the answer was because she was a hero, and it was her responsibility to protect those she served. But...
But wasn't that the same reason she chewed out Kirishima? Being a hero wasn't in the action, but the reason you did the action. Sacrificing yourself for a civilian wasn't done because the hero saves everyone - you're a hero because you put someone's life ahead of your own. Rightly or wrongly... it was because you wanted to - not because of a job title.
Saving lives... not for the publicity, or the pride, or the money... saving lives not for the title... but because you wanted to? Was that what he meant?
"It might not make sense... m-maybe I'm just a little out there...?"
"No..." Ashido said slowly. "I think... I get it. It's the reason. That's what Stain was... all about, right? Fake heroes and all that jazz. All Might isn't a hero because of his title, but he is a hero because he acts with the intent to save, and that's it... does that seem right?"
"Yeah!" Midoriya smiled. "That's exactly it! Even if I wasn't at U.A... I'd do this, because I have the ability to save him. And... I want to save him."
"Even though you're breaking rules...?"
Midoriya's smile faded a tad. "Yeah... a-and that's why I feel you can't do this because of your title. Because by breaking the rules, you're not really doing a heroic thing by title. But you... you are doing the right thing."
"I still don't quite get it... but I think I know what you mean." It was all pretty confusing, if Ashido was honest with herself. Being a hero, doing the right thing, it was all like a poorly made circle that didn't really connect with one another. Maybe she'd never really understand, but then again, maybe it would all click when she was in a different position.
Just not this one.
"So you're going, I take it?"
Midoriya looked down once again. "Yeah... I plan to."
"Even though you're hurt?" She inquired a step further.
Did he not realize how busted up he really was...? Or did he just not care?
He nodded once.
"C-can I ask you something...?" He nodded again, this time, slowly. "You're..."
You're All Might's apprentice, aren't you?
You're the holder of All Might's quirk.
You're... who are you?
But none of the thoughts could make their way out of her mouth. Each word became ensnared by the traffic jam in her throat, causing her to stumble over each syllable, unable to finish her sentence. It was fear, she realized. But not of Midoriya. She was afraid of his answer, and the cold truth that might come with it. Was she really ready to hear that he was the inheritor of such a special power?
Was she ready to hear that he might end up in his final battle sooner than either of them had anticipated?
A steady, but soft knock on the door interrupted the duo as the simultaneously turned to see who the intruder was.
"Midoriya, I - " Todoroki, the half-and-half quirked user, paused in the doorway, as if sensing he'd walked in on something important. Which, in Mina's mind, he technically had, but she was a bit gracious for his timely/untimely arrival. "I can... come back later, if you need."
"No, no!" Mina hurriedly said. "It's okay. I can tell... it's kinda important. I'll just come back."
She stood up, a smile - fake as it was - on her face, and gave Midoriya one last glance. "You take care of yourself; don't injury yourself before I get back, okay?"
He looked away sheepishly, but when he looked back at her, she could see the curious concern shining in his eyes.
He knew something was off.
"Take care you two; don't do anything naughty~"
Todoroki's blank look, paired with Midoriya's betrayed look, almost alleviated the burning frustration in her chest from having chickened out of her questions. Almost.
But as she closed the door, deciding to go see how Hagakure was doing, she didn't realize that by the time she'd come back to re-check on Midoriya...
He'd be gone.
Yeah, yeah, I said I was going to be done in a week. Someone pointed that out and, honestly, that annoyed me a little. I know I said a week, and I know I shouldn't have said it if I wasn't going to fulfill it, but there's not exactly a way I can plan on a family death, nor can I plan on losing internet for nearly two weeks. I can use the computer at work, sure, but that's hospital property - not really a writing environment.
So yeah, I'm sorry, but things came up and I'll always put life ahead of writing. Either way, it's here. It's not my best chapter, but it starts to get things moving again, and there's some mild reveals and teasers within, so keep an eye on that.
As for character writing, I know Mina seems a bit off, but I kind of figure that to be due to her fatigue in everything. After all, she has knowledge of something she wasn't supposed to know - lying, as a social creature like she is, becomes far more taxing, especially because I don't peg her as a habitual liar. Midoriya avoids contact with people, so his lying is minimal, though accentuated by similar conditions.
As you can see, a theme in this story is going to be the division of Class 1-A, versus the unity. Things get spicier going forward, so stay tuned, and hopefully, I don't get fucked by life again.
Onto responses:
Dragontitan: The changes are coming! How much different will things be...? Who knows!
Sergito: The moments are coming up, I promise. I want to build up to it - a slow burn, if you will. Their interactions are so limited, and they're young, so I want to build up the crush from nothing. Because, essentially, that's where it is, anyways! But the moments will probably arrive after the next chapter, since the next one will wrap up the Hideout Arc.
Guest: BROOO BOIIII!
Dorngok Sekker: I'm glad I can bring you joy! It's a fun pairing, and although I enjoy most of the girls, Mina just sticks out to me. I dunno why.
LAVO: I agree; and the deviations will only become that much greater as I can break from the necessary canon. The thing about deviation is this: you have to consider what happened, and for what reason. All Might's not-death/death is an example of a shatter of the trope that commonly follows this genre; but is it a bad idea to deviate from it? As we finish this arc, and there's more gray area, it'll be a lot easier to bend things.
Disturbed911: It was slow, I agree. And this isn't much faster, but it's a build-up chapter. Maybe even a bit faster? I dunno. I'll be breaking away in the next chapter or two, so I wouldn't exactly worry about your concern, because I'll be adding in things that never happened. This story isn't going to be a forever running story, but it will be moderately long, and a big part of that will be the deviation.
Venrex Tyranno: I'm addicted, I can tell you that.
dgj212: Hehe... I can't wait to see... or do I already know...?
23: Why, thank you friend.
Doraslayer1: Ayy, thank you! I'm pleased to please!
Cleric of Nayru: Oh man, if you liked this confrontation before, you might either love/hate this one! Haha. But I'm glad you're enjoying everything!
TokusatsuLuv: Many of them will. Things happen; this is a high school environment. And, you'll see examples of this, too.
QuirkQuartz: I actually was mid-way through their argument when I saw this review, and I thought to myself: you'll either love this or hate where this ends. Honestly, I do really like Kirishima, but he is a pretender right now. His middle school revelations are built upon just becoming who he isn't. I don't know how much he believes and how much he pretends, but this was meant to prove that I think he's still in the middle of everything. He has a good heart, but a good heart doesn't mean a heart in the right place. And Midoriya is going to show Mina things I don't think she really has, yet. I know she did stuff in middle school, which wasn't mentioned here, but that'll be addressed later on more. Factually, everyone has room to grow, and that's going to be something touched on. Ironically, you pointed out this is the slowest to update story... it's probably because I pour in the most effort! Haha. I'm always re-writing it because I don't like it, whereas others, I just bend and accept.
Cadaver1041: They won't be safe, they're kids haha.
The Keeper of Worlds: I'm glad to hear it!