Haru's POV-

I was kicked out of the nurse's office after All Might and the green-haired boy were treated. Recovery Girl tasked me with recording the conditions and medical treatments from the hospital for the school's records, but really it was just busy work to keep me occupied while the adults discuss what had happened.

"Eraser Head has comminuted fractures in both arms and a facial fracture. Fortunately, there does not seem to be any serious brain damage. However, his orbital floor has broken into small pieces, and his eyes may suffer from its aftereffects," the recording said as I transcribed the message word for word.

Meanwhile Thirteen got messed up pretty badly, but the medical staff has confidence in restoring him.

"Because of the situation this time, I can't really scold you…," Recovery Girl said.

"I'm not sure…but I think I might've shortened the time limit of my hero form again," All Might said as I put down my clipboard and phone so that I could bring my knees to my chest. "I hope I still have at least an hour…"

"All Might…," the boy said.

Ah, he woke up already…

"Well, it can't be helped. These things happen."

Putting your life on the line for others sounds noble, but…how do people do that? Maybe I should be thankful that out of all the quirks in the world, I ended up with one that doesn't involve fighting.

I buried my face into my knees, remembering the condition All Might and the boy came in when I met up with them alongside Recovery Girl.

I was scared. That was the most blood I've seen thus far and I know it'll only get worse from here on out. Trying to stay focused while treating serve wounds isn't easy.

I don't want to see people in pain like that anymore, but I don't have a choice.

I never had a choice.

"Are you alright?" a man in a trench coat asked me.

I snapped my head up and wiped the tears from my eyes with the sleeves of my coat before gathering my things and standing up beside him. "I'm fine… Are you looking for someone?"

"I just came to ask your patients a few questions," he replied, silently asking me if it would be alright for him to enter. I nodded and motioned that I was heading out.

I entered the bathroom and put my things on the counter before I splashed my face with water.

Why should you have to deal with other people's problems?

I looked up at myself in the mirror, water dripping off my chin.

They could have died today because of their stupid hero-complexes.

"Who is there?" I called out, checking each stall for the speaker.

No one is here… Am I imagining it?

Don't tell me you don't remember me~

"Show yourself!"

I would if I could, believe me.

"What do you mean? Who are you?"

Don't worry, you'll remember what you did to me soon enough.

"What…I…"

"Haru?" Kendo's voice echoed throughout the bathroom. She appeared before me, concerned. "You're pale, did something happen? I heard Class 1-A got attacked and one of them was rushed to the infirmary."

Am I going crazy?

"It's nothing…," I mumbled, gathering my things. "I'll see you tomorrow… Class Rep…."

On my way home, I stopped to heal a stray cat's arm. I noticed the cat limping out of a nearby alleyway.

"All better now…," I said as the cat meowed happily and brushed up against me to purr. "Don't get into any more trouble okay?"

"Asano…"

I turned to see Shinso awkwardly standing a few feet from me. He looked as if he regretted calling out to me.

He started to walk by me as if he never saw me in the first place. "Shinso-san!" I got up to chase after him to explain why I was able to transfer, but he used his quirk to stop me.

He knew I didn't like it when he used his quirk on me. I didn't like the feeling of losing control of my body. On the long list of things that scared me, that was among it.

I couldn't even call out to him to tell him to stop. I was stuck watching his back get smaller and smaller.

I felt sick to my stomach and I wanted to throw up, but I couldn't in this state.

After a few minutes, I was released from his influence. I leaned against the nearby wall for support as I puked in the alleyway.

I pulled out my handkerchief and wiped my mouth.

I can't walk home like this…I feel like I might collapse any second…

The next morning, I was snuggled up on the couch with a cup of hot herbal tea and the morning news playing. My uncle left earlier than usual this morning to attend a meeting with the faculty to discuss the incident yesterday with class 1-A.

"This is a follow-up report on yesterday's incident at the U.A. rescue training facility where hero course students were attacked by villains."

My uncle wouldn't tell me much about what had happened yesterday, but school was cancelled today due to the circumstances so it must be serious.

"According to police investigation, the criminals call themselves The League of Villains and have been plotting to kill All Might, who has been a teacher at U.A. since spring of this year."

Is it possible that the villains know that All Might is sick and getting weaker…?

I thought back to All Might's nasty wound. Recovery Girl told me that I would understand in due time, but from what I found out while treating him, some of his organs are missing.

It's something that even Recovery Girl can't repair…

"Police have arrested seventy-two villains, but they still do not know the whereabouts of their ringleader."

It was good that only a few people sustained big injuries, but how can they fling themselves into the line of danger. Is it something they are trying to protect?

It must be. The students will protect their fellow classmates and the teachers will protect their students. It's that kind of relationship.

But life doesn't stay in that state of simplicity. When those students become pros themselves will they still do good for the sake of helping their own kind or for the sake of fueling their own incessant greed? Who cares who you save as long as you will get fame and fortune, right?

The doorbell rang and I got up to see who it was.

"Asano-chan, do you think you could come over and take a look at my little Arthur?" It was one of my neighbors.

"Yes Ms. Miura. Let me change and I'll be right over!"

It wasn't strange for me to get requests like this from my neighbors. Whenever their pets got sick they would ask me to use my quirk on them. Over time I've learned to control my quirk, but humans were an entirely different situation for me. My hands begin to quiver, but I can never understand why. I know there is a reason, but it's like that reason is always on the tip of my tongue.

I'm like this and yet I managed to heal that boy. Nothing seemed to matter to me anymore when I saw how hurt he was, but after that day I've reframed from using my quirk on him. Recovery Girl was right, I could have done him more harm than good.

I don't know why I can use the energy from plants to heal wounds and if it even uses the host's stamina or not.

"Haru, how are you feeling?" Kendo asked me before homeroom began.

"I'm fine…"

"Did something happen?" Tokage asked leaning into our conversation.

"Nothing."

"Those 1-A jerks! Everyone's talking about how they got to face real villains! We could have done just as well if not better against those villains!" Monoma shouted while Tetsutetsu agreed.

"I wonder what's the answer…," Kendo said, peaking Tokage's interest while I had no choice but to listen.

"To what?"

"Sorry I was talking to myself. I was just wondering if it was a blessing or a tragedy that class 1-A had a run-in like that."

"…if any of them stay after facing that situation…they truly are idiots…," I said to myself, only I didn't realize I said it aloud.

"What are you talking about? We have to face situations like that all the time once we're pro heroes," Kendo said as she eyed me suspiciously. Ever since she saw me in the bathroom the day before she has been keeping a close eye on me.

"…I was talking about the villains," I reasoned.

"I see what you mean. If I was going against All Might I would give up on the spot," Tokage joked.

Safe!

"I hope you all had a good time-off yesterday. Now we have much to do in preparation for the U.A. sports festival," our homeroom teacher announced.

The class went up in uproar, some talking about showing up class 1-A while others were plotting how to get the best exposure for hero agencies.

I raised my hand, causing the class to silence as I was called upon. "Do we have to participate?"

"You don't want to, Haru-chan?" Rin Hiryu asked me.

I could feel Kendo's eyes on me once again. "It's not that…"

Yes, it's entirely that.

"It's just…my quirk isn't…made for combat…," I explained. "Sorry…"

An awkward silence filled the room upon the realization that if I did participate, I wouldn't last long in the competition.

Our homeroom teacher cleared his throat and explained that I was assigned to work with Recovery Girl in the stadium's infirmary for the duration of the festival.

I remember watching the sports festival with my uncle every year. They were amazing to watch, but also sickening. They were putting students against each other for the sake of entertainment and showing off to agencies. I've seen the desperation in the student's eyes, especially with the third-years.

Tetsutetsu dashed out of class as soon as he could to meet with the competition. Others in our class followed while some, me, were dragged.

There was more people than I thought there would be crowding around class 1-A's room.

"I heard you fought against villains, so I came to hear 'bout it!" Tetsutetsu shouted. "Don't get full of yourselves. If you bark too much, it'll be embarrassing for you durin' the real fight! You ignorin' me bastard?!"

I didn't have a great view, but I guess whoever Tetsutetsu was talking to was walking away.

Why are they declaring war against class 1-A? Just because they got attacked by villains?

"That's the rude guy," one of my classmates mumbled. I looked up to see who was ticking off Tetsutetsu only to feel the color drain from my face.

I forgot about this guy! So he really is trying to become a pro hero!

"Are you feeling alright, Sunny?" Tokage asked me as I waved her off.

"I'm going to head to the infirmary," I told my classmates before walking off.

Maybe I'm misjudging that guy…he might just look scary like Shinso-san…but really mean well… It doesn't matter. Being a hero…leads to nothing good.

"Ah, I'm going the wrong way," I mumbled to myself before turning on my heel.

As I was walking by someone, I looked to the side in time to catch their side glance. They continued walking while I slowed to a stop.

That was…never mind…

With the sports festival coming up, my training with Recovery Girl increased beyond school hours. I've gotten somewhat attached to my classmates and watched them spar against one another in preparation for the festival. Recovery Girl taught me how to make recovery gummies which I would make for my classmates after they finished training.

There was a week left until the festival now. I haven't seen All Might or that boy hanging around the infirmary for an injury since the attack by the League of Villains. That should be a good thing, but I oddly felt unsettled.

I couldn't be wishing harm to come upon them, right?

You're wasting your time.

I've been hearing a girl's voice ever since I came to U.A., but I haven't told anyone. Sometimes she insults me and other times she suggests unsettling things. She refuses to identify herself which leaves me to wonder at times if she is my sub-conscious.

The voice seems to be all inside my head, so it's possible I've gone mad without realizing it.

Midoriya's POV-

I don't know how I found myself in this situation, but I was stuck in a staring contest with the infirmary girl.

I was just walking down the hall when I noticed someone sitting on one of the large window sills reading a book. It seemed strange since everyone was out training as much as they could whenever they weren't in class.

"H-Hello," I finally got the courage to say to the girl. "It's been awhile."

"…not that long…," she replied. "I helped Recovery Girl after the…incident…"

"Ah…I must have been asleep when you left."

What do I do now? Should I leave or continue the conversation?

"It's good that I'm not seeing you around the infirmary anymore."

Somehow her words stung. "I see…"

"It's not a bad thing," she told me as I looked back up at her. She closed her book and sat with her legs dangling off the edge of the window sill. "That just means you're not getting hurt anymore."

Is she trying to tell me she cares about me too much to see me in the infirmary?

My face heated up at the thought.

"A-Are you not going to train for the sports f-festival?" I asked her.

"I am," she replied, holding up the book she was reading. It was on human anatomy. "I'm going to be working as one of the medical staff members."

"That makes sense, heh."

"What about you? How is your training going?"

"It's…getting somewhere…"

I still can't control One For All…but I can't tell her anything about One For All and I don't want her to think I'm weak because I can't control my own quirk.

"…" She stared at me for a minute, which felt like hours for me, before fishing into her pocket for something. "Here." She held out her fist to me.

I held out my hand and felt her drop something into it. I brought the item to my face to examine it. "A small jar of gummies?"

"They're…recovery gummies… It's not as effective as having hands-on treatment, but it's good for minor injuries."

"I can't take this."

"I don't really need it…I can always make more…"

"Ah…true… Thank you."

The girl's eyes widened as I smiled at her, putting her gift in my pocket.

Haru's POV-

I never got his name…I think All Might called him Midoriya…but is that his first name or last name?

The next day I was studying under one of many cherry blossom trees on how the nerves in our toes could be connected to the nerves in our shoulders. Everything is connected in the human body, so when one part is malfunctioning, everything else takes a hit.

"What are you reading today, Haru?" Kendo asked me.

I didn't realize she sat beside me so I tried my best to mask my surprise. "It's a form of medicine where it's believed that ailments can be healed through the relaxation of certain nerves throughout the body."

"Sounds pretty advanced."

I smiled to myself. "It's hard…but interesting… I need to learn this kind of stuff if I'm going to be…" My smile slowly faded into a frown.

"A hero?"

"Right…"

"…Haru… Why do you want to be a hero?"

"…" I looked down at my book and then back at her. "Who wouldn't want to be a hero?" I stood up and excused myself.

I knew it. She was getting suspicious… Why am I even trying to hide it?

I thought back to Shinso in the general education class.

Right…some people would kill to be where I am now…

I say let them kill each other. That's how survival of the fittest works, right?

"Chirp, chirp!" I looked down at my feet to see a baby bird. I cranked my head up towards a nearby tree to see a nest.

"You poor thing…" I went down on my knees and bought the tiny bird into my hands. "You must have fallen from your nest…your parents will be worried about you." Judging from the pained expression on the bird's face, I decided to see if there were any injuries from the fall. "Ah, your wing is broken! It must hurt… Don't worry, I'll help you feel all better again."

This bird is still a baby so maybe I should use a plant as a base…

"Feeling better now?" I asked the baby bird who cheerfully chirped in response. "Now how do I get you home…"

I walked up to the base of the tree, holding the bird close to my bosom. "Hold on."

"Chirp chirp!"

I somehow managed to climb up the tree with one arm and place the baby bird back in its nest. I sat on the branch and looked down at the ground as the bird's parents came back.

"Now how do I get down?"

I reached out in front of me to a lone branch so I could begin my descent, but as soon as I put my weight on the branch it broke.

"Eh?"

I shut my eyes bracing for the inevitable impact with the ground, but it never came. Oh no, I fell onto something soft and bony.

"S-Sorry!" I apologized, holding my hand out to help the boy I fell on top of. "T-The branch broke and-"

The boy ignored my gesture and pushed himself up. He stood before me with his cold and icy gaze.

It's the white and red-haired boy again…

"Ah! You're bleeding!" I shouted, reaching my hand up to his cheek. His reflexes kicked in as soon as my fingertips gazed his soft skin. He grabbed my wrist causing me to flinch from the pain of his grip.

"Don't touch me," he muttered as he tossed away my arm.

I bit my lip as I rubbed my wrist. "It's my fault you got hurt… Let's go to the infirmary."

It took a bit of convincing on my part, but I managed to get him to the infirmary.

"Eat this," I hold him, handing him a hard candy from a pez. "Your cut should heal in a few minutes."

He did as I asked while I cleaned his wound. I couldn't help but take in his heterochromia eyes: his left eye was an icy blue while his right eye was a cold gray. Speaking of his left eye, there was a nasty scar possibly from a burn. Was he in a fire?

If it's just damaged tissue I coul-

"What do you think you're doing?" he muttered darkly as my wrist was yet again seized by him. Without my intention, I reached over to touch his scar, repeating what happened earlier when I touched his cheek.

"S-S-Sorry! I-I don't k-know what's w-wrong with me!" I shouted, rolling myself away from him on my stool. "It just…never mind. You're in the hero program right? My name is Asano Haruka from class 1-B."

"Todoroki…Shoto…class-"

Todoroki Shoto…? Why does that name sound so familiar? Shit, what was he saying?

"Sorry…what were you saying? I zoned out."

I could tell he was getting annoyed with me. "I'm leaving."

"Wait!" He glared at me from the doorway. "I'm going to be in the first-year's stadium for the duration of the sports festival…so…if anything happens during the matches just come over and I'll fix you right up… W-With Recovery Girl as w-well since she is my mentor and I still have a lot to learn from her!"

Gah! Why did I lose my cool like that?

I have always been timid in junior high, but I promised myself I would change coming here. If you're weak you'll get eaten up or left behind.

A rumor started floating around school that a student in my class was the Guardian of 1-B. The rumor was referring to me, but no one outside of our class knew that. People assumed it was a student with a tanky quirk, or just someone really strong or motherly.

"Do you see the Guardian?" an upperclassman asked, peaking into our room along with their friends.

"Um…," I said wearily. "You're blocking the exit…"

"C-Cute," someone said.

"Hey, do you know who the Guardian of 1-B is?"

"Guardian of 1-B…," I repeated shyly, remembering what Tokage told me about the rumor.

"Are they bothering you, Asano-chan?" Monoma asked me.

"Aw man is that her boyfriend?"

Monoma Neito. Quirk? Copy—he is able to duplicate other's quirks after contacting them. Despite how powerful this skill may sound, there is a time limit of five limits and he cannot use two or more quirks at the same time.

"Gross, of course he isn't!" Tokage shouted, shoving Monoma away from me. "Right Kaibara-kun?"

By now it was obvious that Tokage shipped Kaibara and I. Kaibara and I already went through the awkward conversation of admitting we had no romantic feelings for one another, but Tokage didn't want to give up hope.

"Are you heading to the nurse's office again?" Shiozaki asked me. "I'll walk with you."

Shiozaki Ibara. Quirk? Vines—self-explanatory. She attacks with the vines on her head.

I nodded as she walked out with me. Her thorny vines were useful in paving a way through the crowd of upperclassman nosy about the Guardian of 1-B.

"Deku-kun, how is training going for you?"

I slowed down to a stop to see a trio coming up the stairs, among them was the green-haired boy named Midoriya.

Is his name Deku? Midoriya Deku? Maybe it's Deku Midoriya.

I wasn't paying much mind to their conversation as I turned on my heel and caught up to a confused Shiozaki.

"What's this about?" I asked, shifting uncomfortably in my seat on the sofa across from All Might and Recovery Girl. My uncle sat in a recliner to the side.

"It's time we let you in on All Might's secret," my uncle explained.

It was to be expected that I would learn what was going on with All Might. This was to avoid any unnecessary attention if I had to treat him while Recovery Girl was away.

"Why can't we just regrow the missing organs or do a transplant?" I asked.

"It's not that simple, Asano-chan…," Recovery Girl explained.

"So…there really is nothing that can be done…?" I stared hard at the floor.

What was the point in having a recovery quirk if you couldn't heal those who needed it most?

"Don't be sad," the scrawny All Might said. "I'll feel bad if you cried for someone like me."

I laughed half-heartedly. "I used to watch you on TV growing up so it feels strange to think that…that one day…"

"How about we have some tea?" my uncle suggested before I could find the proper words to finish my thought.

It's only a matter of time before someone kills him or he dies off himself~

How could you be so heartless?

It helps not having one.

You don't have a heart?

Who knows? Hey, why haven't you told anyone you're going crazy? Afraid of being sent to an insane asylum?

No…it's just… I feel like if I tell someone, you'll go away.

Don't you want me to be gone?

Oddly not…

I hadn't heard from the voice since.

Midoriya's POV-

I saw the infirmary girl again today. She was leaning out the window, petting a squirrel with an innocent and oblivious smile.

I should ask her for her name.

"Um," I said tapping her shoulder.

She turned around, her smile unchanging. I felt my heart speed up as I momentarily lost the ability to speak.

"Deku-kun, right?" she asked me.

"…Huh?" I managed to breathe out.

"Isn't your name Deku? I overheard a girl calling you that and All Might calls you Young Midoriya…so your name has to be some sort of combination of the two…."

She must have heard Uraraka-san calling me Deku.

"My name is Izuku not Deku."

"Izuku…," she repeated, causing my face to heat up. "Sorry!" I never saw this nervous side of her before. I thought she was focused and mature in the infirmary. "We never properly introduced ourselves. I'm a bit embarrassed since I've seen your chart and even filled it out before."

"I-It's fine. Let's just start over."

I scratched the back of my head as she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Midoriya Izuku." I reached out my hand to her.

She smiled and slipped her hand into mine. "Asano Haruka. It's a pleasure to officially meet you Midoriya-kun."

So that's her name…

"It's really pretty," I said aloud.

"What's really pretty?"

I felt myself turn to stone after realizing my mistake. I quickly looked away from her, trying to find the words to save me from this situation. "I-It's just a really nice day out! Fresh air is really important you know. We're lucky to not be in a big city. Did you see the cherry blossoms? They're really blooming this year, huh?"

She looked taken aback by me. I thought I had scared her off by my ramblings.

I looked down at the ground afraid that she would think I was weird, but I was worried for nothing.

My ears were blessed with the pleasant sound of a soft chuckle. "Midoriya-kun, you're right. The cherry blossoms seem to be even better than last year." She smiled at me as if trying to communicate that she understood what I really meant.

I scratched the back of my head again as my brain was turning to mush. I was positive my face was as red as my tie.

"I should head back to the nurse's office. I'm going to shadow a surgery today before I give it a go."

"Alright… Wait! Are you old enough to be performing surgery?!"

She put a finger to her bottom lip in thought. "Society nowadays is really different from back then. If things go as planned I can take the board exam and get a medical license after my third year at U.A."

"Sounds hard…"

"It does, doesn't it?" She turned to leave as she waved over her shoulder. "Bye bye."

"B-Bye As-"

"Midoriya-kun?" she stopped to look back at me over her shoulder.

"Y…Yes?"

"I think your name is really pretty too."

It felt as if an arrow was shot into my heart as I became left alone with my thoughts.

She knew!

Haru's POV-

Why am I like this?

I was crouching on the floor in the infirmary, retaking my temperature for the tenth time already only to see I still didn't have a fever.

It's not hot outside and I don't have a sunburn…could this be a rash?

"Asano-chan, what are you doing?" Recovery Girl asked, appearing by my side. I yelped and fell back in surprise. She stared at my face for a moment before she broke into a full smile. "Go take a breather out the window."

I did as she asked and leaned my head out.

Was I drugged or something? I wonder if Midoriya-kun saw it…his face was red too…

I shook my head and took in a deep breathe.

No…I didn't feel my face heat up until I turned back…but…

I put a hand over my heart.

Why did my heart start to race all of a sudden when he said my name was pretty?

"Are you ready for our trip to the hospital?" Recovery Girl asked me.

I took one last breath, pushing my foolish thoughts to the back of my head. I needed to go into this shadowing with a clear head or else I'll be just as useless as before when Midoriya was rushed here.