Summary -

Yoshiho Koatsu was supposed to be the girl born with everything. A wealthy heritage, parents who would stick by her no matter what, and ties to the hero world that she'd always dreamed of.

But throw an unexpected quirk into the mix, and nothing would go the way she'd hoped.

...

A/N: I was really about to write "but everything changed [when the fire nation attacked-]" for the last sentence of the summary shgkgfkfkdjf

since I never really gave the full extent of Yoshiho's past in the main story, it's going here.

Told from her perspective.

It is HIGHLY recommended you read this in between Chapters 47 (The Girls of Shiketsu and UA) and 48 (A New Friend)! This one-shot ends with a scene taking place in between the two, so I suggest you read this after Chapter 47 but before Chapter 48.

!️!TRIGGER WARNING!: Elements of abuse and bullying. If you are sensitive to these topics, please proceed with caution. Read at your own risk.

Art (I suggest checking it after reading the story) - Add /21qjp8ly67nx to the DeviantArt Stash URL.

Yoshiho ran across the grass, the light breeze making her skirt flutter.

She was in the Koatsu estate's meadow, playing out in the field while her mother was seated at a table on the patio. She was chatting on the phone with a friend, having a cup of tea.

The little girl plopped onto the ground by the rose garden, picking up a stray flower. She flopped back to lay on the grass, holding the rose up as the petals flitted slightly from the wind. Yoshiho's eyes caught sight of the teal markings lining her wrist, her lips pursing in a pout.

Her mother had told her those markings likely had something to do with her quirk.

If only she could know what it was.

Yoshiho was already four years old, the latest time someone could receive their quirk.

And it still hadn't manifested yet.

A harsher breeze blew by, catching Yoshiho by surprise as the rose was snatched from her hand.

Yoshiho sprang up from the ground, crying out as she reached for the flower. Her blue eyes widened as her wrist markings glowed, morphing so they circled her wrist completely, like a tattooed bracelet. The rose suddenly changed direction, pulling back straight for her hand. Yoshiho closed her hands around the stem as the breeze finally settled, staring at her wrist markings in awe.

They'd returned to their previous state, where they lined her wrist on each side. Yoshiho traced her fingers tenderly over the teal color, feeling herself smile.

She'd gotten it.

She'd gotten her quirk!

…

Yoshiho had decided to mess around with her new power for a little while, playing with the rose. She'd found she could pull it to herself relatively quickly, and even discovered she could push it away.

Yoshiho held the rose out in front of her again, closing her eyes in concentration. Her eyebrows furrowed as she felt her markings glow again, before she opened her eyes and yelled, "Fly away!"

The flower shot itself from her hands several meters away, which made Yoshiho squeal in excitement. She was practically bouncing in her shoes. Yoshiho suddenly paused, her attention shifting to her feet.

Her ankles had the same markings as her wrists.

And if the markings were related to her quirk, then did that mean…

Yoshiho scrunched her eyes shut, holding her breath.

She waited for several seconds, the anticipation practically suffocating until she felt herself lift into the air slightly. Yoshiho exclaimed in surprise, seeing her feet had left the ground. The markings on her ankles suddenly dimmed, making her fall back to the grass.

"Ow."

Yoshiho sat up, scratching the back of her head gingerly.

My hands are easier to use…

Yoshiho shook her head, springing up from the ground with purpose.

She broke into a run for the patio, her voice echoing through the meadow.

…

"...Mom!"

Fuuka Koatsu placed her teacup down gently, seeing her daughter making her way over. She wore a soft smile on her face, patting Yoshiho's dark auburn hair once she'd approached. "Yes, my darling?"

Yoshiho grinned, holding up a single rose. "I got my quirk."

Fuuka's blue eyes widened, gasping in surprise. "You did?" She eyed the flower Yoshiho was holding, placing a hand on her heart. "Is it a flower quirk like mine?"

Yoshiho shook her head, her hair waving around. "No. Look!" Yoshiho placed the rose on the ground, then took a few steps back. Her mother watched curiously as Yoshiho closed her eyes, holding her hands out in front of her. The markings on her wrists glowed again, before the rose was pulled from the floor and into her hold.

Fuuka was stunned into silence as Yoshiho cheered, waving the rose around.

"I did it!"

Fuuka stared blankly into her teacup, her daughter's voice sounding far away. It sounded distant, the only thing she could hear clearly being her own erratic thoughts.

What?

Where-?

How…?

"...Mom?"

Fuuka blinked, seeing Yoshiho was staring at her expectantly. She frowned, for only a second, before she smiled and ruffled Yoshiho's hair.

"That's a wonderful quirk, my little lotus," Fuuka said softly. "Quite fit for a hero, wouldn't you say?"

Yoshiho nodded enthusiastically, jumping up and down on her mother's leg. "Yeah! I'm gonna beat those bad guys! I'll push them away with my quirk!" Yoshiho threw some small punches, pretending to fight off villains and making her mother laugh lightly.

Yoshiho stopped, a look of realization on her face. "I gotta show Dad."

Right as she turned to leave, Fuuka suddenly grabbed her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"Hold on, honey."

Yoshiho turned around, staring at her confused.

Fuuka put on a smile, but her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. "Let's not tell your father yet, okay?"

Yoshiho tilted her head to the side, pouting. "Why not?"

Her reply was a pat on the head, her mother brushing some of her hair behind her ear. "Let's keep it a surprise."

Yoshiho puffed her cheeks out, but nodded nonetheless.

"Okay."

…

Yoshiho's mother had told her not to come into her father's office for a little while, telling Yoshiho she needed to have a talk with her father.

Yoshiho did as she was told for as long as she could manage, until curiosity finally got the better of her.

She crept to the closed door, pushing her ear up against it and straining to hear what was going on inside.

Her parents' voices were muffled, but she was just barely able to catch what they were saying.

"...I should have known."

"You're being ridiculous!"

"Am I?! You've been talking with that man for quite some time now, it's obvious!"

"I've told you already, it's not like that! He was my close friend in high school, is it so bad I want to congratulate him on being a hero?!"

"Then why do you continue to talk with him?"

"He's my friend!"

"Then why only now? Why only after he'd become a hero and not the time in between?"

"Because neither of us had the time! He was working his way up to get to where he is, while I was adjusting to life with you!"

"Adjusting, you say? I bet you were enjoying your affair with him while I was swamped with work and inheriting this company! How else would you explain Yoshiho's quirk?!"

"You're being unreasonable! There's no affair! Her quirk is nothing like his!"

"Then where did it come from?!"

"I don't know! That's why I came to you!"

"You know for a fact there's no way anyone in this family could manifest a quirk like that. That means it had to have been you. If it wasn't with him, then it was with someone else."

"It wasn't! It's only ever been you, and only you! Why don't you believe me?!"

"There is no other explanation. I should've known you only married me for the money-"

Yoshiho paused at the sound of a slap. She covered her mouth so as not to make any sound, the room on the other side of the door eerily silent for several long moments.

She heard her mother gasp, Yoshiho staring at the wood of the door.

"...I'm so sorry. I- I don't know what-"

"Get out."

"Wait- I didn't mean to-"

"Get. Out. Now."

And that was Yoshiho's cue to leave. She sprang up from the floor, running down the hallway and up the large staircase to her room as she faintly heard the door to her father's office open. Yoshiho burst into her bedroom, flopping onto her bed and pulling the covers over herself.

She could only pray she hadn't been caught.

But an unsettling feeling had rested itself into the pit of her stomach.

…

"Come on hon, it will only sting a little."

Yoshiho cradled her hand into her chest, eyeing the needle and leaning back. "I don't want it to sting."

The doctor sighed, holding her hand out. "This will be quick, hon, please. I promise it won't be that bad."

"I don't want to. Why do I even have to-"

"Yoshiho."

Yoshiho went quiet, seeing her father was staring down at her. "It's so we can understand your quirk," he said, his voice flat. "You want to register it, don't you?"

Yoshiho faltered, staring at the doctor's outstretched hand warily. She hesitated for a moment, before finally holding her arm out. "Yes."

…

Yoshiho swung her legs in her chair, sipping on a juice box as her parents talked with a doctor not too far away.

She could hardly understand all the big words they were saying.

"...The lab results are back. There's no need to worry, sir, really. She is your guys' daughter, 100 percent.

"How can you explain her quirk, then? I don't think plant-related and measurement quirks can result in gravity."

"Sir, you have to understand. This looks like a case of a random genetic mutation. It's rare, but there have been instances of it happening before."

"So you're saying it just came out of nowhere."

"That's correct. I suspect this kind of thing will become even more common as quirks become more complex."

Yoshiho heard her father sigh, continuing to sip on her juice box absentmindedly.

"All right then. Thank you for your time."

…

Yoshiho was taken to several other doctors, going through the same procedure of sampling her blood each time.

When she asked her father why they kept doing it, each time he'd answer, "It's about your quirk."

Yoshiho didn't understand.

She thought he would have been happier about hers finally manifesting.

But all he seemed to have done was brush it off.

She didn't get it.

…

Yoshiho watched as All Might laughed wholeheartedly, clutching her pillow.

The Symbol of Peace…

He held up a peace sign at the camera, his bright smile leaving her in awe.

I want to be like him.

Her parents were out in the kitchen talking again, and Yoshiho tried her hardest to ignore their loud shouts and focus on the TV.

Today would be her first day at school.

Her parents had told her it was time she met some other kids, not to mention she would also be able to receive proper quirk counseling.

Yoshiho held her wrists up, admiring the markings as she heard All Might talk with the newscaster.

Her mother had told her her quirk had been registered as "Trajectory".

When Yoshiho asked what that meant, her mother simply said she could push things away or pull things to herself.

Yoshiho was confused, though, on why it was so different from her parents' quirks. She'd heard before that you'd inherit one or the other or a mix of both.

She'd asked her mother about that too, and all she'd been told was that her quirk was special, that it was a sign telling her to be a hero.

And Yoshiho was all for it.

Yoshiho was out in the meadow again, messing around with her quirk. She'd set some cardboard boxes out on the grass, standing a distance away and trying to blast them as a sort of target practice.

She'd just managed to topple one over when she heard her father's voice calling her.

Yoshiho made her way to the patio, seeing her father was standing by the door, holding his hands behind his back in that formal way he always did.

"Yes, Father?"

He turned to head inside, gesturing for her to follow. "Come with me."

She followed him to the living room, the two sitting across from each other at the table. Yoshiho watched curiously as her father sighed, the man clasping his hands together on the tabletop.

"What is it…?"

"You're already seven."

Yoshiho tilted her head to the side, bewildered. "Yeah…?"

Her father stared down at her stonily, his dark teal eyes boring into her. "I thought it was about time you started learning how to run a company."

"Eh? How come?"

"I want you to take over the Koatsu Support Company once you're older, and now is the best time for you to start learning how."

Yoshiho blinked at him, leaning over the table. "So you want me to do that while being a hero?"

It was an innocent question, one a child wouldn't understand the full extent of. So Yoshiho only felt confused when she saw her father sigh in exasperation.

"You can't do both."

"Sure I can!" Yoshiho clenched her fist, staring at her wrist. "You're the boss, right? So you're just telling people what to do…! That's easy, and then with my quirk, I can stop all those villains."

Her father shook his head, looking displeased. "It's not easy. That's why it's about time you learn."

He got up from the table, pushing his chair in. "Running a company is much better than being a hero, in my opinion."

"But…"

Her father held a hand up, making Yoshiho quiet.

"Tomorrow your lessons in business will start. You ought to let go of that idealistic dream of yours, before you waste anymore of your time."

Yoshiho opened her mouth to protest, her voice on the tip of her tongue before her father turned away, leaving the room.

Yoshiho leaned back in her seat, staring at her hands.

Then, I have to choose…?

…

"Mother, I don't want to take over the company."

The brush running through Yoshiho's hair froze.

"You what?"

Yoshiho turned around, pouting at her mother. "Father's business lessons are boring. I'd rather beat villains than do all that stuff."

Yoshiho watched as her mother sighed, putting the brush down. Fuuka placed her fingers on her temples, shaking her head.

"I told him not to…" she heard her mumble.

"Huh?"

Fuuka patted her head, rustling Yoshiho's long hair. "Don't worry about it, lotus. I'll talk to him about it. You just keep working on being a hero, okay?"

"Okay."

…

The arguing started becoming more frequent.

Yoshiho always found solace in the meadow, the expansive field with its soothing floral scents being a good distraction from the constant yelling she'd hear.

She tried her best not to pry into her parents' fights, but she couldn't help it if she happened to catch whatever they were saying.

"She's a child!"

"What's wrong with her learning about business? She's going to inherit this company, and she may as well start learning now! My father started teaching me when I was even younger than her!"

"She's not you! She has the freedom to be what she wants, and if she wants to be a hero, that's her decision!"

Yoshiho shook her head, trying to dispel the last argument she'd overheard from her mind.

Although her father wanted her to take over the Koatsu Support Company, and was currently trying to teach her the basics of how to run it, her mother was supportive of her dream to be a hero. Fuuka had even gotten her some training gear, despite the fact Yoshiho was only eight.

Yoshiho took a deep breath, breaking out into a run for the springboard several meters away. She jumped onto it quickly, the board launching her into the air slightly. Yoshiho squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath as she felt her quirk activate.

She felt the wind blow through her hair, Yoshiho cracking an eye open to see her quirk had launched higher into the air. She flinched at the height, before gravity began pulling her back down to earth. Yoshiho yelped, shooting a gravity pulse from her hand that shot her back up into the air. Her body made a complete flip, the world rotating in her vision it nearly made her dizzy. She toppled onto the ground, her body rolling along the grass harshly.

Yoshiho rolled over so she was laying on her back, groaning as she cradled her shoulder in pain.

She stared at the sky, watching aimlessly as the clouds floated by.

Her parents had been fighting a lot lately.

The shows she watched on TV and the stories she read in books had shown her something different. They'd shown her families with parents who loved each other very much, who she saw rarely argue, rarely fight.

Maybe hers was just different.

Just like her quirk.

After all, the families she saw didn't have an entire support item company under their belt, so it made sense, right…?

But it didn't feel like that was how it should be.

Yoshiho had asked her mother about it one time.

…

"Mother," Yoshiho hummed, poking her food with her fork. "Why are you and Father always yelling at each other?"

She didn't notice the way Fuuka flinched, the young girl still absentmindedly messing with her dinner.

Her mother took a sip of her wine, looking away. "It's nothing you need to worry over, darling."

"But you're always fighting," Yoshiho said, pushing the topic. She couldn't keep her curiosity to herself much longer. "I thought you guys were in love. Do… do people in love always fight like you guys do…?" She suddenly sprang up from her seat, looking scared. "Or do you guys not love each other anymore?!"

Yoshiho saw her mother's eyes widen, watching as the woman brushed some of her auburn hair behind her ear as she sipped more of her wine.

"...We still love each other," she mumbled into her glass.

"Then why do you always fight…?"

Fuuka sighed, setting her wine glass down gently. "We don't… always fight. We've just… been disagreeing on things lately."

Yoshiho sank back into her seat, her eyebrows furrowed in worry. "But you'll make up soon, right…?"

Fuuka smiled gently at her, ruffling her daughter's hair. "...Right. So there's no need to worry your pretty little head over it."

The fighting didn't stop.

Shrill voices, slammed doors. Yoshiho was used to it by now.

It was practically routine at this point.

Yoshiho had gotten accustomed to simply blocking it out.

She never mentioned it whenever she had lessons with her father. She'd just nod along as he droned on and on, trying to understand what he was teaching her.

Although she didn't really want to learn this stuff, it wasn't like she really had a choice in the matter. She just had to go along with it whether she liked it or not.

Her lessons took up a lot of her time.

Learning for hours on end, sometimes even tagging along with her father to the main office building. He'd shown her around the department workshops a few times, and although Yoshiho had thought all the inventions and gadgets were cool, she wanted to be out there using them, not creating and managing and selling them. That wasn't where her interests lied.

And she told him that.

Yoshiho remembered seeing her father's face turn red, his face contorted in annoyance before he sighed and shook his head.

"That damn woman…" he had said.

Yoshiho had only stared at him confused, tilting her head to the side.

"I told you to let go of that naive dream of yours," he had told her. "Your mother has been enabling you to continue chasing after it and that needs to stop. Do you understand?"

"…Yes, Father."

…

Despite his wishes, though, Yoshiho continued doing it.

Lessons with her father. Training her quirk. That was all she ever had the time for now.

She rarely hung out with friends from school.

For one thing, kids always asked her about how much money she had or how rich she was, questions Yoshiho didn't know how to answer.

Her father had told her once he would've liked to give her a private tutor instead, had it not been for the fact she needed quirk counseling and needed to learn how to use her quirk responsibly around other children. So public school it was.

The few times she'd asked if she could bring a friend over, or visit another friend's house, her father said no.

"You don't have the time for that," he told her.

So she was cooped up at home, either doing lessons or training her quirk.

Her father was unhappy she was still doing the latter option.

But, well, her mother had told her to keep working at it, didn't she?

And the arguing persisted.

If she wasn't allowed to hang out with friends, what else could she do to avoid prying into her parents' fights? Training out in the meadow made her feel safe, not having to listen to their loud voices and simply getting lost in using her quirk. She'd actually made a lot of progress in using it for the past year.

…

Her mother had been drinking a lot of wine lately.

She always seemed out of it, her eyes hazy with the scent of alcohol wafting around her. Yoshiho would often see her asleep all around the house, an empty bottle almost guaranteed to be nearby.

She'd stumble through her words when she talked with Yoshiho, often hiccing with her cheeks flushed.

Yoshiho never said anything about it.

She never said anything about it when she'd hold her mother's hair back, silent as her mother threw up into the toilet.

She never said anything when her mother would yell in her drunken stupor.

…

"Mother," Yoshiho whispered, stepping forward tentatively. She was clutching a magazine, eyeing the woman who was bent over the table warily. She was mumbling to herself, her throat hoarse as she clutched her glass of alcohol.

"He never listens… why am I still even trying…"

Yoshiho patted her shoulder gently, causing Fuuka to crane her neck to look at her. Yoshiho held up the magazine, a small smile on her face.

"Look, Mother," she said softly. "All Might's in an article about support items."

"Huh…?"

Yoshiho pointed at one of the paragraphs, at a specific line. "Here. It says 'Koatsu'. All Might's using one of Father's-!"

Fuuka suddenly threw her glass, the cup whizzing by Yoshiho's face with its loud shatter against the wall making Yoshiho flinch.

"DON'T MENTION THAT MAN IN FRONT OF ME, YOU STUPID CHILD!"

Yoshiho's eyes were wide with shock, looking like a deer in headlights as her mother's face was contorted in anger.

Fuuka suddenly paused, her expression shifting into one of shame and sadness.

"Oh no…" She moved off her chair, getting onto her knees on the floor as she pulled Yoshiho into her arms. The magazine dropped to the floor, Yoshiho frozen in place as she felt her mother's tears soak into her shirt. "I'm so sorry, lotus," her mother sobbed, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean to scare you, I didn't mean to yell at you, I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

As she listened to her mother cry, Yoshiho didn't move. She didn't lift her arms to comfort her, her hands frozen at her sides.

For the first time, Yoshiho was scared.

Scared of what her mother would do. Scared of what she might do to her.

It seemed as if the fighting was getting worse.

Yoshiho didn't know what to do. She didn't know.

She didn't know how to get her father to stop acting so cold and cross, didn't know how to stop her mother from smelling like wine.

She didn't know how to get them to talk to each other without them getting into a screaming match. It was as if that was the only way they knew how to communicate now.

Her eleventh birthday was the most tense it had ever been.

Yoshiho had turned down her father's offer of holding another grand party for her, just wanting to spend it with her parents.

Since it was her birthday, maybe they'd finally make up. Maybe they'd put aside their differences, stop the fighting, talk to each other again.

Yoshiho could only hope.

Of course, that hope was short-lived. Yoshiho had asked if they could go to a heroes convention together as a family, but the tension she felt as she sat between her parents in the limo was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Her father was pointedly looking away, out the window with a disinterested look on his face. Her mother, on the other hand, was sleeping, her soft snores being the only sound in the car and her breath smelling of alcohol.

Yoshiho bunched up her skirt in her hands, her eyebrows furrowing.

She didn't want to be here anymore.

…

Yoshiho almost wanted to sigh in relief once they'd arrived.

Her father had went off on his own, telling her and her mother he had to prepare for a presentation he was going to give on the latest support items by the company. Yoshiho had watched sadly as he left, hurt that he would rather spend her own birthday working than with her.

She couldn't help it, she supposed. Every time a party was hosted for her birthday, he'd spend it speaking with business partners or investors.

Yoshiho supposed she had never really realized it since she was younger back then.

She sighed, putting down the latest hero merch she was checking out. Her mother was in the bathroom (Yoshiho prayed it wasn't because she needed to puke again), telling Yoshiho not to leave the kiosk she was currently at.

And Yoshiho tried to heed her words. At least, until she heard crying nearby.

She turned away from the display, seeing some kids were running down the hall in her direction, waving around an All Might figurine. One of them was a bit behind, stumbling as he tried to chase after the other two with tears streaming down his face.

"Give it back! Please!"

"No way!" one of the older kids laughed, waving the figurine around. "I've been wanting one of these forever, might as well get it for free!"

His companion laughed along with him, making Yoshiho narrow her eyes in annoyance.

She was in one of the more secluded areas, and that meant there weren't many people around. Which, honestly, was a little surprising, given this was hero convention and all. But never mind that.

Yoshiho couldn't just stand and watch.

She left the kiosk, stepping out into the hall. Yoshiho took a deep breath, holding her hand up as her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. The markings on her arm glowed, morphing to wrap around her wrist as she activated her quirk. She pointed her hand at the figurine, holding her breath.

The boy's arm was suddenly moved toward her direction, losing his grasp on the toy as Yoshiho pulled it towards herself. She fumbled to catch it, making her way over to the crying child and holding the All Might toy out to him.

"Here."

The boy sniffled, wiping his tears away as he had a wobbly smile on his face. "Thank you… thank you!"

"Hey!"

Yoshiho turned around, her eyes narrowing at the two boys who were staring down at her.

"Can I help you?"

One of the boys clicked his tongue, looming over her with his taller height. "Stay out of other people's business, you stupid girl! I got that figure fair and square!"

Yoshiho placed her hands on her hips, glaring back. "Really? I thought stealing is against the law. If anything," Yoshiho gestured behind her, at the boy who was clutching his figurine, "he's the one who got it fair and square, he paid for it!"

The boy's companion stepped forward, grabbing Yoshiho by her denim jacket. "My friend saw it on the floor! Finders, keepers, you little shrimp!"

"That's because I dropped it…!" the boy behind her tried to protest, turning the older kids' attention back to him.

"You little-!"

One of the boys lunged at him, with the intent to snatch the All Might figurine. Yoshiho pushed the boy that was holding her away, holding her hand out to stop the other one. Her quirk activated, a gravity pulse shooting from her hand and sending the boy tumbling to the floor.

They all stared at her in shock, the boy slowly getting up from the ground.

"I'm gonna get you for that."

Yoshiho didn't back down, holding her arm out to defend the crying boy. "You leave us alone!"

The bully's friend suddenly yanked her long hair, making Yoshiho yelp. Yoshiho kicked him in the shin, causing him to cry out in pain.

It was all a blur.

The two bullies ganged up on her, using their quirks. There was a lot of pulling, shoving, kicking, punching, Yoshiho could barely keep track. One of them had a quirk that allowed them to turn their skin into stone, clocking Yoshiho in the face and leaving her with a number of scratches.

Their loud yells and screams were causing a commotion, drawing attention to the group of kids. After a full minute of fighting, some adults finally stepped in, pulling them apart. Yoshiho flailed against the adult's grip, panting hard as she glared at the bullies.

"You stupid girl!" one of the bullies whined, struggling in the adult's arms. "This is all your fault!"

"My fault?!" Yoshiho shot back. "You're the one that stole his toy!"

"Nuh uh! Finders keepers, shrimp!"

Yoshiho growled, shooting a gravity pulse from her foot. Her haste caused her to miss, the pulse hitting one of the kiosks and scattering all its contents. There were loud crashes as things fell to the floor, papers scattering and fluttering about.

"Hey!" the kiosk clerk cried, scowling at her. "Look what you did, you brat!"

"YOSHIHO!"

Yoshiho froze, halting her struggling.

She knew that voice.

Fuuka came storming down the hall, her heels clacking against the tile. The adult's grip on Yoshiho finally loosened as she approached, a dark look on her face.

"I told you not to leave your spot!" Fuuka glowered, crossing her arms.

"Ma'am, is this your daughter?" one of the adults asked.

"Yes, she's…" Fuuka paused, looking around to take in the scene before her. One of the kiosks was in disarray, and Yoshiho was a complete mess, her clothes tattered while her face was covered in various scratches. Some blood was even running down her cheek. Two of the other kids were still in the adults' hold, not looking much better themselves, while a child was standing to the side, tears staining his cheeks.

"Yoshiho," Fuuka muttered, her mouth in a deep frown, "what did you do?"

…

Yoshiho followed her mother silently towards the exit, suppressing the urge to wipe her face and get more blood on her sleeve. As they approached the doors, Yoshiho heard a voice that sounded familiar.

"Wait! Nee-san, wait!"

Yoshiho stopped, turning around to find the child she'd defended was running towards her. He stopped in front of her, looking sheepish.

"I just, um…" The younger boy sniffled, shaking his head. "I just wanted to say… thank you for earlier!" He gripped his All Might toy in his hands, staring at it. "I dunno what I would've done if I hadn't gotten this back. Papa would've gotten mad I lost it."

Yoshiho tried to smile, wincing because of the scratches on her face. "Don't mention it."

The boy shook his head again, flashing her a bright smile this time. "No really, thank you! You really saved me! Actually…"

He turned to rummage around for something in his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He held it out to her, Yoshiho taking it gingerly.

"I rushed to draw it," the child explained, clutching his toy, "and I was looking for you all over!"

Before Yoshiho could unfold it, her mother's voice interrupted them.

"Yoshiho. Let's go."

Yoshiho fumbled, hastily shoving the paper into her jacket pocket. She patted the child's head, giving him a small smile. "Thank you," she said softly. "I'll look at it later, but I'll definitely treasure it."

The child beamed at her, waving her goodbye as she hurried to follow her mother outside.

Yoshiho felt her mood dwindle quickly as they approached the limo, seeing her father was waiting by it with his hands in his pockets. She flinched as her father's gaze shifted to her, taking in her unkempt appearance.

"I didn't want to believe it," he sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "That stunt you pulled is such an embarrassment I had to have my personal assistant take over the presentation."

Yoshiho looked down at her shoes in shame, gripping the fabric of her skirt.

"I'm sorry, Father."

"Sorry won't take back your ridiculous actions," her father said coldly. He pulled the car door open, her mother climbing inside. "Come on. We're leaving."

…

Yoshiho sat in between her parents on the way home, staring at her lap. She felt ashamed, ashamed she'd made such a scene, ashamed she'd caused them so much trouble.

And on her own birthday too.

The young boy suddenly flashed in Yoshiho's mind, making her realize she still hadn't seen what he had given her. She reached into her jacket pocket, pulling the folded piece of paper out.

She opened it slowly, her eyes widening.

Although it was drawn in a rush and was an 8-year-old's scribbles, Yoshiho could tell the drawing was a picture of her. She was standing in a confident pose, her hands on her hips with a bright smile on her face that reminded her of All Might. At the bottom, the words "My hero!" were underlined at the bottom in green colored pencil.

The sight made her heart soar.

This was why she wanted to be a hero.

To be able to save other people, bring them hope, bring back the smiles on their faces. To soothe their worries, stop their pain. To be there for them.

"Father," Yoshiho mumbled. Her father didn't say anything in response, only blankly staring out the window as the scenery passed by.

Yoshiho clutched the drawing, the paper crinkling slightly. "If I have to choose between your company and being a hero…

I'm definitely going to be a hero."

Both her parents' breath caught, though Yoshiho didn't notice.

The ride back home was silent.

…

Yoshiho winced as the maid wiped her cheek, the rubbing alcohol stinging her skin.

Her father had told her to go to her room and get herself cleaned up as soon as they'd returned, telling Yoshiho he needed to talk with her mother.

All Yoshiho felt was worry.

She shouldn't have done that. She shouldn't have gotten involved.

But… that's not what a hero would do, would it?

Yoshiho was torn, torn between whether she really did the right thing.

She wanted to feel proud she was someone else's hero, but after her father had told her he was going to have a "talk" with her mother, she couldn't.

It felt as if this was the breaking point.

The maid placed one last band-aid across her nose before the door to her room slammed open, Fuuka standing in the doorway.

"Yoshiho."

Her mother was panting, her voice hoarse as if she'd just finished screaming with a stormy look in her eyes.

"Pack up your things. We're leaving."

…

The new apartment they moved into was small. Yoshiho didn't like how cramped it felt.

She rolled the last of her boxes into her new room, sighing as she placed them on the floor. Yoshiho frowned, wiping her brow as she took in the small space.

It had been a week since her birthday.

The moment her mother had told her they were leaving, she knew exactly what that meant.

Her parents didn't love each other anymore.

Yoshiho shook her head, staring at the room.

She'd been denying it long enough.

They haven't loved each other for a long, long time.

She'd been trying to lie to herself, trying to keep up the facade her family wasn't falling apart. But Yoshiho wasn't dumb.

It just took their separation for her to finally accept it.

Her father hadn't even said goodbye. They just shoved whatever they could pack in a week into the trunk of a taxi, and it was goodbye Tokyo, hello Musutafu.

Yoshiho pulled open one of the boxes, beginning to unpack.

At least she'd been able to bring her training gear.

…

The teacher placed a hand on her back comfortingly as Yoshiho stood before the class.

"Go ahead and introduce yourself."

"Um…" Yoshiho gulped, gripping her shorts. "My name is… Yoshiho Koatsu…" She bent over in a bow, not noticing some kids' eyes had widened. "Nice to meet you."

…

Yoshiho had been going to her new school for two weeks now. She hadn't really made any friends. At least, not yet.

She knew good and well kids had made the link between her name and the support company; it wasn't like it was easy to ignore.

But it seemed as if there were more stares, more whispers than usual today.

Yoshiho gripped her mop as she trudged down the hall, letting her long hair fall to cover half her face. She could see some kids pointing at her, some of them smirking while others whispered in their friends' ears.

This was unusual.

She knew kids would whisper to each other here and there, wondering if she really was who they thought she was.

But this time it seemed as if everyone was doing it.

Yoshiho finally sighed in relief once she'd made it to the back of the school, away from everyone's stares as she placed the bucket into the sink.

She gripped the faucet handle, about to turn it on before a bright red magazine in the sink caught her eye.

Yoshiho's eyes widened, seeing an old press photo of her family on the cover.

"The Koatsu Family's Big Breakup!"

Yoshiho felt as if the breath had been stolen from her lungs, picking up the magazine gingerly. She flipped through it slowly, stopping on the page she was looking for.

It was a two-page spread, one having a picture someone had managed to take of her fight back at the convention, while the other had a large photo of her father filling the entire page, small headshots of her and her mother in the corner.

"Koatsu family's daughter gets into a fight at heroes convention!" the magazine read. "Initiated a violent fight between two other children, caused damage to many convention kiosks!"

Yoshiho's grip tightened on the magazine, repulsed at the lies and exaggeration. She didn't start the fight. She didn't destroy a lot of the kiosks, she only messed up one! And it wasn't even that bad, some stuff just fell to the floor!

Her eyes shifted to the second page, the title in bold yellow making her falter.

"Koatsu Support Company's CEO finally speaks on his divorce!"

Yoshiho skimmed over the page, reading bits of "conflicts with wife" and "disagreements over daughter". There was even a section about how the divorce process had been taking place over the past few months, completely unbeknownst to her.

But Yoshiho paused when she saw her name.

"Speaking of his daughter, we had to ask him, what will he do now that Yoshiho's under her mother's custody? Here's what he had to say:

'She's no daughter of mine.'

'That's quite cold, Koatsu-san!'

'I stand by what I said. She came from whatever man my ex-wife had an affair with. We may be family under law, but not by blood.

It's a shame, really. She's smart, and I would've liked her to take over the company once I retire. But she wasn't interested. In fact, I don't think she ever listened to any of the lessons I taught her. She never listened to me or heeded my words. It's an undesirable trait she picked up from her mother, honestly.'"

The page turned blurry, tears splattering across the glossy paper. Yoshiho dropped to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.

She thought… she thought…

Yoshiho covered her mouth, trying to hold back a sob.

Whatever she thought…

She was wrong.

…

Yoshiho trudged down the hallway to her class the next day, feeling people's stares as she slid open the door. She paused, seeing some of her classmates were smirking or chuckling at her. Yoshiho let her hair fall to cover her face, making her way to her seat. She stopped at the sight of the black ink scribbled across her desk.

Sometimes, the harsh reality is that kids can be cruel.

Things like "nullius filius" and "homewrecker's daughter" were written across the desk in scratchy hiragana, Yoshiho staring at the writing and frozen in place.

"Hey, hey," she heard one of the boys whisper behind her. "Did you know? My brother told me nullius filius means an illegitimate child. That means her parents weren't married when she was born."

"What the heck?" his friend laughed. "That's so weird. But it makes sense though, since her mom's a cheater."

Yoshiho wanted to cry. She wanted to cry, so, so bad.

But she held herself back. Instead, she turned around abruptly, shooting the desks the boys were sitting at with a gravity pulse and making a mess.

They both yelped, tumbling to the floor as desks crashed down around them.

"Hey! What's your problem?!"

Yoshiho was about to retort, before one of the girls covered her mouth, looking sick.

"Watch out, Yuu! She's using her creepy mutated quirk!"

"Stay away from her!" one of the other girls cried, stepping back. "She'll mess you up like she did to those kids at the convention!"

Yoshiho faltered, taking in how her classmates were all glaring at her accusingly, no one wanting to get near her. She lowered her hand, turning around and sitting in her seat silently. She rested her arms on top of the awful handwriting, trying to cover it as best as she could. Yoshiho caught sight of the markings on her wrist, before she moved to cover them with her hands.

Some great quirk she had.

She never made any friends during the two years she was in her new elementary school. Not like she wanted to be friends with people like that.

They didn't understand. They didn't get it. They just saw a chance to make fun of someone else and tried their hardest to rile her up, get a reaction out of her.

But Yoshiho wasn't going to give it to them. She refused to let them believe she was affected by their words.

So instead she blocked them out.

After all, with years spent blocking out the arguments between your parents, it'd only make sense you'd get good at it, right?

So she ignored them. She ignored all of them.

And instead, she focused on continuing to train herself. Training her body, training her quirk.

She was still going to be a hero, after all.

Yoshiho tumbled onto the grass, hissing to herself in pain. She turned to stare at the sky, the scenario feeling somewhat nostalgic.

'She's no daughter of mine.'

Yoshiho scowled, recalling her father. All she felt for him now was resentment.

Yoshiho clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin. All she could wonder was, "Why?"

Why did he say such awful things?

The doctors had all told him she was his daughter. Her mother had told him she never cheated, never had an affair.

Why didn't he believe any of it?

Why did he lie?

Yoshiho had seen them. Seen the stories, seen the articles in magazines. The theorizing, the conspiracies.

The conspiracies about where her quirk came from.

She saw the things they called her, the exact same things her classmates called her at school.

And it was all her father's fault.

It was all because he lied.

Year 1 -

Yoshiho couldn't be more relieved to start middle school. Here, she'd get a fresh start.

She'd be away from the kids who called her such awful things, and maybe finally make some friends. She'd heard a number of her graduating classmates would be heading to Aldera Junior High, and specifically went out of her way to enroll in a school that wasn't near it. Sure, it was a long commute, but it would all be worth it.

Yoshiho stood before Onderon Junior High, gripping the straps of her schoolbag.

Students were milling about around her, paying her no mind.

This was what she wanted.

To not be recognized. To not be well-known.

And maybe then, people wouldn't judge her before they really knew her.

Yoshiho made her way to the main building, feeling her mood lift slightly. It seemed as if things were finally turning around.

Unbeknownst to her, the whispers had already started.

…

"Alright class, each of you stand up and introduce yourselves, one at a time."

Yoshiho felt her stomach drop.

How could she forget?!

Introductions were a given on the first day of school.

As soon as she said her name, they'd know. Everyone would know, and it'd be elementary school all over again!

Yoshiho felt as if she couldn't breathe as her turn got closer and closer, her classmates' voices muffled around her. She stared at her desk blankly, gripping her skirt until someone poked her back. Yoshiho flinched, looking up to see the rest of the class staring at her expectantly. She jumped up from her seat, her voice trembling slightly.

"Uh… I'm- I'm-" Yoshiho squeezed her eyes shut, bending her head down so her hair hid her face. "...Yoshiho Koatsu," she mumbled. "Nice to meet you." She then sank back into her seat, the introductions continuing.

There was nothing she could do now.

All she could hope was that the people at this school were kind.

…

Yoshiho's hope was short-lived.

Maybe coming to a completely new school had been a mistake.

A lot of the kids here had gone to the nearby elementary school together, and thus already had established friend groups. Yoshiho didn't know how to integrate herself into one.

The whispers had already started, too.

The fact that there'd been new paparazzi photos of her father with another woman didn't help matters.

Yoshiho wanted to puke at the thought.

How could he move on so quickly? How could he move on so easily? Were her and her mother that unimportant to him?

Speaking of her mother…

"I'm home," Yoshiho mumbled to the quiet apartment, closing the door softly.

As expected, her mother was passed out on the couch, another empty bottle of alcohol nearby.

This was the norm.

As soon as Fuuka got home from her low-end job, she was almost guaranteed to be passed-out drunk, leaving Yoshiho to do the cooking and cleaning.

The few times she wasn't passed out, she'd be cursing out her ex-husband, among other things. Yoshiho didn't really care to find out what those other things were. She knew her mother was more irritable when she was actually awake, and to avoid getting yelled at, Yoshiho either spent her time in her room or out in the apartment complex's small backyard, training herself and her quirk.

The space was small, but it was something, at least.

Year 2 -

"Kyosu Koatsu announces his engagement!"

Yoshiho scoffed at the sight of the tabloid magazine in the storefront window, flipping her hair and continuing down the street. She stopped at the curb, waiting for the crosswalk light to change.

Her grip tightened on her bag straps as cars passed by, her frown deepening.

She didn't care.

…

People were whispering around her again.

As soon as Yoshiho slid the classroom door open, the class fell silent. She felt people's weary stares as she made her way to her desk, plopping down into her seat in a huff.

The class resumed their morning chatter as she began to sort through her bag, but their voices sounded quieter, more subdued. She could see the people around her leaning in to whisper in their friends' ears, covering their mouths and staring at her.

Yoshiho bit her lip, squashing down the anxiety that was building in her stomach.

She wasn't bothered.

Not at all.

…

"Isn't that her?"

Yoshiho clenched her fist, her nails digging into her skin as she made her way down the hallway.

"Wow, she looks just like that slut."

It doesn't bother me, Yoshiho chanted in her head, keeping her eyes glued to the floor.

"I'm not surprised he wants nothing to do with her. She ignores everyone. She must have been such a pain."

It doesn't bother me.

"I'm glad he's getting remarried. That woman seems much better for him anyway."

It doesn't bother me.

"You think she'll be invited to the wedding?"

It. Doesn't. Bother. Me.

"Yeah, right. She's not even his real daughter."

It doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother me it doesn't bother me it doesn't bother me-

"...She's insignificant trash, just like her mother."

That was where Yoshiho snapped.

Yoshiho let out a guttural scream, swiveling around and tackling the girl who'd called her trash.

They both crashed to the floor, Yoshiho gripping her by her collar. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

"What the hell?!" the girl cried. "Lay off!" Her arm turned to liquid before Yoshiho was suddenly shoved to the floor roughly by water, her uniform drenched.

Yoshiho hissed, trying to blink the water out of her eyes as the girl rose from the floor.

"What the hell's your problem?!" one of her friends scoffed. "Leave her alone, loser!"

Yoshiho glared at them from the floor, seeing the girl flip her hair over her shoulder. "Just ignore her, Natsuko. With how much she ignores everyone else, I wouldn't put it past her not to realize she's picking a fight with a future pro hero."

Her gaze shifted back to Yoshiho, disgust on her face. "Know your place, Koatsu-san. Someone like you, with a mutated quirk like yours, should stay at the bottom where they belong."

Yoshiho lost all control.

She screamed, giving into her anger and shooting a huge gravity pulse, one larger than she ever had before. The girl, along with her friends and some other people surrounding her, were all launched back, tumbling to the ground. Some windows shattered, glass clattering to the floor.

"Hero…?" Yoshiho muttered once her attack had settled, getting up from the floor as water dripped down her hair. "You're going to be a hero, you say…?" She clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, right. Heroes don't call people trash."

The girl got up slowly, glaring back. "Excuse me?"

Yoshiho laughed a little, feeling herself smirk. "Heroes are supposed to inspire people," she muttered. "But with your garbage attitude, I bet the only people you'll inspire are villains."

Some people in the crowd that gathered gasped, whispering amongst themselves.

A dark look appeared in the girl's eyes. "You take that back."

Yoshiho tugged at her collar, pulling away the wet cloth clinging to her body. "Heroes aren't bullies. Bullies are trash, and only trash can recognize other trash."

The girl's face turned bright red, infuriated. She suddenly dashed towards Yoshiho, grabbing her shoulders in an attempt to shove her to the ground. "How dare you-!"

Yoshiho grabbed her arms, taking her down with her to the floor. She yelped as her back hit the floor, but ignored the pain, placing her foot on the girl's stomach and throwing her over her head.

The girl rolled across the tile, her uniform getting scuffed. As Yoshiho tried to pick herself up, the other girl kissed her teeth, springing up from the ground and tackling her.

Insults were thrown around as they pushed, kicked, punched, shoved.

"THE ONLY TRASH HERE IS YOU!"

"BACK OFF, TRAMP! I DON'T NEED TO HEAR THAT FROM THE DAUGHTER OF A WHORE!"

They were both using their quirks, water splashing across the floor, more windows shattered, one of the classroom doors was even blown out of the doorframe, cracks left in the walls.

The girl swung at Yoshiho's face, punching her square in the jaw before Yoshiho elbowed her stomach, uppercutting her in the chin. The girl's arm turned to water again, shooting a hard stream of water directly in Yoshiho's face. Yoshiho fell onto the floor, her clothes sopping wet before she made a kicking motion at the other girl, gravity shooting from her foot.

The girl was pushed back, stumbling as she fell on her butt.

She scowled, cradling her shoulder. "Don't get so arrogant just because your dad runs the Koatsu Support Company! Everyone knows you're not his real daughter, you bitch!"

There was a primal scream as Yoshiho used her quirk to launch herself towards the girl, standing over her in a flash. Yoshiho couldn't form a single coherent thought, completely driven by pure rage as she used her quirk on the other girl.

The strength of her gravity was so strong, so strong the school was rumbling, cracks forming in the floor.

"SHUT UP!" Yoshiho screamed, the cracks getting bigger and bigger, the entire school beginning to shake. "HE'S NOTHING TO ME!"

The girl struggled underneath her, the suffocating pressure making it hard for her to breathe.

"NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING-!"

"ENOUGH!"

Yoshiho was cut off as she felt a rope wrap around her, trapping her arms to her sides as she was pulled away abruptly.

Yoshiho was dragged across the floor, struggling against the rope's hold before she felt her back hit someone's legs.

Yoshiho opened her eyes, looking up to see the school principal looming over her, the rope glowing in his hand from his quirk.

"What is the meaning of all this?"

"It's her…!" the girl cried, scooting back into one of her friend's arms. "She's crazy! She…

She attacked me!"

…

"She's lucky all she's getting is suspension."

Yoshiho bunched up the fabric of her jeans, suppressing the urge to frown because of her swollen cheek.

"If the damage had been any worse, she'd be getting an expulsion. It's a good thing her quirk hadn't actually made a hole in the floor."

"And you're telling me I need to pay for repairs?" her mother asked, her voice flat.

"Yes," Yoshiho's principal nodded gravely. He clasped his hands together on the table, staring at Yoshiho.

"Are you going to tell me why you attacked Sanzumi yet?"

Yoshiho's eyebrows furrowed, her eyes looking away. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I can't fairly give your punishment if you don't talk."

Yoshiho squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. "No."

"Yoshiho."

Yoshiho tensed at her mother's voice, turning to see she was staring at her coldly.

"You are going to tell your principal, and me, why you got into a fight. Now."

"I…" Yoshiho hesitated, recalling the whispers, Sanzumi's words.

"Trash."

"Tramp."

"Slut's daughter."

"Whore's daughter."

"You should stay at the bottom where you belong."

Yoshiho frowned, wincing slightly at the pain in her cheek. "... I can't. I can't say it."

It hurts too much to repeat it.

"Is that so…?" Her principal sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Alright, then. If that's the case, I'm going to have to take Sanzumi's accusations and the witnesses' accounts into consideration about your punishment."

Yoshiho dared a glance at her mother, only to see she was staring at the principal, an icy look in her eyes.

The principal sifted through some papers, looking disinterested. "So you'll have to pay for the repairs needed for the damages to the second floor, Koatsu-san," he started, addressing her mother. He then turned to Yoshiho, pushing a piece of paper towards her. The words "NOTICE OF SUSPENSION" were in bold at the top. "As for you, you're hereby banned from being on school grounds for three weeks, starting next Monday. Once you return, you'll be put on probation for a month. I expect a written apology addressed to both Sanzumi and the school once you return. If I hear you get into a fight of this degree again, you'll be expelled, do you understand?"

Yoshiho stared at the notice in shame, feeling guilt build in her chest.

"Yes, sir."

…

The walk back to the train station was silent.

It felt suffocating.

Yoshiho's mother didn't say a single word to her, not even breathing in her direction on the way back home.

When they'd finally stepped through the front door of their small apartment, Yoshiho finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Mother."

Her mother didn't say anything back, simply sifting through one of the cupboards, pulling out a large bottle of wine.

"Mother."

She pulled out a glass, ignoring Yoshiho as she filled it all the way to the rim with alcohol.

"Mother."

Fuuka pulled the glass to her lips, dipping her head back as she chugged the drink.

"...I'm sorry."

Yoshiho flinched as her mother slammed the glass down on the counter, so hard Yoshiho would have been surprised it didn't shatter if she wasn't worried over what her mother would do right now.

"You're sorry…?" her mother mumbled.

Yoshiho gulped, frozen by the doorway.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Yoshiho saw her mother's grip tighten on the glass, fear building in her stomach.

"We're already just barely scraping by," her mother muttered. "And then you had to go and destroy the school with that destructive quirk of yours."

"I'm sorry, Mother!" Yoshiho stammered, stepping forward slightly. "I didn't mean to-!"

She was cut off as her mother threw her cup, the glass shattering against the door only a foot or two away from Yoshiho.

"It doesn't matter what you meant to do!" her mother screamed, grabbing Yoshiho's shoulders.

Yoshiho suppressed the urge to yelp as she was shoved up against the door, feeling pain in the spots where she'd gotten injured during her fight.

"WE BARELY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AS IT IS!" Fuuka yelled in her face. "AND NOW WE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN GET TO EAT BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"I'm sorry, Mother!" Yoshiho choked out. She could feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry- I- I-!"

"Sorry doesn't cut it," her mother scoffed. "Sorry doesn't excuse your ridiculous actions."

Yoshiho's eyes shone with tears as the image of her father flashed in her mind, when he had said the same thing the last time she'd gotten into a fight.

Yoshiho couldn't take this.

She grabbed the door handle, pushing the door open and stumbling out of her mother's grip.

"Yoshiho!"

Yoshiho turned away from her, sprinting down the stairs as the tears finally fell.

"YOSHIHO!"

She ignored her mother's voice, speeding up as she ran down the street.

Her mother's calls became more distant as Yoshiho got further and further away from the apartment, the sky a dark orange dusk.

She didn't care where she ended up.

All she wanted was to get away.

…

Yoshiho gripped the chains of the swing, a deep frown on her face. She rocked back and forth lightly, the gentle rays of the sunset casting an orange light on her shoes. Yoshiho sighed, placing her fingers on the bandage taped to her left cheek.

"She's insignificant trash, just like her mother."

Yoshiho bit her lip, her eyes downcast as her hand returned to the swing's chain.

She stayed there until nightfall, passing the hours by simply rocking back and forth, staring at her shoes blankly. It wasn't until she heard crickets chirping that Yoshiho finally mustered up the willpower to go home.

She shivered slightly, rubbing her arms as the cool night air nipped at her bare skin. She cradled her shoulder, the pressure of her hand causing a dull pain.

She had already gotten a bruise there from her fight with Sanzumi, and with her mother gripping it tightly as she slammed her against their front door, Yoshiho was certain it wasn't going to heal anytime soon.

Yoshiho crept up the stairs, making her way to their apartment. She gripped the doorknob, trying to turn it only to find out it was locked. Her shoulders sagged, Yoshiho reaching into her jeans pocket.

She was lucky she always kept her house key on her.

Yoshiho opened the front door slowly, careful not to make any noise. The house was dark, awfully silent, the outdoor lights of the building casting her shadow across the floor.

Yoshiho couldn't help the disappointment swelling in her chest.

Her mother had gone straight to bed.

Didn't even bother to look for her.

Yoshiho stepped into the apartment, pausing when she heard a dull cracking noise under her feet. She looked down, seeing the shattered pieces of glass from her mother's cup were still on the floor. Yoshiho sighed, walking into the apartment to grab some cleaning supplies.

Her mother couldn't even make the effort to clean up the mess she'd made.

Year 3 -

"You're all third-years now," Yoshiho's homeroom teacher started, straightening her stack of papers, "which means it's time for all of you to think seriously about your future."

Everyone around Yoshiho erupted into cheers, several of her classmates shooting up from their seats while others let out their quirks, causing a commotion.

"Settle down… Settle down!"

It took Yoshiho's teacher a few tries until the class finally fell back into order, attentive to what she had to say.

She stepped away from the teacher's podium, giving the person at the front of each row a handful of papers to pass back. "I'm handing out your future course survey forms. I know a lot of you are probably all planning to go into the hero course anyway, but just bear with it. It's procedure, alright?"

The class gave a noncommittal "Yes, ma'am," as Yoshiho grabbed the papers from the person in front of her, taking her own sheet before passing the rest back. She clutched the form in her hands, staring at it and biting her lip. She couldn't help the excitement that was starting to build in her chest.

As her teacher continued to talk about the procedures for entering high schools and the preparation for entrance exams, Yoshiho dug a pencil out of her pencil pouch, scribbling some kanji into the first box.

1st Choice: UA High School.

…

Fuuka Koatsu came home to a quiet apartment, sighing to herself as she kicked the door closed behind her. She sighed, brushing her fingers through her hair as she walked into the family room and dropped her bag onto the couch.

A white sheet of paper sitting on the coffee table caught her eye, blue irises shifting to glance at the paper.

Future Course Survey Form.

Fuuka bent over slightly, picking it up and reading through it. Only one box was filled.

Fuuka couldn't help a huff from escaping her lips, dropping the form back onto the table. As she made her way to her bedroom, she paused, glancing out the window that had a view of the apartment complex's backyard.

Yoshiho was standing out on the grass, holding her arm out as a hand weight was pulled to her grasp, the girl grabbing it with ease. Fuuka watched as Yoshiho did a few curls with the weight, before throwing her arm out and launching it away with her quirk.

Fuuka took note of the training gear around her daughter, the whole lot of them looking worn down with age.

…

"Hey, would it kill you to greet me when I come home?"

Yoshiho's head snapped up from her food, her eyes wide. "Huh…?"

Fuuka pushed her food around on her plate, forming a clump before scooping it up with her chopsticks. She shoved it into her mouth, her voice muffled as she spoke. "A simple 'welcome back' would be nice."

Yoshiho gulped, gripping her chopsticks as she looked away. "But… you're usually either working late or you're home before I am… and it's not like you've ever greeted me when I get home…" Yoshiho mumbled that last part under her breath, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "You're almost always passed out drunk," she whispered.

"Hm, is that so?" her mother drawled, oblivious to Yoshiho's mumbles. "Even so, it wouldn't hurt to say it from time to time. Make this place feel like it's actually lived in."

Yoshiho only muttered a quiet "hm" in response, eating her rice as she felt her mother's stare still hadn't left her.

"You know, you should really throw out that old training gear of yours, too. Then you wouldn't be spending so much time in the backyard."

Yoshiho nearly dropped her chopsticks, staring at her mother in disbelief. "...What?"

"They look like they'll fall apart at any moment," her mother scoffed, continuing to eat her food. "Not to mention they take up space. Might as well get rid of them already. It's a waste of time."

Yoshiho gulped, feeling as if something was stuck in her throat that made her struggle to speak. "What… exactly… is a waste of time…?"

Her mother didn't respond right away, only grabbing the bottle of whiskey to refill her empty glass. She swirled the alcohol around in her cup for a moment, before glancing back at Yoshiho. "All that excessive training you do. You could be doing something more productive instead, like cleaning the apartment."

Yoshiho felt a twinge of anger, her hand twitching slightly.

What the fuck was this woman talking about?!

Yoshiho already tried to keep the apartment as clean as she could. Every mess that was made almost always came from her mother, who would rummage through the shelves, pull out books or photo albums, or cause general disarray in her drunken stupor. Hell, there was even a mess of papers around her right now from her looking at a bunch of tabloid magazines!

"I can't take it easy, especially now," Yoshiho grumbled, her hair falling to cover her face. Her hands tightened on her rice bowl and chopsticks, Yoshiho gripping them so hard her fingertips turned white. "...Not if I want to pass the entrance exams. All the excessive training is for a reason, Mother."

Fuuka took a sip of her whiskey, gulping it down as she raised a brow. "Yoshiho…" She pulled the glass away from her lips, squinting at her daughter from across the table.

"Don't tell me you're actually thinking of going to UA."

Yoshiho placed her chopsticks on the table, holding back the urge to slam them onto the surface. "So what if I am?"

Her mother let out a laugh, the alcohol in her cup sloshing around. "Oh, come on. You don't really think you can get in, especially with your reputation, right?"

Yoshiho finally looked up from the table, staring her mother directly in the eye. "Excuse me?"

Fuuka's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone, young lady. I better not be hearing any disrespect."

Yoshiho looked away, trying to squash the anger building in her gut. "I'm sorry," she huffed, slight sarcasm in her tone. "But, explain to me what you meant."

Her mother placed her glass on the table, a hard look in her eyes. "Do you really think you can get in? To a prestigious school like UA?"

"I don't see why not," Yoshiho muttered, looking away as her hands clenched in her lap underneath the table.

"Don't make me laugh." Her mother's tone was sharp, laced with a hint of ire. "There's no way they'd accept someone like you."

Yoshiho slammed her hands on the table, pushing herself up from her seat on the floor. "What is that supposed to mean?!"

Fuuka's glare hardened, staring at Yoshiho from her seat. "Have you really forgotten? An institution like UA won't accept someone who got into not one, but two big fights that were in the news. Especially when one of them could have ended with a destroyed school."

Yoshiho flinched slightly, feelings of stone-like skin hitting her face and water drenching her from head to toe flashing through her mind. Her expression shifted into one of anger, unable to hide it now. "I won't know if I don't try! UA has the best hero course in the country, and I can't just back out now!"

Her mother was wearing a deep frown now, looking unimpressed. "You really think you can be a hero...?" She bent her head down, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Yoshiho stared at her in bewilderment, her eyebrows furrowing before Fuuka suddenly threw her head back, loud laughs filling the silent apartment.

"What the hell?" she cackled, her mouth open in a wide grin. "Hold on, hold on, you're not serious, right? Oh, that's rich!"

Yoshiho felt as if her entire world was crumbling. "Wh… What…?"

"You- you really believe- that you can become a hero!" Yoshiho's mother continued to laugh, and all Yoshiho could do was stare.

Eventually, Yoshiho had had enough. She blasted the dinner she'd made for the two of them off the table in a fury, bowls and plates hitting the floor and making a mess.

Fuuka recoiled at the act, covering her face from the flying food. "Hey!"

Yoshiho breathed bated breaths as she tried to hold her anger in, her hands clenched into fists as her nails dug into her palms.

Fuuka glanced at the spilled food on the carpet, turning back to Yoshiho with a glare. "There you go again with that destructive mutated quirk of yours! What's with you? You better clean that up!"

"Is my dream a joke to you?"

Fuuka fell silent, staring at Yoshiho in confusion. "Huh…?"

"...Why is me wanting to be a hero so funny to you?"

Her mother looked unamused, as if the answer was obvious. "Must I really spell it out for you, lotus?"

Yoshiho's mouth opened slightly, feeling her legs growing weak.

"A girl born with a mutated quirk," her mother said. "Many believe it's not mutated at all, and is instead the result of an affair the ex-wife of a support item multimillionaire had with some other man."

"That's-"

"You've gotten into two fights that made public news, causing damage with your mutated quirk, and earning yourself a violent personality within the media.

To the rest of the world, you'll always be known as the hysterical daughter of a tramp."

Yoshiho was stunned into silence as Fuuka stared at her from her seat on the floor, a small, sick smile on the older woman's face. "You have a reputation that'll follow you to the ends of the earth, lotus. You'll never amount to anything, and you'll end up leading a sorry, pitiful life, just like me."

"That's not true!" Yoshiho snapped. "I'm- I'm not like you! I'll never be like you!"

Fuuka only continued smiling, as if it was her win. "It's quite hard to change the way millions of people perceive you, dear. Best to let go of that ridiculous, unreachable dream of yours, before you make a fool of yourself any longer."

"I-"

"Do you really believe people would want to be saved by someone like you? To be protected by someone who lashes out? Your 'dream' is a waste of time." Fuuka's eyes narrowed, her smile gone. "It's already ruined one life."

Yoshiho's eyes widened, horror showing on her face. "Huh…?"

"Good grief," her mother scoffed, brushing her fingers through her hair. "Haven't you realized it yet?"

No.

Yoshiho's mouth clamped shut, afraid to hear the answer.

This wasn't happening.

"We have nothing. No nice house, no money, no future. All we have left is to rot away in this dirty apartment. And it's all because you kept pushing the silly idea you could play the hero."

Please. Don't say it.

"You and your dream are the reason our family fell apart, Yoshiho."

That was where everything shattered.

"SHUT UP!" Yoshiho screamed. She blasted the short table with her quirk, flipping it over. Her mother shielded her face from the gravitational pulse coming from Yoshiho's palm, getting pushed back slightly.

Yoshiho was breathing heavily as her attack settled, seeing the mess caused by her quirk.

Her mother pulled her arm away from her face, her expression unchanged. "You see?" Fuuka said slowly. "No one wants to be protected by some little girl who can't even control her temper.

You'll never be a hero, dear."

Yoshiho flinched at her mother's harsh words, feeling a burning sensation in her eyes. She gritted her teeth, turning away and making a dash for the front door.

Fuuka watched, remorseless as Yoshiho shoved it open and ran out, slamming it behind her.

…

Yoshiho didn't return until one in the morning.

She had retreated to the park again, collapsing onto the dirt, crying her eyes out and screaming with all she had. Her voice had echoed through the air, scaring birds out of the nearby trees.

After hours of simply sitting there on the ground, crying until she had no tears left, Yoshiho had trudged back home, coming back to a quiet household. In the dark she saw the upturned table still in its place, the stink of soiled food filling the room. It took Yoshiho nearly an hour to pick up the ruined dinner, clean up the few bits of a shattered glass cup, and wash the dirty plates, bowls, and chopsticks. She'd have to deal with that stain on the carpet tomorrow.

Once Yoshiho finished cleaning up, she made the trek back to her room, a dull pain in her chest.

This whole time…

This whole time… her mother had blamed her for their family's split.

And this whole time… she didn't take Yoshiho's dream seriously.

She thought Yoshiho wouldn't amount to anything.

She thought Yoshiho would end up just like her.

Yoshiho found herself seated at her desk, her desk lamp illuminating her face with a dim glow. The future course survey sat in the middle of the table, Yoshiho's puffy eyes staring at what she'd hastily scribbled into the first box.

Before she realized what she was doing, Yoshiho was grasping a pen, scratching the kanji out erratically. Her strokes were harsh, digging into the paper so hard that she could have ripped right through it.

The first box now held dark, black scratches, completely covering what she had written.

Yoshiho sucked in a breath, feeling the burning sensation in her eyes return. She hastily rubbed her eyes, some of the warm, salty tears dripping onto the paper and making quiet "splat" sounds.

UA had been her dream school. Ever since she was little.

It churned out some of Japan's greatest heroes, like the Symbol of Peace, All Might himself. It had a sports festival that was broadcasted across the nation, giving its students a chance to be scouted before they ever even started doing actual public hero work. It had a top notch education, providing its students with the best resources they had to offer. It was even close to home, since Yoshiho and her mother had moved to Musutafu a few years ago when her parents had split.

But when Yoshiho was back at the park, crying her eyes out and screaming for no one to hear, she realized something.

She was tired.

She was tired of being here.

She was tired of dealing with her mother's shameless alcohol addiction. She was tired of cleaning up after the messes her mother left in her wake. She was tired of coming back home to a mother she realized didn't even love her.

All she wanted now was to get away from her.

…

"Your first choice is crossed out," Yoshiho's homeroom teacher said, her eyebrows raising at the harsh, black scribbles. "Did you change your mind?"

Yoshiho nodded silently, the hustle and bustle of the teacher's lounge filling the silence for her. "...Yes. I realized that with the way things currently are at home, I can't go."

Her teacher's eyebrows raised further at her statement, only for her to turn back to the survey form as she hummed in response. "Hm. Alright then. So… Shiketsu, huh? I'm guessing you're aiming for the hero course, right?"

Yoshiho gave another silent nod in response, the dullness in her eyes filling her teacher with concern.

"Koatsu… everything okay?"

"Everything's fine."

"You sure? Nothing… going on at home?"

Yoshiho's lips pursed into a straight line, some of her hair falling to cover more of her face. "Nothing that's worth talking about. Now if you'll excuse me." She bent over slightly in a bow, before turning around and proceeding to leave the room, sliding the door closed behind her.

As she walked down the hall back to her classroom, the chatter of lunchtime around her, six words couldn't help but resurface in the back of her mind.

"You'll never be a hero, dear."

…

Yoshiho had come to the decision.

She was never, ever going to shed any tears for her mother ever again.

And she would never, ever let her mother believe her words held any truth.

Because she was going to prove her wrong.

She was going to prove her 'father' wrong too. She was going to prove to everyone, who had dismissed her as trash, or violent, or hysterical, that they were wrong. She was going to prove she was better.

She was going to become one of the greatest heroes in existence, and shove their sorry words back into their throats.

…

The new training regimen Yoshiho had created for herself was absolute hell.

Pushing herself past the limit, until she was vomiting on the ground, her muscles sore and her bones aching, was torture.

But it was all going to be worth it.

Because the stronger she was, the better she would be at showing them how wrong they were. The stronger she was, the more sweet, sweet satisfaction it'd bring.

Yoshiho staggered into her room, nearly collapsing as she crossed an "X" over the day's date before flopping onto her bed.

She was counting down the days to Shiketsu's entrance exam, only anticipating the day she could finally leave this disdainful place. Ever since her mother had told her what she truly thought of her, Yoshiho tried to avoid her as much as she could. She stayed out training as long as possible, and steered clear of her whenever she was stuck at home by camping out in her room. The few times she came across her mother when she wasn't passed out or simply drunk, it always felt awkward with an air of resentment coming from Yoshiho.

They no longer even ate dinner together anymore. Once Yoshiho had cooked whatever meal they'd eat for the day, she immediately got herself her own plate and covered the rest with cling wrap, leaving her mother to eat it on her own while Yoshiho ate in her room. Yoshiho often waited until her mother went to bed before doing the dishes, even.

That was how much she couldn't stand the sight of her mother now.

…

Yoshiho had gotten up at the crack of dawn to ride the bullet train that would take her to western Japan, using the little extra money she had scraped together to buy herself a round trip ticket.

As she sat in her seat, her arms tightened around her school bag, which held some of her workout clothes inside.

Today was the day.

Today was the day she'd finally take Shiketsu's entrance exam.

She had no idea what to expect, as Shiketsu often kept the inner workings of their school under wraps. There wasn't much specific information she could find on the school, although it boasted an education of similar quality to UA's for those in the west.

After a two-hour train ride, along with a 20 minute walk trying to find the place, Yoshiho stood before Shiketsu High School, gripping her bag straps in anticipation. The large building's shadow seemed to loom over her as students made their way onto the campus.

Yoshiho took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves before making her way to the front entrance.

All she was hoping for was that she'd pass.

…

Yoshiho strolled around town, glancing at the various shops and stores, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder.

The entrance exam had been… surprisingly easy for her.

The written portion, sure, she likely missed a few questions, but the practical portion was nothing thanks to her quirk.

Her quirk…

Yoshiho's hands tightened around her bag straps.

Once she got in… her parents would eat their words on what they'd said about her quirk.

So what if it was mutated?

It was powerful.

She worked her butt off for this. To have a quirk that changed gravity so drastically had detrimental repercussions on her body. It was why she trained so hard, day and night, getting her body to a point where it was strong enough she didn't feel that aching pain in her bones that used to come after only 30 minutes. Now, she could use her quirk for longer than she could keep track of, all that hard work having paid off.

But she couldn't get complacent just yet.

Yoshiho paused as her eyes caught sight of a poster across the street, taped to the window of a cafe. The cafe looked big, with lots of people inside.

There.

Yoshiho took a deep breath, before crossing the street and heading inside.

…

"...Say that again?"

"If I get a job here, I want to live in this building. Above this cafe are living quarters, aren't there? I saw it from across the street before I came inside."

The owner scratched the back of her head, utterly confused. Yoshiho had asked to apply for a job according to the poster she'd seen in the window, refusing to leave until she could at least get some sort of mini-interview, and now she and the cafe building's owner were in the back room.

"It's true there's some apartments up there, but I never really planned to lease one to a kid when I bought this building… Why would you even want to live here? Couldn't you just stay at home with your family and commute to work?"

"No."

Yoshiho's tone came out quick and harsh, surprising the older woman.

Yoshiho grasped her uniform skirt in her hands, staring at the table surface in an attempt to compose herself. "I… I live two hours away."

"Eh? Then… why would you want a job here?"

Yoshiho opened her bag, pulling out a brochure and dropping it onto the table in between them.

"This city is only three train stops away from Shiketsu."

The woman raised a brow at the sight of the school's emblem, waiting for Yoshiho to continue.

"I just took that school's entrance exam an hour and a half ago. Based on what I saw looking through the local advertisements in magazines and newspapers, this cafe has lots of customers almost everyday, meaning the salary must be good because of its popularity and quality of service." Yoshiho tapped her finger against the brochure of Shiketsu, her expression serious. "I know I did well on both the written portion and the practical portion of Shiketsu's exam, so it's highly likely I'll get in. That means I'll have to move here if I don't want to travel for four hours every day coming here and back to my house in Musutafu. I want to live here because I'm only a third-year middle schooler, so even if I get a job as soon as I graduate, it won't be enough for me to find an apartment and move in in time and still start the school year properly. This is my best option."

The owner stared at her with wide eyes, at a loss for words. After a few moments of the two staring at each other, she sighed, leaning on the table with her arms in exasperation. "Listen, kid… if you live in Musutafu, why not just go to UA? That's the number one school in the entire nation, and it's right in your hometown."

"UA is no longer an option. I can't stay in Musutafu anymore."

The woman raised a brow. "If that's the case, why can't you ask your parents to set up an apartment for you close to Shiketsu? I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

Yoshiho's eyes settled into a glare as she looked away. "One decided to leave and the other is the reason I want to leave in the first place," she scoffed.

The woman's eyes widened at Yoshiho in concern, effectively silenced.

Yoshiho took a deep breath, turning back to the owner. "That's why I'm asking you to let me work as well as live here. You're free to take some pay out of my salary in exchange for occupying one of the apartments if that's what you want to do. I'm planning to go into the hero course at Shiketsu, so as soon as I start paid hero work, I can pay you back handsomely for letting me live here as well."

"Hold on, hold on," the woman said, holding her hands up. "Do your parents- your parent even know you're planning to move out? Are they even okay with it? Because if I agree, there's permission that needs to be granted since you're a minor, paperwork signed by your legal guardian-"

"No," Yoshiho said flatly. She crossed her arms on top of the table. "Not yet. I'm not planning to tell my mother until I receive my acceptance letter, so there's no question of whether or not I can go because I'll have already been accepted. I won't have to deal with her trying to hold me back because it will have been too late for her to try. Besides…" Yoshiho fiddled with some of the hair covering her face, her eyes narrowing. "I'm sure that woman would love to have me out of her hair anyway, so if she sees I'll be going to school far away, and already have living accommodations set up, I'm sure she wouldn't hesitate to grant you permission to house me."

The woman leaned back in her seat, staring at the teenager in concern. "Kid… is everything alright?"

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself over," Yoshiho huffed. "But I'd have to ask you not to pry too much. Just thinking about her puts me in a bad mood. That's why I'm asking you to let me stay here and earn some money at your establishment. So can we come to an agreement?"

The woman sighed, scratching the back of her head. She doesn't want to talk about it… it's obviously a bit of a sore spot for her.

She closed her eyes, crossing her arms in thought. Yoshiho only stared at her stoically.

It's clear her home life is tough… the owner contemplated, tapping her foot slowly. And I don't know enough to report to Child Services, especially since she doesn't want to talk about it…

Leaving home is what she wants, and it may be best…

Poor kid.

The older woman got up from her chair, pushing it into the table. "Wait here."

Yoshiho watched as she left the room, the door closing behind her. After about 10 minutes or so, the woman returned, a manila folder and several papers in her hands. She sat back in her seat, moving the Shiketsu brochure aside and setting the papers on the table between them.

"Alright kid, normally, I'd ask for a resume and hold an interview to see if you'll be worth paying to work at my cafe, but since you seem desperate, I can make an exception just this once. Me and my other employees can show you the ropes along the way."

A glimmer of hope sparked in Yoshiho's chest as the woman shifted through her papers, sliding one towards her.

"This is an application form for a job here. However, since you're still in junior high, you can't fill this out yet. Once you get into Shiketsu, then you can. You'll have to wait until then. Once that happens, that's when I'll let you start working."

She switched that paper out for a packet, which held about 4 pages. "This is a lease to let you rent one out of the three apartments above the cafe. I'm already living in one of them, so you can choose one of the other two. Since you're a minor, this also has an agreement your mom has to read through and sign to let you live here. I'll take care of the renting cost situation. Both apartments already have basic furniture like a bed, couches, chairs, and tables, so you don't have to worry about moving in much furniture. Once you start working, a set percentage will go to the rent, while the rest will be given to you… kind of like an allowance. The quality of your work will determine whether I need to deduct the money I give to you. A good work ethic means less money will be taken out, while a bad one will deduct more. I can promise you I won't kick you out, and that any deductions will go to the rent instead, but that doesn't mean you can slack off once you get the job, understand?"

Yoshiho stared at the papers, giving the owner a determined nod. "Yes."

The woman gave her a small smile, straightening the papers and putting them in the folder, sealing it shut with the metal prongs. "Alright. I'm putting a lot of trust into you, kid, so you better put your all into working here." She held the folder out to Yoshiho, who quickly grabbed it, only for the woman to tighten her grip. Yoshiho paused, staring at the woman in confusion.

The woman stared at her, a hint of concern in her eyes. "And don't be afraid to talk about your problems, alright…? I may be your future boss and landlord, but… I don't want that to stop you from sharing your troubles. You're still just a kid after all, and I'm not afraid to help you if you need it."

Yoshiho went silent, looking away as she slowly pulled the manila folder out of the woman's now loosened grasp. "...Right."

She got up from her chair, bending over in a deep bow as she cradled the folder against her chest. "Thank you so much for agreeing to this. I'm truly grateful, and I'll be in your debt."

The woman waved her off as Yoshiho rose from her bow. "Don't sweat it, kid. Oh, and before you leave, mind telling me your name?"

Yoshiho froze, anxiety creeping up her shoulders.

Knowing her name could tarnish any chance she had of staying here.

"Um… well…" Yoshiho looked away, her arms tightening around the folder. "If I tell you, do you swear you won't change your mind?"

The woman tilted her head, a bit confused. "Hm? Why would I change my mind?"

"Just swear to me you won't…!"

The woman shrugged. "Sure. I guess so."

Yoshiho turned around, taking a deep breath. "My name's… Yoshiho Koatsu."

The room was silent.

Yoshiho held her breath, preparing herself for the inevitable rejection, the retraction of everything she'd just gotten, the loss of hope that she'd ever get away from the woman she could hardly call her mother.

"Alright then, Koatsu-chan."

Yoshiho turned her head, glancing over her shoulder.

The woman was smiling, no sign of fakeness or malice behind it.

"My name… doesn't bother you…?"

The woman shook her head. "Not at all. You're just a kid, so why should I hold anything against you?" She got up from her chair, approaching Yoshiho and holding her hand out. "I look forward to working with you, Koatsu-chan. My name's Kamiyo Setsuri, by the way."

Yoshiho stared at her, in utter shock. She searched the woman's face for something, anything that would tell her she was lying… but there was nothing. All she saw was genuineness.

Yoshiho's gaze fell to Kamiyo's hand, lifting her own slowly. She hesitated for a moment, before timidly gripping the woman's hand and giving it a loose shake. "...Right. Thank you, Setsuri-san."

She then took a step back, giving Kamiyo another deep bow. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get going. Thank you again."

Before Kamiyo could offer to walk her out of the building, Yoshiho had already left the room, dashing across the dining area of the cafe and out the front door, sprinting down the sidewalk towards the station.

I did it…! Yoshiho thought to herself, feeling the excitement swelling in her chest. I really did it…!

I can finally… finally…

...Show them they're wrong.

…

One week later -

Yoshiho thumbed through the mail quickly, fearing her mom was going to come through the door any minute. She tossed whatever mail that wasn't what she was looking for to the side carelessly, freezing when she finally came across a particular envelope near the bottom of the stack.

To: Yoshiho Koatsu

From: Shiketsu High School

Yoshiho jolted when she heard the lock of the front door click, grabbing the envelope and hastily jumping up from the couch. She dashed down the hallway to the room, pushing the door open quickly and slamming it shut right as she heard the telltale "clack" of her mother's heels entering the apartment.

Yoshiho leaned back against the door, sliding down to the floor slowly as she let out a heavy sigh. Her mother wasn't even the slightest bit bothered, as they had stopped making any efforts to see each other within their own home for months now.

Yoshiho turned her attention to the envelope in her hands, eyeing it warily. The ever-recognizable Shiketsu emblem was stamped into the seal, intimidating her.

Her entire future was going to be determined by the contents of what was in this envelope.

Yoshiho took a deep breath, not moving from her place on the floor. She was too nervous to get up, the anxiety making her legs feel like jelly even though she was still sitting down. Yoshiho clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing as she gripped the top corner of the envelope, tearing the top off.

She reached into it slowly, her fingers closing around the folded piece of parchment inside. Yoshiho let the envelope fall to the floor as she pulled the paper out, holding it in both her hands and staring at it. With another deep breath, she closed her eyes, unfolding it slowly.

Yoshiho took a few seconds to steel her nerves, trying to even her breathing before she finally opened her eyes, scanning the top of the page.

"Dear Yoshiho Koatsu,

Congratulations! We are pleased to announce you have been accepted into Shiketsu High School's Heroics Education course. On behalf of-"

Yoshiho sucked in a breath, her fingers tightening around the paper and wrinkling it slightly.

She did it.

Yoshiho curled into herself, bringing the paper to her face as she tried her hardest not to cry.

She really did it.

Yoshiho hicced, feeling a familiar tightening in her chest as small tears ran down her cheeks.

She got in.

…

Yoshiho spent the last week of school packing, putting her clothes into boxes, her training gear, everything she would need with her when she would start attending Shiketsu.

She still had yet to tell her mother she'd been accepted.

Not like Yoshiho thought she really cared, though. The woman hadn't even asked why Yoshiho had returned home late the day of the entrance exam. Granted, she'd been asleep by the time Yoshiho returned, but still. It was obvious she wasn't interested in why Yoshiho had been out for so long.

But Yoshiho still needed her signature and stamp to move out.

Yoshiho taped off the lid of the box, sighing to herself. Three down, four more to go.

She was going to have to get it eventually. She needed to get it as soon as possible, actually, so that she'd have enough time to move in properly. With the ending of school and the upcoming graduation for third-years occupying her time after the entrance exam was over with, Yoshiho would only have a small window of two to three weeks to settle into that new apartment.

And graduation was only in three days.

Yoshiho set down her packing tape dispenser, walking over to her desk. She picked up the manila folder Kamiyo had given her gingerly, pulling the packet of paper out she needed her mom to sign.

…

"Hah?"

Yoshiho's eyes flitted back and forth between the papers and her mother, who had been sprawled across the couch.

"I said," Yoshiho said curtly, "I need you to sign this for me."

Fuuka sat up properly, some of her hair falling from behind her shoulder. "I don't even know what it is I'm signing."

Yoshiho held back the urge to scoff, holding the packet out to her.

"How about you read it then, so you know."

Fuuka eyed her icily, before grabbing the packet from Yoshiho's hands, her eyes scanning the front page.

"What is this?" she huffed, flipping through some of the pages. "A lease? You're joking."

"I'm not," Yoshiho grumbled, crossing her arms. "I'm moving out."

Her mother continued reading through the pages, raising a brow. "I hope you're not seriously expecting me to pay for your outrageous request."

"It's not a request!" Yoshiho shot back, trying to keep her voice level. "I'm leaving, and I'm moving to Fukuoka. And you don't even have to pay. I've already worked it out with the landlord."

Fuuka sighed, setting down the packet. "I've had enough of this little prank of yours, Yoshiho. I don't see the point nor the amusement in it."

Yoshiho scowled, her eyes narrowing. "It's not a prank!"

"Why do you even want to move out so far, anyway?" her mother huffed, leaning back against the couch. "You're still a child. And unfortunately still my responsibility." She mumbled that last part, but Yoshiho had heard her.

Yoshiho growled, stomping back to her room and returning with a paper in hand, shoving it in her mother's face.

"Because I got into Shiketsu!" Yoshiho yelled, showing off her acceptance letter with the official Shiketsu stamp at the bottom. "And I'm not going to make a four-hour commute every day! That's why!"

Fuuka's eyes were wide, staring at the golden ink of the stamp. "You…" Her eyes flitted back and forth between the letter and her daughter, stunned. "...What?"

Yoshiho refolded the letter, unable to keep herself from rolling her eyes as she looked to the side. "I got into Shiketsu, Mother." She looked back at the older woman, her eyes narrowing. "So I don't have to be your responsibility anymore."

Fuuka snapped out of her shock, shaking her head as she leaned forward. "Yoshiho. Forgery is taking it too far. This is ridiculous."

Yoshiho was losing her patience. "It's not forgery! It's real! Why is it so hard for me to believe I could get in?!"

"Are we really having this conversation again?!" her mother snapped, glowering at her. "I refuse to fall for your little prank that some school like Shiketsu accepted you!"

"Well guess what, Mother?! They did!" Yoshiho shot back. She slammed her hand onto the lease forms on the table, holding them up. "They accepted your violent, hysterical daughter! And you know what that means? It means I'm not your problem anymore if you just sign this godforsaken paper!" She shoved it into her mother's chest, nearly giving herself a paper cut from how abruptly she pulled her hand away. "You never have to deal with me again! You never have to see me again. You can act like I was never yours, for all I care. Sign that paper, and I'll never be your responsibility anymore after this. I can fail miserably at my dream, and you won't have to care."

Fuuka had no words, no rebuttal, no argument as Yoshiho glared at her. She was only loosely holding onto the lease forms as she stared.

Yoshiho scoffed as she turned away, towards the hallway that led to her room.

"Sure sounds nice, doesn't it?"

And with that, she left her mother alone in the living room to let her words sink in.

…

Yoshiho readjusted her backpack on her shoulders, looking around her bare room. She'd finished packing two days ago, her shelves and drawers emptied of her belongings. The only things left were the furniture in her room.

She took a deep breath, grabbing the handle of her suitcase. The boxes she'd packed had been given to a luggage delivery service yesterday, and would be at the apartment in Fukuoka by the time she arrived. So all she would have with her while on the bullet train would be her backpack of traveling essentials and a suitcase with some of her clothes.

Yoshiho walked out into the hallway, pulling the door closed. Her hand lingered on the doorknob, staring, the reality that she was moving out not having been fully comprehended yet.

The day she'd shoved the lease papers into her mother's face and left her there in the living room, she regretted it as soon as she'd gotten back to her bedroom. She regretted losing her temper, blowing up at her, because in her mind, letting her emotions get the best of her only lowered her chances of her mother giving her what she wanted. Her signature.

So imagine her surprise when she finally came out hours later, into a dark, empty living room at 11 at night, to find the papers sitting there on the table. Signed.

Yoshiho had felt a mix of emotions at the sight of her mother's neat signature. On one hand, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of excitement, hope, that she could really leave. That she got to go to Shiketsu. On the other hand, there was a stab in her heart at the sight of the signature.

Because it meant her mother really wanted her gone.

Yoshiho shook her head, finally letting go of the doorknob and making her way down the hallway.

So what if her mother wanted her gone? She was a shitty person. She only cared about herself, and Yoshiho was done cleaning up after her, done dealing with her abuse.

Yoshiho stepped into the living room, her suitcase rolling behind her as she saw her mother sprawled out on the couch again. She was watching the TV, a dull expression on her face. Yoshiho made her way to the front door, hesitating for a moment.

Why was she hesitating?

Everything had already been decided. She'd mailed the forms back to Kamiyo, graduated a few days ago, had sent her luggage to her new place of residence, and she had her one-way ticket for the bullet train to Fukuoka. What was stopping her from pulling the door open and leaving right then and there?

"...I'm leaving now, Mother."

Yoshiho kept her eyes glued to the door, too afraid to look over her shoulder.

"Oh, it's about that time, huh?" she heard her mother say from the living room. Yoshiho imagined she was checking the time on her phone, or her watch.

Yoshiho grabbed the doorknob, her fingers wrapping around the handle. "Yeah," she mumbled. She bit her lip, finally gathering the courage to look behind her. "Any last words before I disappear from your life? Or is that all you have to say?"

She saw her mother was staring out the window, unable to see her face. Fuuka was silent. Yoshiho let out a scoff, opening the door. "Thought so," she said bitterly, stepping out.

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

She pulled her suitcase past the door frame, a deep frown on her face. As she grabbed the doorknob, ready to practically slam the door shut, she heard her mother's faint voice from the living room.

"Have a safe trip, lotus. And… good luck."

Yoshiho froze, her fingers tightening around the handle. She stared at her mother from the doorway, seeing she was still facing away. Yoshiho bit her lip, shaking her head before she closed the door briskly. It made a quiet click, a mix of emotions swirling in Yoshiho's chest.

Excitement, caution, hope, fear.

Yoshiho let go of the doorknob slowly, feeling her shoulders relax. With a deep breath, she turned away, taking the first step to a new stage in her life.

…

Yoshiho now stood in her new home, looking around the small studio apartment. There was a couch and lamp against the right wall, with a small coffee table in front of the couch. Against the opposite wall was a TV on its stand, and from where Yoshiho stood she could see the open doorway that she guessed led into her bedroom. Across the room was the kitchen, a stacked washer and dryer, and a door to the bathroom. There seemed to be a coat closet in between the bathroom door and washing machine.

She took a deep breath, taking in the smell of the new apartment. This space was hers, and hers alone. No alcoholic mother. No cleaning up after her messes.

Yoshiho picked up one of the boxes by her feet, carrying it to her new bedroom. She began the slow process of unpacking and moving in, putting clothes away, storing her training gear and other items, placing her belongings throughout the apartment. She didn't have much, but it was nice to add some personal touch to the space. Hanging up the (few) band posters she had, a vase of fake roses (her favorite flower) on the coffee table, and more.

Yoshiho looked into the box over by the couch, about to reach in to pull out the last of its contents before she froze seeing what was left.

It was various family photos from a few years back. Pictures of her and her mother in the estate's meadow, a photo of all three members of the family at the opening of a new development studio, a few of her father's presentations of new support items. There was even a photo album at the bottom that held many more casual photos.

Yoshiho frowned, putting the album back in the box.

She couldn't explain why she'd decided to bring them. She didn't want anything to do with her parents anymore. But when she was packing, she'd found the pictures in the back of her closet. And she didn't want there to be anything left when she was gone. She'd wanted her mother to feel the emptiness once she'd left, and had made the decision to take everything with her.

But that didn't mean she wanted to be reminded of the life they'd had before. Before their family had broken up. When they were happier and together. It would only remind her of how she's now…

Alone.

Yoshiho closed the box, picking it up and walking over to the coat closet. She pulled the doors open, the markings around her ankles glowing and circling her skin as she used her quirk to push herself up into the air. She placed the box on the top shelf, pushing it as far back against the wall as she could. Her eyes fell to the clothes hanging on the rod, mulling it over before she grabbed an old jacket she hardly used anymore. She pulled it over the box, and once it was covered completely, she floated back down to the ground. The harder it was to see it, the less she would think about it.

She closed the closet doors with a sigh, turning to head into the bathroom. As Yoshiho switched on the light, the silhouette in the mirror that she saw out of the corner of her eye made her suck in a breath. She turned to see the reflection, her chest tightening at the sight of her very own face.

She looked just like her.

Long, auburn hair, the same sharp, blue eyes.

Even if there were subtle differences between them, like the fact Yoshiho's hair was a darker shade, and that she had her father's teal pupils, all Yoshiho was reminded of looking at herself in the mirror was her mother.

She couldn't even look at her own face without thinking about her.

Yoshiho left the bathroom, running to one of the leftover boxes and rummaging through it.

It had to be here. She remembered packing one clearly.

She continued to dig through its contents, finally reaching the bottom and pulling out a pair of red scissors. She bit her lip, staring at the blade as she got up from the floor and returned to the bathroom.

Yoshiho appreciated that there was at least… some sort of closure between her and the person she reluctantly called her mother. That there had been a goodbye. A "good luck."

But that was never going to change what she put her through, or how she treated her. That was never going to change the complicated, messy feelings Yoshiho had towards her. It was never going to change the fact that thinking about her left a pit in Yoshiho's stomach every time she looked at her own face in the mirror.

This was her chance to take the first step towards something new. To move from one part of her life to the next.

Yoshiho held a clump of her long, silky hair up, taking a deep breath before she snipped off several inches with the red scissors. Her hair fell back, now at a length that rested about an inch below her shoulders. She felt like she was in a trance, cutting off more, more, and more of her hair, the dark auburn locks falling into the sink and down onto the floor until it was shoulder-length all around.

She stared at herself in the mirror as she cut off the ends of another clump, watching in the reflection as it fell into the sink with the rest of her hair. Yoshiho moved on to her bangs, pulling them out from behind her ear. She held the scissors up, about to cut them before her eyes caught sight of herself in the mirror.

She really did bear an uncanny resemblance to her mother.

Her eyebrows knit together, hesitating to close the scissors around the auburn locks.

Her face only served as a constant reminder of the woman.

And she didn't want to see things that were a reminder.

Yoshiho pulled her bangs straight down, measuring them against her face. After a few moments of calculating the length, she held the blades around her hair, cutting a large chunk of it off. The bangs fell against her face to now rest right below her right eye, covering half her face. She could still see through the auburn locks, but her new bangs served to hide the resemblance she had to her mother.

At the very least, like this, she looked less like her.

And it was another small step made in moving away from that painful past life.

She had closed herself off from the rest of the world.

Yoshiho kept to herself at Shiketsu, focusing solely on her studies, throwing herself into hero training, and nothing else. She couldn't let herself be distracted.

Especially by relationships with her peers. Whether it be friends or a girlfriend, it was unacceptable. Unimportant. Studying and training mattered more.

And they would only bring her pain in the end, anyway. The past 11 years had proved they weren't worth keeping.

Her aloof, cross attitude, along with the baggage her family name brought, made people steer clear of her. Anyone who bothered to try being friendly or show her pleasantries was quickly shut down by her glares and thinly veiled sarcasm.

…It was better this way.

This way, she could focus on becoming a hero as soon as possible. She studied her ass off, Shiketsu's training regimen was rough, but worth it, and every day was another step closer to showing everyone they were wrong.

Yoshiho had to become a hero as soon as possible. She had to. She had to get her name out there, climb the billboard chart, and become one of the best heroes there was so she could make a fool out of every one that had told her she couldn't do it.

So when she heard that Inasa Yoarashi, the guy whose loud and frankly annoying rambles about "passion" constantly grated her ears, was being allowed to take the Provisional License Exam a whole year early, she couldn't just sit by. She had to take it too. She was insistent, making her case with her good grades and strong quirk (it was admittedly one of the most powerful ones within her grade) and eventually, she was on the bus with Inasa and some second-years to Takoba National Stadium.

She was ready to take the Provisional License Test. She was going to pass.

She had to.

…

Seeing those famous UA first-years were here had felt like a slap to the face.

It wasn't the fact that UA students were at the testing area. That much was expected.

It was the fact it was the class of first-years that were in the news constantly.

It was like the universe was laughing at her, dangling what she could have gotten if her life hadn't gone to shit and she didn't need to give up her dream school just to get away from her awful mother.

The entire class of 21 was here for the test. And Yoshiho had to fight her way just to be allowed to take it.

She could only stare at them wide-eyed as they conversed with each other casually, easy-going and carefree.

She felt disgusted.

Did those Class 1-A students even realize how important this test was? The sooner you got your license, the sooner you could be out in the field and working. That opened the door for massive opportunities, from gaining valuable experience to being scouted by top tier agencies.

And they were so… nonchalant.

Her eyes zeroed in on a girl with bright, blue hair pulled into an odd hairstyle as Inasa jumped into two boys "Plus Ultra!" chant, watching as she flinched at his voice. Yoshiho's upperclassman Shishikura scolded Inasa from over her shoulder, leading her classmate to bow in his over-the-top nature and making the UA girl let out a yelp.

Yoshiho's eyes continued to watch her like a hawk as the exchange between Inasa and the UA class took place, her mouth unconsciously forming a scowl.

She recognized the girl.

It was that force field girl who placed third in UA's sports festival.

There were dozens of articles that covered the event, and one in particular that Yoshiho had read featured interviews with the winners. Todoroki's, the second-place winner, was very blunt and honestly uninteresting, while Bakugou, the first-place winner, hadn't even bothered (partially because he was… chained-up.)

That had left… the girl's. Hitomi Kanetsukabe.

Yoshiho remembered her best because reading her interview had made her blood boil. From what Yoshiho read, she seemed like some ditz, coasting along for the ride.

In the interview, the girl went on some tirade about how thankful she was to get where she was, how much her parents loved and supported her, even if they were nervous about her choice of career. She had said she was grateful to have been blessed with a special quirk that was the result of her parents' quirks mixing, even if the evolution of their quirk factors had resulted in her hair pigment mutating to look like the color of Neptune. She'd said she spent more than a third of her life in another country, making jokes about how she didn't even know the top 10 heroes of the JP Hero Billboard Chart.

And as Yoshiho watched her now, listening to her green-haired classmate explain one of the most elite schools in the nation to rival UA, her wide, clueless eyes made her seem like some gaping fish.

She seemed like… such an… airhead!

Yoshiho was fuming.

Seriously?! Someone like that had made it into UA? And made it to third-place in the sports festival, something that tons of scouts watched, no less?

Yoshiho's grip tightened on her hero costume case, the handle digging into her palm as Mora called for them to head into the arena. She grit her teeth, trudging along behind the rest of her peers to the staircase. As they passed the UA class, her gaze fell back on the force field girl.

Their eyes met, and Yoshiho's glare hardened, into the kind that looked like she was trying to burn a hole into something. The other girl flinched at her expression, shrinking back slightly.

Good, Yoshiho thought with a sneer as she followed her upperclassman up the stairs to the entrance.

Clearly, she's not fit to be here.

…

"You're scared… because you're afraid it's all true."

"You're afraid they're right… you're afraid you really are worthless."

"…you're more than what they say you are."

"Why're you just staring at me? You expect me to walk on my own with a twisted knee? Points docked."

Yoshiho blinked, refocusing on the woman at her feet.

She'd made it to the second portion of the test, where those who passed the first portion would rescue disaster victims, played by actors from the H.U.C (Help Us Company).

"Ah… sorry."

She lifted the woman into the air with a small gravitational field, making her way to the closest temporary refuge.

""Sorry'? Is that all you can say in a crisis, young hero? The people you save will hardly feel reassured," the lady sighed. "Points docked."

Yoshiho held back a frown, trying to keep her voice level. "…Right. Everything will be fine, ma'am. I'm taking you to a safe place that will offer aid for your injuries."

She heard the woman sniff. "Better."

"You're more than what they say you are."

"You're more."

That screaming match she'd had with the force field girl during the first portion of the test wouldn't stop popping up in her head. It was like Yoshiho was in a daze as she handed off the lady to other examinees at a medic station.

She couldn't… stop thinking about what the girl- Kanetsukabe, had said. What she'd said when they were fighting… had shaken Yoshiho in a way she couldn't fathom.

The UA girl couldn't have possibly known what she was talking about… but her words felt like they had cut Yoshiho to her very core.

She was scared? Afraid everyone who told her she would never amount to anything was right?

Kanetsukabe couldn't have possibly known how she felt. She'd never even heard of the Koatsu family until today.

So… why… did it feel like her words hit so close to home…?

Yoshiho's mouth unconsciously settled into a scowl at the thought as she helped another H.U.C. victim up from the ground, making them squint at her.

"That's not an appropriate expression when rescuing someone…" they mumbled, dusting off their pants.

"Let me guess," Yoshiho groaned, running her hand down her face. "Points docked."

"And for that attitude, additional points docked."

Yoshiho couldn't even focus on doing this part of the test properly. Her fight with the force field girl kept replaying in her head, like a roll of film on loop. Her words kept turning over and over in her mind, and they wouldn't stop.

"You're afraid it's all true."

"You're afraid you really are worthless."

"You're afraid they'll realize they're right."

The way Yoshiho had reacted to those words was appalling.

She'd completely lost her temper, being careless and imprecise with her powers and nearly suffocating the UA girl.

And she hadn't reacted that badly since… since…

…Her fight in middle school with Sanzumi.

And… Kanetsukabe's words had set her off like that because…

Because…

Yoshiho helped another examinee clear away some rubble with her quirk, watching listlessly as they helped another H.U.C victim out of the debris.

…She was afraid.

The revelation caused a mix of horror and relief to flash across Yoshiho's face, feeling like a pile of bricks crashing down on her and a weight lifting from her shoulders at the same time.

Everything Kanetsukabe had said was… true.

Kanetsukabe was right.

Yoshiho had to steady herself against some rubble, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat.

Yoshiho was scared. She was scared that all her work would be for nothing, that she wouldn't be able to make it as a hero, that everything everyone had said about her, from her old classmates, to Sanzumi, to her dad, to her mom… would be true. She was terrified she would just be proving them right, that she would never be anything more than what the world had already deemed her as.

An estranged child whose mutated quirk caused her family to fall apart.

Yoshiho bit her lip, taking a deep breath. There was something Kanetsukabe had said that stuck out more than the rest.

"You're more than what they say you are."

Yoshiho felt she only said that from a place of ignorance. After all, it was clear she didn't know the full story.

But…

Yoshiho wanted it to be true. She wanted desperately, more than anything, for that to be the case.

But when she thought about her reaction to the UA girl, all Yoshiho could do was grimace.

All she had done… was act exactly as her mother had predicted. Losing control of her temper. Lashing out.

She'd reacted horribly.

And looking back at it now… Yoshiho understood the way she'd treated the force field girl was wrong.

She sank to the ground with a groan, cradling her knees against her chest.

The UA girl really didn't know anything about her… and that wasn't her fault. There was no one Yoshiho could blame for her unfair reaction to Kanetsukabe but herself.

She'd said some abhorrent things to the girl, all from a place of anger that was fueled by her own insecurity.

And that was wrong of her.

That wasn't what heroes did.

Yoshiho's thoughts were cut off by the sound of a buzzer, followed by a voice from the PA system.

"At this moment, all the H.U.C. who were deployed have been rescued from the danger zone. With this, all the provisional licensing exam procedures have been completed."

…

Yoshiho was still remorseful when they were heading to the buses to return home.

She'd failed the exam.

But… she had taken the initiative to apologize to Kanetsukabe. She at the very least owed her that.

Yoshiho supposed her failing to get her provisional license was the consequence for her awful behavior. It was a mistake she could learn from.

Still, that didn't stop the low score on her results from feeling like a punch in the face.

She let out a sigh as she trailed behind her peers to Shiketsu's bus, keeping her distance.

She felt humiliated. Frustrated. Disappointed. And she didn't want her senpais or Inasa to ask her what was wrong, or talk to her about the exam. She just wanted to be left alone.

After all, alone was safe. Alone was what she'd been for years.

"K… Koatsu-san!"

Yoshiho's head snapped up at the sound of her name, turning towards the voice. Force field girl was running away from her class's bus, towards her.

Yoshiho came to a halt, just shy from stepping onto her bus. She was the last one to board.

The bluenette came to a stop beside her, panting slightly as she set her hero costume on the ground and fished for something in her skirt pocket.

"Do you have your phone on you right now?"

Yoshiho's eyes widened in confusion. "Yes. But why…?"

She was silenced as the UA girl held her hand out expectantly. "I just need it really quick."

Was this really happening right now…?

It felt like a prank.

Yoshiho stared at the other girl suspiciously, searching her face for some flaw, a slip-up, an indication she was playing some sick joke on her. A twitch of a smirk. Smug eyes. Something.

But Yoshiho found… nothing.

As Kanetsukabe finally pulled her own phone out of her pocket, staring at Yoshiho expectantly, all Yoshiho could see was kindness. It was a timid kind, an unsure smile, hopeful eyes, and it made Yoshiho's suspicion crumble.

She hadn't seen something like that in years.

It was different from the courtesy Kamiyo showed her. Kamiyo, while meaning well and wanting to look out for her, pitied her. Yoshiho could tell. There was nothing wrong with it, and Yoshiho did like the woman, but knowing Kamiyo pitied her just made her feel somewhat ashamed at times.

What Yoshiho was seeing in Kanetsukabe felt different.

Relationships were risky. That was what Yoshiho had told herself for years. The closer you were to someone, whether it was familial, romantic, or platonic, the more it would hurt when they didn't want you anymore. Her parents had demonstrated that perfectly.

But Kanetsukabe…

She'd forced Yoshiho to come to terms with all the resentment and fear she'd been carrying. She'd made Yoshiho realize how unhero-like she'd been acting. And now, she was extending her hand in an offer of friendship.

With a small huff, Yoshiho reached into her pocket, unlocking her phone and placing it in Kanetsukabe's hand.

Relationships were risky, but looking at Kanetsukabe now, Yoshiho decided being her friend was a risk she was willing to take.

A/N: And that is Yoshiho's origin :)

AAAHHHH no but seriously I hope you guys enjoyed it! I started working on Yoshiho's one-shot back in December 2019, worked on it in bits and pieces throughout 2020 and 2021, and spent THREE WHOLE MONTHS (Oct to now) working on the art for it. I originally wanted to get it out by her birthday (Nov 8), but that didn't work out and the artwork took so much longer than I expected ;-;

I really hope you guys liked reading this, though! Yoshiho's initial concept has developed a lot from when I originally first made her, and tbh I'm happy with how it turned out in the end. I'm also sorry to anyone who happens to have Yoshiho as their favorite for all the stuff I put her through-

And if there's anyone that was wondering, this thing was 20,984 words. 79 freaking pages on Google Docs x_x