Chapter 23 - The Heart of an Imperfect Girl
The Hero Killer, Stain. A scourge that unnerves even villains that so much as caught a glimpse of his crimson attire. Seventeen heroes dead, twenty-three severely injured, and an uncounted amount of villains just as unfortunate. Yuki knew of him too well, having caught of a mere glance of the man, his conviction so potent that just the blurred sight of him gave her nightmares for weeks, the blood licked off his crooked blade.
What worried her more was that Iida's brother was among the severely injured recently, and if Yuki understood her hatred and scorn for Kovik, she had no doubt Iida would be gunning for the Killer, something she prayed she was mistaken about. That strange entity that's always lurking around Akio whenever she'd visit Jiro murmured about Stain before, saying they too had a direct confrontation and won but he got away.
The class stood before Mr. Aizawa after he gave a firm reminder of manners, but Yuki kept her eyes to Iida, wanting to ensure he was okay before her and Todoroki departed. 'Once sec, bud' She patted the stoic boy's shoulder and met with Izuku and Ochaco who had the same uncertainty in their eyes.
"Yuki, are... are you sure you should go to your internship?" Izuku's worry steadied her heart again. The looks between him, Jiro, Recovery Girl, and even All Might himself washed over her gaze. She observed as the green-haired boy fidgeted. "I mean, w-what if you overuse SIVA a-and-"
"Stopping her won't work, you know that, kiddo." From the doorway, her Mom, Akame stepped in. That look... scared Yuki, she wasn't making her expression obvious to read, keeping an almost robotic smile with her arms hugged tightly to her chest. "You don't think I tried for hours to convince her?"
"Y-yeah but-" He blinked as Yuki flicked his nose, sitting upright with her mask off, a strong smile on her face. She understood the risks taken, and that she may not see another tomorrow soon, yet to keep her shielded at a time like this was the very reason she took the risk and merged permanently with SIVA
'If I'm going to die, I'll do it my way, protecting people with this stolen power' She held her hand out, the note changing. 'I will always treasure the time I spent with all of you. Kyoka, Izuku, you two are my best friends, so no matter what happens to me' She lifted her toothy grin to them both. 'Become the greatest heroes you want to be! For both of us!'
"Iida, wait!" The trio slowed a few meters from the Class-Rep, his back turned to them to hear them out. "Hey, if you ever want to talk just let us know." Izuku offered support to their friend, Ochaco nodding along, and Izuku felt hurt in a strange way. "We're friends, right?"
Slowly, he turned to them, offering a solemn smile. "Yes, of course." Yuki saw it though, how he forced out the line more for his own emotional stress, he did mean it but it was more to ease their minds of suspicion
Yuki didn't buy it, stepping forward to hold his bicep tightly with a sad curve in her optical lenses. 'I understand, be careful' She tucked the note into his blazer pocket as his gaze eased slightly
"I thank you, the three of you are good friends." With that, he left, but Yuki could detect it, his heart rate was increasing as adrenaline pumped through his veins like a bullet train.
At that moment, I shouldn't have let him go, to do what I did for Todoroki, and pushed to know how he was feeling. That anger was wired to instinctual revenge, and I know how that feels because it's how I nearly lost myself to SIVA.
Somewhere else...
'So... what am I expecting to walk into?' Yuki and Todoroki stood at the entrance to the rather dark building, angular and with black-stained windows. She had seen it many times but this was the first time she's been this close or has ever gone inside
"If I'm being honest... tension," Todoroki seethed between his breath, then he pointed casually to her. "Or as you would put it, a minefield." That made her entire posture shrink
With a reluctant thumbs-up, she followed her friend inside, and she had to give credit to the hero, this place was beyond immaculate. The building was a very good clash of modern meets traditional, something Yuki hadn't anticipated, if she was honest she half expected a slave labor force or something stripped from a Noir movie, complete with classy music.
Todoroki led them through the build, and none employed ever spoke to them as the two teens reached the elevator, taking it straight to the top as the most cliche of elevator jingles played, exciting Yuki to butt her head off the wall behind her.
"My father is an uncaring and cynical man," Todoroki felt it was his turn to offer the advice, eyeing her coldly. "He'll try to get under your skin in his delusion of control, he'll make you think he has every right to say whatever he desires without consequence." Todoroki knew first-hand as he almost played into his father's wishes a few times if he had he may not still feel like a sibling to his sister and brother
Yuki tapped her metal chin. 'Any advice from the expert?' She tried to help him relax but there was a cold fire in his heterochromia eyes. "Geez, a fire so cold it burns. Scary."
"Grit your teeth and bear it, or outright ignore most of what he says," He saw her slump again. "She's taking this all on the nose like usual."
'So I can't just deck him in the face with a foldable chair?' Her strange threat forced Todoroki's lips to curl upward slightly, as his muscles relaxed. 'Oh don't think I won't, those pieces of furniture can hurt'
"I'll... keep that in mind," The elevator dinged and the two exited into a bleak hallway leading directly to the hero's office
Not a moment after they approached the door, offering each other one last glance did the doors open slowly, a warmth hitting them as the Flame Hero, Endeavor stood before them almost expectantly. The calm roar of flames persisted across his costume and face, and those eyes were filled with an impressive inferno that Yuki only ever saw once in Todoroki's eyes, quite the family trait.
"You both are here on time, come on in," He offered a smile that a blind man could tell wasn't friendly. He took a seat behind the luxurious desk, the skyline glossing into the office from afar, it was an impressive view. "Take a seat." He watched as the students gave a look between them, then remained standing as he chuckled. "Very well."
Endeavor eased back on his chair, placing his hands on the table. "I was delighted to know you both were willing to walk down the path of the mighty together, an excellent choice," He cleared his throat. "Your Quirk is especially powerful, it's been a long time since I've seen something with such raw capabilities, with such raw power." Due to the mask, he never noticed her twitched brow
'SIVA could outrank anyone if I tried hard enough, from would-be villains to annoying pro heroes, the list goes on if you want to see it?' Was the bold page that vanished a moment later between her taut fingers, reshaping again. 'Get to the point, why did you request me?'
He knew of her mute nature but even her notes carried an affinity of emotion, so he continued. "I like you, your abrasive and rude nature is an issue but to deny your potential would be unbecoming of me. The reason I brought you here this week is simple, to show you your future."
"What is he, a fortune-teller?" Yuki rolled her eyes, tapping her foot to the floor impatiently, the tempo slowed as both teens grew unnerved by the sinister smile crossing his face
"My offer is simple; By the end of this week, the two of you will be engaged, though this marriage would be arranged after the two of you graduate UA, and have children born with incredible power unlike any the world has seen, a true legacy. There's no catch, and I can assure your family would be more than supported." The words came off his tongue like weights, hammering down on the teens. "I believe the funding would help your sister, right?"
He saw her body twitch sharply at the word, he didn't try to hide his amusement at how quickly the smug girl's confidence shattered under the real-world, Shoto still kept still as a mouse was suiting him fine, perhaps it would be the end of his rebellious phase. Offering the perfect partner for his future after all.
Yuki gradually shifted her head to the window, then down at her hands, a slight tremble that she hadn't realized occurred, of course, she noticed Todoroki's fingers dug into his palms to keep himself steady, the rage was building. With a surprisingly quick adjustment of her posture that she took pride in seeing the surprise on Endeavor's face, she held out her note.
'Tell me, do you know my Mom? Valstrax?' Her words weren't bold but came off mellow
"I have met her on occasion, a waste of a Quirk, I'm sure-" He was cut short by Todoroki stepping closer to Yuki with a defensive look in his eyes
He felt nothing but guilt and sorrow for the kindhearted girl beside him, "I refuse," His words were quick to bring a scowl to the so-called hero's face. "Yuki here is only my friend as she is already together with Midoriya." It wasn't clear on his part but Yuki's eyes practically bulged wider than her mask as steam slowly rose from her face
This alone didn't catch Endeavour's harder stare. "A weakling that you went easy on? What a wasted effort on the girl's part to be with him, compared to what you two could create. Besides, kids your age would break up every week." His dismissal of Izuku in front of Yuki was something only Todoroki felt, a sharp aura that could bring down the sky at a moment's notice
Todoroki didn't relent, "My future, the path I have given alot of thought too is what I'll strive for on my own terms just as Yuki and Midoryia have shown me."
The flames around Endeavor were tempered, flickering wildly at his son's steady rebuttal. "I've started to reach my limit with your childish rebellion," This did little to make them budge. "Be grateful I chose not just a powerful Quirk but a good-looking partner for you!"
Yuki sighed after a lengthy debate of her own. She had a feeling this would happen, a part of her was optimistic everything wouldn't have boiled over and evaporated but that might be Izuku's doing. She still had alot to learn and Endeavor, despite his horrid personality, is still a hero she could research in the field.
One note appeared, bold and true from her heart. 'Go Fuck Yourself' another appeared, this one with a little more to say while she winked to Todoroki. 'Let me skip to the fine print, eh? Don't insult my friend beside me, don't insult my Mom, and don't ever use my little sister like a crutch or run Izuku's name into the dirt'
He kept his teeth knitted, acting as though he already won. "Your attitude toward me needs to be adjusted." Yuki took that as her cue to raised her arms challengingly. Prior to this arrangement, she made a very detailed complaint to Mr. Aizawa encase things got... ugly that may damage her standing at UA, all green lights if certain criteria met
'You think you can threaten me? I'm a sexy, one-woman army compared to your tinderbox ass, here's a little advice from an actual hero, money can't sway all hearts and minds, and what you call 'rebellion' is what I see as 'realization', Todoroki doesn't need you anymore to succeed, the Sports Festival taught him that not you' Her hand grabbed his tightly, snapping him out of his stupor for a second
'It's my life, and I don't need some dead-beat father and a crappy hero to tell me otherwise, I will continue to intern here because refusing to learn from you would be a horrible decision on my part, but that's all you are under a mountain of lies, deceit and greed' With that she practically dragged the boy out ensuring to open the doors with enough force to her boot that when the doors struck the walls cracked before the hinges buckled behind them
Yuki pivoted on her heel, seeing the blue-like flames searing across Endeavor's body, almost obscuring his face as she gave one last middle finger before the doors shut entirely.
"Yuki, are you okay?" Todoroki didn't have the right words at all, silence overtook them until the moment they stepped outside the building's shadow, then Yuki immediately started skipping about with an ecstatic aura across her, eyes continuously curled while she spun herself around a lamppost as the two made their way to a hotel nearby where they'd be staying
She was off in her own little world, the prospect she may not be long for this world gave her the push for an even grander exit that what she had simulated a million times in her head, and no, that wasn't hyperbole. Now she felt truly alive, her heart was pounding as the memory of insulting the hero plagued her mind, fueling her bliss.
'I fucking insulted Endeavor like the little bitch he is, I feel like a total badass, woot-woot!' Was her reply as Todoroki remained unable to formulate a proper way to breakdown her reaction and immediate exit with him mindless in-toe. 'Come-Come, friend, ice-cream on me!' Yuki was starting to really enjoy this internship
"Yuki," She stopped at his voice, spinning back around on a post to hear him out. After debating her words and his own toward his father, his sickening idea that he could... do that to them both, to dare jeopardize Yuki and Midoriya's relationship, though that was his father to a 'T', however, what actually came out was a small, genuine smile. "I'm paying, as my thanks."
Fireworks went off with a few small SIVA clusters, even entertaining a few bystanders as they walked, then another thought crossed her mind, one that brought the record to a stretching halt as her cheeks dipped pink again. "He called me and Izuku... a-a, um..." Her head dipped into her shoulders before putting out a reply
'Y-You know m-me and I-I-Izuku aren't, like... together, r-right?' Yuki entertained the idea ever since she felt genuine attraction towards her funny, dorky friend with the biggest secret in Japan. It was a sweet dream, and one she can hope to see come to pass, everything about him was so endearing to her, now more than ever
Todoroki looked generally surprised, and then ashamed for his words before. "Sorry, I guess I assumed since you two spend alot of time together and the way you both speak about one anoth-" His lips were covered by her hands while furiously shaking her head, the blush visible on her mask
"He speaks about me? But what - Grah, no, not my business... but I wonder - SIVA, stop me!" A jolt to her nerves brought her back into a steady pace with the perplexed boy, watching the tactile girl sheepishly poke her two index fingers together with downcast eyes. 'I... I do like him - You know, i-in that way, b-but if I told him I'll only hurt him'
"When did this happen?" He knew next to nothing of romance but he felt obligated to help her in turn again
Yuki shifted as they walked, pulling up a note while keeping her eyes to the path forward, almost walking into people a few times while her head ran with static. Every time she thought of herself kissing his cheek she felt mortified, it was beyond her usual, hands-on personality and since then she's been acting increasingly like a cliche schoolgirl. Though the thoughts remained so tantalizing to daydream about.
'I think at some point during the Festival, I just... felt it - It's hard to put into words - This feeling I didn't notice I guess' Instinctively she put a hand over her heart. 'I want to act on it, but again... it would do more selfish harm'
He didn't know how, but from her posture, it was a clearly sensitive topic, and given the very unnerving situation they just recently escaped, the topic of relationships was something he felt she wanted to avoid for a while. With a shrug and sigh, he tapped her shoulder the second they approached a crossroads, poking a thumb to a shop nearby.
"Come on, you said something about ice-cream?" In no time at all her spirit was rejuvenated as she impatiently skipped ahead without him, yet his eye caught it, off the tip of her right hand a few speaks of red dust vanished without a trace, leaving a cut across her finger
Nightfall came and both teens took to their separate rooms to mentally prepare themselves for whatever aggravating week awaited them. Yuki's room was a mess, the TV switched off, her things all over the place as she spent her time thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more even while she tried not to sink into her bath.
She slumped her chin on the edge of the bath, her body relaxing in the heat while her eyes mindlessly scrolled down her phone, she wasn't even looking for anything and simply let her finger glide across the screen. One particular image in her gallery was that of her and Izuku, the boy blushing nervously with Yuki's arm around him, her actual face and bright smile shining in the light of day when she took the picture.
Her heart tapped faster, eyes softened as she felt it, SIVA gradually eating away at her. Yuki knew SIVA wasn't to blame and those that tampered with its programming way back when forced it to act this way, unfortunately, that meant Yuki would inevitably disappear as it broke itself down, or worse, started to consume everything once she was long gone.
It scared her, so many thoughts and worries of what may happen if she can't survive the inevitable end. Her Mom's grief, her friends, if or when Nana wakes up. Izuku, he plagued her mind like the picture, the first person her age she met on that dump of a beach, he was a nervous wreck half the time, the complete opposite of Yuki, and she liked it, she... liked him.
A while later and Yuki was sat with her back against the bed, eyes lost to the stars outside the glass door to the balcony. Her phone's glare reflecting her disheartened face.
Yuki: Izuku, can I hear your voice?
There was no reply for a while, but she waited, wasting what precious time she may have for a selfish request.
Izuku: Yuki? It's really late - Sorry, what's up?
Yuki: Please, I want to hear your voice
On his end, he didn't know what to make of it, a little flustered but something was off about it, a strange feeling washing over him. Stepping downstairs he brought up her number and waited for it to go through. "Okay, I'm here, what's wrong, Yuki - Ah! Wait, you can't really answer that, s-sorry." "That was stupid..."
Hearing his voice made her emotions simmer while tucking her knees closer. She made a shaky sigh, sniffing to wipe away a few tears that had sprung up. ~Yuki? Are you okay?~ His panicked voice passed through but she made a small click with her tongue, one meaning 'yes', two 'no', but it wasn't very well thought out yet
It was frustrating since he couldn't exactly reach her, she was really far away but he'd find a way, but then his mind doubled back to her message, she just wanted to hear him speak, so, not knowing if this stupid idea would work he started to conform to her wish embarrassingly.
"Well, I've actually improved with Full Cowling, I can use it up to ten percent now I hadn't even realized it!" He smiled brightly, rubbing the back of his head while sitting on the bottom step. "Gran Torino taught me how to move more like you and perfect my technique - Oh, right! He used to be All Might's teacher, it's actually a little surreal if I'm honest, and I guess you knew about him too, your fighting style when I first controlled One For All was almost identical, could have used the warning." He chuckled with a slightly concerned look. "Leaving out the fact I can never tell if he's being serious or not."
Yuki was smiling, however, now resting on her bed while she wiped her tears away, listening to his voice fill with that common fanboy mannerism he adopted when talking about All Might or heroes, and it made her heart tighten but her emotions calm.
Izuku smiled to himself, unaware of the eavesdropper on the stairs. "It's funny, how easy the answer to utilizing One For All was, I don't think I'd have improved so much without you," He heard her inhale and his cheeks warmed a little at the sound. "I... I'm really happy I met you, Yuki." "I want to tell you in person but I don't know if I'll ever get the chance, I'm scared to say, but more importantly I'm scared because you might not be there for me to tell you."
~Yuki~ She was starting to get drowsy, even though she was smiling with a few warm tears. ~I will see you soon, I know I will because you and SIVA are the strongest hero in the world!~ Those words... she finally heard them. ~...Um, Yuki?~
She snored softly into the phone, having finally fallen asleep, the only thing that came through the call before it ended was a small, relieved sigh. ~Goodnight, Yuki~
The next few days would come standard routine for the duo. When they weren't going through boring paperwork, though with Yuki basically having a supercomputer in her head she helped to clear time not only for her and Todoroki but the staff too at Endeavor's agency, which got her a few praises from them not realizing she was technically cheating. This left the pair with time to up their skills in training, their most common practice being 'reaction time' and 'reflexes'.
What they learned during the Sports Festival was put to the test, Todoroki and Yuki took turns firing projectiles, improving their speed while aiding the target in increasing their ability to see incoming projectiles and act accordingly. When patrols lasted from late afternoon to night they begrudgingly agreed that Endeavor was a good hero, his skill in the streets in stopping crimes was, without question, pro-worthy.
After that it was dinner then off to their separate rooms, rinse, and repeat. In the times they had to themselves they slowly got to know one another more personally, Yuki's optimistic beat helped to familiarize Todoroki more with a friendly atmosphere while also uncovering one of Yuki's hidden traits, how to read a room and act accordingly. Yuki also managed to squeeze out a few slithers of humor from the abrasive boy, and when he made a quip, he made a quip.
Over the week Yuki heard from Kyoka that Dumb-Dumb had been working with her Mom of all people, and that, to both Yuki, Todoroki, and Kyoka's surprise, he was actually not yelling as much, but Yuki affirmed in her message that her Mom, if anything else, was a very wise person when she wanted to be. As for Izuku, he happened to be devising new moves now that he had a more fundamental control over his power though had to keep it ten percent or below.
Now, however, the duo were taking one of their afternoons off due to their speedy finalization of paperwork and the fact patrol wasn't necessary thanks to the influx of heroes in the area, leaving them with a warm day to explore the town, and for Todoroki to inquire more on a certain issue plaguing Yuki that she's been avoiding unless he brought it up.
Shoto glanced at Yuki as she slipped her mouth under her mask again, tossing away her empty drink to a bin ten meters away. The two in a small park, Shoto watched again as her mask's eyes glanced around the area. "So, why is it you resent the idea of telling Midoriya how you feel?"
She jolted at that, eyes deadpan, 'Oh, so we talk about my feelings but I'm not allowed to ask about if you like Momo or not?' His brow quirked but his expression froze as she poked his chest. 'I told you I know how to read a room, I won't pry... yet'
He kept his expression neutral for the time being. After what his father said and the way Yuki became nothing more than an anxious mess whenever he would make a quick remark involving Midoriya's name, he wanted to help aid in her own metal block as she did for him, though the situation and topic were vastly different, he wanted to make up for almost allowing his father to speak so casually about putting him between them when it was clear how much the two cared for one another.
'Shoto, I'm dying' She must have gotten rusty at hiding these things, but it may not matter since she suffered her worst seizures to date before leaving, she could feel her body contracting within, and it took a white for her right hand to reform completely.
His expression warped entirely, a steady shock washing over him as her eyes curved with a forced expression of positivity. "I... what?" While she didn't want to go through explaining the truth he wasn't the kind to tell others, that alone made him trustworthy to her
'My Quirk is slowly killing me, and if I can't regain control it'll consume me, I've been suffering from seizures lately and they've gotten worse and more frequent; If I overuse my Quirk I could speed the timer' Her head was skyward but her hand trembled. 'You see why I'm scared to say? I want to, I want to be with him Shoto as more than a best friend... but if I don't survive I'd end up breaking his heart'
Her head came down like an anvil, arms tucked into her stomach as another note appeared for his hand to immediately snatch in fear someone may see it. 'I want to live... I want to be a hero... I want him with me... I'm sorry' Whether that was an apology to him, Midoriya or someone else he couldn't tell, but now it made sense, all of it came crashing down like dominos before his oblivious eyes
There wasn't much Shoto could really think to say, much less act. He just got handed the burden one of his classmates who called him a 'Friend' had been carrying for longer than he liked to imagine, and after what happened to her sister, he realized something else, that not all smiles are without a few hardships.
With his right hand, he placed it on her far shoulder, keeping his eyes forward, burning with determination. "You'll live, you've defied my expectations and I couldn't understand how; Why would you risk everything you worked for to help me, to sacrifice effort in those around you," A small smile crossed his face. "It's what makes you the person you are, and it's how you'll survive this because you are strong."
Her hand reached up to rest over his, nodding once as the ruined mood felt a little warmer again.
To Be Continued...
Tons of drama this time, from tension to emotions to pressing danger, all wrapped up in a bow for the explosive finale of his arc. It's time to get to the main attraction, the players are ready now all hell breaks loose. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter, Plus Ultra!
Next Chapter: Adapt. Enhance. Protect
Yuki and Shoto are called to Hosu with Endeavor as an all-out attack breaks loose on the streets involving the League of Villains. Time is running out and Kovik hides no more.
A/N: I'm running out of 'Perfect' titles, I'm trying I really am but this next one was an intentional change for good reason ;)