Marking her notes in curved kanji, Kyoka underlines the final few verses. Song lyrics complete, music symbols etched and highlighted to pattern every word, she dots the end of her completed work. A partial smile sneaks its way onto her face as she reads it back. It's something she'd started for him when he put himself in the nurse's office during the Sports Festival; she finds it amusing that she's finished it now that he's put himself into the medbay again. Kyoka closes the notebook and tucks it away for later. As embarrassing as it'll be to share, she hopes the numbskull likes what she wrote.
Considering the troublesome boy a second more, the girl starts to glance around the classroom. He usually arrives a few minutes early to school, and yet, there's still no sign of him. Izuku's desk is completely vacant. Something seems off. Kyoka checks the clock mounted above the door and waits a while longer with some hopefulness that he'll walk in from the entrance. When Kaminari steps through the doorway instead, she inwardly groans. There's still some time until Aizawa Sensei arrives; she stands up, scooting her chair back, and ventures to question some of her peers.
"Oi", Kyoka flags down Iida with a wave. The bifocaled boy glances up, robotic movement even more stifled than it usually is. She can't blame the poor guy. After losing his brother to Stain and then coming face to face with the killer … Kyoka shakes off the feeling before asking about the other boy who'd been involved in that entire fiasco, "Have you seen or heard from Izu-" She freezes up with a blush threatening to appear before feigning a cough to say, "Midoriya", instead.
Iida balks, hesitation evident in his stiff demeanor. But the tin man must have SOME oil in his joints, since he eventually does manage to move. The boy slides his bifocals up the bridge of his nose before fixing the eyes behind their lens on Kyoka, "I'm afraid I haven't. Not ever since …" He trails off, voice stalling like there are engines in his throat instead of his calves. Iida clears his throat before recovering and apologizing, "Sorry, Jirou."
Iida hasn't been the most social butterfly in their class, but he certainly has still been vocal in the past. To see the boy so closed off now, it's reminding her of the way he acted after the Sports Festival. He's hiding something. While Kyoka's first thought is that he and Izuku suffered some kindof punishment for what happened, the arrival of everyone in Izuku's room the last time she saw him the most glaring bit of evidence, she also takes into account that Iida is still present for class. One of the boys couldn't have suffered something more severe than the other, right? …Right?
But before Kyoka can ask anything, Ashido interjects with her sudden appearance. "Are you two talking about Midori and Stain?", the pinkette parks her rear on Iida's desk with a little bounce. Normally the bifocaled boy would reprimand the girl, but he apparently withdraws at the mere mention of the hero killer or his fellow classmate. "It's pretty crazy what happened, isn't it?! I heard he took on Stain all by himself!", Ashido is blissfully ignorant to how uncomfortable her enthusiasm on the subject makes him but Kyoka can tell that each sentence is only making it worse, "Iida! You were there, right?! Is it true?! What happened?!"
Ashido's shouts garner the attention of other students. Hagakure's floating uniform skips over, her interest perked. "Yeah! Tell us all about it! Was Stain scary? How's Midoriya?", the invisible girl bombards the boy with questions of her own. Sero and Uraraka don't say anything, but it's obvious that they're listening if their curious looks are anything to go off of. Asui is unusually quiet while sharing a glance with Todoroki who's doing his best to stare anywhere but at the other students.
It's at this point that their homeroom teacher enters the room. Whether he overheard them or not, "That's enough. Everybody return to their seats", Aizawa's authoritative voice warns everyone to cease conversation at once. Iida breathes a sigh of relief when his desk is cleared away. Kyoka, on the other hand, is anything but relieved. Especially when she sees the brainwashing boy from the Sports Festival following Aizawa into the room.
"Aizawa Sensei, what's that guy doing here?", Kaminari raises his hand to blurt out a question despite not waiting to be called on. He's given a firm glare as a result, making the blonde boy recoil and whisper apologies, but the valid inquiry gets an answer nonetheless.
"Some of you may or may not recall Hitoshi Shinso's performance during the Sports Festival", Aizawa gestures towards the purple haired boy who appears as though he just rolled out of bed, "He spent the time that you were away during your internships training under me and has earned himself a spot in the hero course" The hovering hand prods Shinso forwards. "Welcome and treat him well."
"Congratulations", Asui offers the new member of 1-A a warm smile despite her voice croaking out a, "Ribbit!" Shinso nods towards the greenette, showing his appreciation for her sentiment.
Uraraka claps her hands together, also welcoming the boy. "We're happy to have you!", the brunette is backed by a thumbs up from Ojiro and an enthusiastic nod from Kirishima.
But when Shinso steps forward to take Izuku's desk, some of those people share Kyoka's disconcertment. She stands up to vocalize her distress. "That's Midoriya's seat! You can't sit there!", her ear jacks rattle like a snake's tail when she feels her frustration swelling forth into her face. Heated red, her cheeks puff up with embarrassment, but she isn't so willing to sit back down and surrender over it.
"Jirou", Aizawa's stern stare doesn't match the tone of his voice as he addresses her outburst, "That kindof behavior will not be tolerated here" He has a hard look on his face but Kyoka can hear his crestfallen tone thanks to her quirk. That's somehow worse than being reprimanded. She feels a pang in her chest. She already knows why he must sound this way before he says it, "Shinso will be taking the place of Midoriya, and as such, will be using Midoriya's desk."
"What?!", Kirishima shoots up from his seat. His chair scapes across the floor's tile before toppling over. "But– But that's not fair!", and throws his hands up to then slam them down on his desk.
"Yeah", Sero nods fervently. His usual broad toothed smile is missing as he says, "That's SO not cool."
"I concur", Tokoyami crosses his arms. Dark Shadow comes out to add, "Not cool!"
Bakugo's lips are parted, but nothing comes out of his gaping mouth. He looks down, contemplative. Then hardens his expression, trying to appear indifferent. "Tch", he's one of the less vocal students about their classmate's absence. But he can't fool Kyoka. She hears his heartbeat breaking rhythm.
Iida's despair is desolate. He makes himself scarce from his spot. His shoulders shake and slouch, as though the burden of a weight is upon solely him. The boy blames himself. It takes everything he has to hold back tears, his glasses prematurely fogging up.
Todoroki stares straight ahead, air pushing out through his nostrils; if the boy had a full fire quirk like his father, he'd have no doubt breathed like a dragon puffing fumes. "If this is about what happened with Stain, I was there, and Midoriya shouldn't be at fault for trying to stop the hero killer", his facial features tighten when he tersely adds, "He even saved my bastard of a father from the villain."
"This is not up for debate", Aizawa snaps at them to quiet down; his eyes flare red and his hair rises above his head. When everyone settles back into their seats, he deactivates his quirk with a sigh. "Shinso's acceptance into the hero course has nothing to do with Midoriya's removal, and that's all you need to know, everything else is information that I'm not at the liberty to share", his voice is strained like his patience but the class seems to get the idea.
"I was hoping to be classmates with Midoriya … I'm just as disappointed as the rest of you", Shinso whispers more-so to himself than his new peers. When he takes the seat of the boy that beat him in the Sports Festival, it doesn't feel very comfortable.
Aizawa massages the temple of his forehead, nursing the headache that's coming on. The scar stitches are starting to act up again as well, his cheek itching as much as it stings. "We'll carry on with your Final Exams as though nothing happened", the tired teacher groans since the day has only just started.
But Kyoka is no better off as she zones out for the rest of the day from hearing that terrible news. It comes as an awful shock to her. One difficult to recover from. The girl can't help but wonder why the boy didn't let her know himself. No text. No call. She checks her phone during lunch, even trying to reach out and get in touch with him. Izuku Midoriya may as well have blinked out from existence the way that he's ghosted her.
Momo comes over to comfort her when the final bell rings. Bosom pressed against her face like a soft pillow, Kyoka sinks into the hug. "I just … don't understand", she mumbles into the other girl's boobs like one of them will know all the answers.
Iida approaches the two, adjusting his glasses. "Perhaps I can help with that", he sounds just as subdued but his voice still manages to grab ahold of Kyoka's attention, "I think I owe you that much … an … explanation."
Momo speaks for her friend when she nods to urge the boy on, "Yes. Please."
Iida bows at the waist, a perfect bend. "It's all my fault", he starts with an apologetic cry now that the emotions he withheld throughout the day have bubbled to the surface, "Midoriya suffered vigilante charges in place of my own actions because I ran away" The legs he used to flee from the fight wobble as they threaten to give out. "It's to my knowledge that I'm only allowed to remain here because of his sacrifice – it should have been me – not him!"
"Iida.. That can't be true..", Uraraka comes to console her friend when she sees his back wracked with sobs. Her hand rubs soothing circles between his shoulder blades. The other members of Class 1-A surround them as well, having overheard his cries too.
"It is", Iida sniffles as he corrects his posture. He takes the handkerchief from his coat pocket to wipe his glasses clean before clearing his throat. "The treatment of which Midoriya and I have received is reflective on the law but I can tell you that I'm just as deserving of a harsh punishment in such a case", he suppresses a rebound of tears and keeps his composure as he looks at the class crowded around him.
Asui brings a finger up to her chin, an inquisitive gesture. "What was your punishment then?", she asks with a curious tilt of her head.
"Remedial courses and additional summer camp", Kaminari and Ashido wince while the rest of the class are smart enough to know that's not exactly a punishment in Iida's case, "Though I've been informed that failure to meet expectational standards will result in my provisional license being revoked."
"Why couldn't they have given Midoriya the same treatment?", Todoroki doesn't hide his displeasure when a full frown overcomes his face.
Iida's shoulders lift, giving a half shrugged response. "I can't accept a second chance in good confidence if they refuse to offer the same opportunity to Midoriya", he looks down as though hesitating before returning his gaze to the group and saying, "And as such will be denying my redemption by withdrawing from the hero course."
"What?!", Sero gawks at the boy as though that declaration was given by a second grown head.
"Are you crazy?!", Hagakure exclaims loud enough to be noticed while flapping her arms around for extra measure. Ojiro has to grab ahold of the girl to calm her down, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Yeah, come on man, don't do THAT", Kirishima grimaces at the thought of having to leave the hero course.
But Iida shakes his head, denying their inclinations for him to stay. "It's only right that I undergo the same punishment", his chin tilts down and he closes his eyes when he confides in them the deeper reasoning for his decision, "Besides… The hero killer was right when saying it's unbefitting of a hero to seek revenge – I not only got Native killed, nearly myself included, but I made Midoriya suffer consequences that should have been mine to endure. All due to my selfishness to seek vigilante justice."
Ojiro flicks his tail back and forth, nodding along with its movement. "I guess I can understand that", he reflects on the Sports Festival and a similar choice he had to make. Shinso shares a look with the blonde.
"Thank you everyone for understanding", Iida manages a small smile and even accepts some hugs from his friends like Uraraka or Asui. "It's been a pleasure attending class with you all and I shall miss you deeply", his farewell isn't so stoic compared to the start of the semester. It's actually rather heartfelt. Kyoka can hear everyone's beat dropping a decibel. Even her own.
"Well, that was a bummer… Talk about a mood killer", Ashido deflates from exhaustion once Iida leaves. But the girl recovers promptly, gaining a second wind when she comes up with a brilliant idea. "I know what'll cheer everyone up! How about a class outing?!", she drapes an arm each around Hagakure and Kirishima to capture at least two people.
"Oh, I dunno…", Uraraka wavers with her decision. She forces a chuckle out while tapping her padded fingers together. It's not like her school uniform's skirt allows for any pockets to carry a wallet. And even if she did have a purse, she's not so sure she can afford to go anywhere.
"Yeah", Ojiro scratches the back of his head as he glances around at the others, "The timing isn't exactly the greatest what with Iida and Midoriya leaving…"
"That's exactly why we need to do something though! To brighten the mood!", Ashido shakes Hagakure and Kirishima with her exaggerated movement while whining, "Come on! We've gotta commemorate them and welcome Shinso to the class and celebrate our internships! There's so many reasons to do this!"
"Pass", Shinso mumbles from his spot behind the collection of classmates. He's been trying to sneak his way past them all in order to slip through the door unnoticed but they're too bunch together to pull it off.
Kaminari comes out of nowhere and ropes an arm around the boy's shoulders, both of them wobbling off balance from the tackle. "But then how would we be able to get to know ya?!", the blonde surges with more energy than his quirk is capable of generating as he flashes a grin and a thumbs up towards Ashido, "Count us in! This is a great bonding idea!"
"See? Kaminari agrees!", Ashido matches the boy's gesture before gravitating towards the other people who haven't shared their opinions yet, "Who else is down?"
Sero shares a look with Tokoyami, both boys shrugging. Sero's trademark smile returns, teeth and all. Koda, though shy, timidly nods with a raised hand to affirm he'd like to come along. Pretty soon, the odds begin to shift in favor of Ashido's suggestion.
Until Bakugo brushes by them all, shouldering his backpack as he does. "No way", he grumbles in a low tone, "I'm going home." He drags his feet out the door, everyone watching his back recede. Kirishima grimaces, almost chasing after the blonde.
But nobody does. Nobody even says anything about it. Until, "What would we even be doing anyways?", Sato shifts awkwardly while attempting to recover the vibes that Bakugo brought down.
Ashido perks right back up, seizing Sato's question as an opportunity to salvage the situation. "How about Karaoke!?", the pinkette suggests the first thing that comes to mind and doesn't regret it in the least, "I know a great place just a few blocks from here so that we could walk as a group!"
"Sounds fun", Asui ribbits her response first. Which is followed by a commotional chorus of agreement from the remaining margin of 1-A.
Kyoka steps back, shaking her head. "I think I'm with Bakugo on this one, I'm just gonna go home", she's grateful that Momo is so much taller than her so that she can hide behind the fellow girl.
"Whaaaat?!", Ashido groans before chasing Kyoka to lead her by the arm. "Come on, this is right up your alley!", she tugs on the girl despite getting resistance.
"For real!", Kaminari chimes in from the sidelines before invading her space too, "You've gotta sing at least one song!"
That makes Kyoka stall, brain short circuiting as though the boy used his quirk on her. "S- Sing?", she squeaks out a more scared than shy sound.
The poor girl develops a sense of jumpiness when Momo betrays her. "I actually agree with them, Kyoka" Momo grabs her friend from behind to hold her in place.
"Momo?", Kyoka whimpers in a vain attempt at receiving mercy as she tilts her head back to gaze up at who she thought was her friend.
But Momo doesn't release her hold, not even surrendering to puppy eyes. "I think this is just the kindof thing you need to cheer you up", she gives Kyoka's shoulders a soft squeeze to tenderly usher the girl on, "It'll be good for you."
"I–", Kyoka starts to object but finds her voice cutting itself off. For some reason, her eyes are drawn to her backpack. Where she keeps her composition notebook. The girl relents, "Fine", accepting her fate.
The class cheers over their victorious peer pressure. Kyoka can't help but smile a little, happy that they convinced her. Ashido pumps her fists into the air, squealing with excitement. She singlehandedly managed to convince the whole class aside from Bakugo to go. Even Todoroki somehow gets coerced into tagging along.
The gang heads for Ashido's fabled karaoke club. Fortunately for them, she didn't exaggerate the distance. It's a short trip that results in a good time. Momo pays for everybody to get a song each, the class sharing a VIP booth for a private concert. With mood lighting coupled with a disco ball turning above, it's a setting that everyone can get behind, both Tokoyami and Aoyama satisfied with it.
Since it was her idea, Ashido takes the microphone first. Her singing, though not the greatest, is full of confidence. More applause is due to her busting out some breakdancing moves to compensate than her voice. It's a better performance than what Kaminari follows with, at least. Kyoka can hardly stifle her laugh. The electric blonde misreads half of the lyrics and remains off key the entire time.
Everybody takes their turn, cycling through songs of their choosing. The most memorable had been Todoroki's strange pick to do 'Let It Go' from Disney's Frozen (enhanced by Kirishima and Sero providing background vocals) and Momo's cover of Miki Matsubara's 'Stay With Me'. But now it falls on Kyoka to close out their remaining time. She shrinks in her spot on the sofa, mortified when everybody begins chanting her name.
"Alright, alright!", Kyoka gives into their peer pressure once more with a cry of defeat. She whines all the way to the stage despite Momo's encouraging gestures. Ashido whistles with Hagakure as they hype her up, making the poor girl's anxiety skyrocket. She fidgets in place as she scrolls through the song selection options.
But Kyoka's eyes find themselves wandering to her backpack again. Where her notebook is. Momo had said this outing might be good for her. But maybe not to forget about Izuku. Rather, if she's not so certain she'll see him anymore, this might be a good chance to sing his song for him even in his absence. The girl musters up enough courage to hold out her hand and request Momo give her the notebook. She'll be brave and sing her latest work. Class 1-A shall be her test audience.
"Effort…", her voice carries well within the room's confined space as she starts, "...future…", the instrumental beat picks up and the disco ball lights up the room, "A beautiful star!"
Kyoka closes her eyes, knowing the lyrics by heart, the notebook just for reference and comfort. She tries to imagine Izuku in her head, a picture of what he's doing forming in her imagination. "Laundromat's empty, must be my lucky day!" The sun should be setting right about now. Izuku leaving U.A, he probably packed his bags to go to wherever he's headed next. "It's about time I said bye bye to this crud!"
Izuku heads for the black car waiting for him on the side of the street. His luggage goes in the trunk as he gives his house one last look, a 'For Sale' sign tainting its appearance. Bakugo, living in the same neighborhood, walks along the same sidewalk. Izuku turns to look at him, sun shining down between the two. Their eyes meet despite how bright a glare each beam gives off.
"Who is it? Who is whispering in my head?", Kyoka loses herself to the song as she vocalizes the words that she wrote, "The greedy voices keep singing, begging for more!"
The two boys don't say anything to one another. There's nothing to be said. Izuku nods. Bakugo nods. It's the same path that they currently occupy, but they're going in separate directions. Izuku turns to go first, ducking into the vehicle waiting for him. It's not until the car door shuts behind him that the other boy walks away.
"I just want to be satisfied", Kyoka wraps her arms around herself in a self imposed embrace, "Doing the bare minimum — I want to grab that heart of yours with my bare hands" She imagines Izuku's familiar sound, hearing it within the song.
The throbbing, the pulsation, it surges forth as Kyoka cries out passionately. "Let's fill it up with 'happy' until we rest in peace", she wishes he could be here having fun with the class instead of wherever he's going by himself, "That glimpse of hell isn't so bad!"
Izuku sits across from Makima, her personal part in his welcoming to the Commission calling for her presence. Hawks is there too, beside him, but the hero's gaze is fixed out the window. It's going to be a long ride. One that only the HPSC Director will enjoy. Makima smiles, pleased with herself and the turnout of everything transpired.
"Scatter it with love", Kyoka grips her microphone so that the sweat on her hands won't allow it to slip as she confesses, "I love you!" Even though he can't hear her, she sings anyways, "Please humiliate me! Rob me of my dignity and laugh my honey!"
Izuku feels his heart aching, hand placing itself over his chest. Makima's eyes stay on him as he holds Pochita's tail through his shirt. He can't look at the woman anymore. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back to rest it against the back of his seat.
"I think my screws are coming loose!", Kyoka snaps her head up. She ignores the whip of her ear jacks against her cheeks, "Another opportunity lost!"
Water droplets dot the windshield of the vehicle as it cruises through the city. Night falling upon Japan, so does a thunderstorm. Black clouds blot out the sun as it lowers from view. Shadows shade the car, the darkest of them all coming from the Commission's Headquarters.
"Rainy days never stay? Hand over your umbrella!", Kyoka swallows a bead of sweat as it rolls from the top of her lip into her mouth. A salty taste makes her words bitter as she sings the next verse, "Give me all of it! I want it all! The more I crave, an empty void consumes me."
She returns to the hook of the song, pouring her heart out. Kyoka continues to get carried away. She sings as though her voice will somehow find itself to Izuku so that he and only he will hear her. The girl is no longer aware of her class as an audience. With her eyes closed, she can't see their awe struck expressions; if not for Asui, they would have all swallowed a fly or two since they've had their mouths hanging open the entire time.
"I'm getting a kick out of it", Kyoka ends with a final flourish. She pants, having to catch her breath after the intense solo. She's sure that she's never sung like that before. It's funny. She can't help but laugh at the end of her song. Consider it a tagline.
But when her eyes slowly peel up to reopen, she's abashed beyond belief. All of that bravo is gone in an instant, the girl dropping her mic with a startled shout when realizing that whole thing was witnessed by her entire class. Mortified, Kyoka hurries to snatch her backpack before dashing out the door. She can faintly hear some of her classmates calling after her but she doesn't care. Tears prickle at the corners of her eyes as she runs outside, the rain blending with her cries.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Don't even ask me how I managed to write another chapter already AGAIN, I'm honestly surprising myself at this point...
That being said, I hope the way I implemented 'Kickback' was satisfactory. For a good female cover, Shiro Neko sings what I think something sung by Kyoka would sound like.
And thanks to all the kind reviews I've been getting! Glad you like the story thus far!
