Disclaimer: I own nothing.
My Hunter Academia
Chapter 2: Understanding
The helicopter ride was relatively quiet as Midnight, Nero, and the medic flew away from the crumbling island of Fortuna. The Pro Hero was currently holding the boy's right hand, drawing some circles on the back of it with her thumb as the medic continued her brief examination. Nero still held onto the doll, despite being unconscious. Taking her attention off the child, Nemuri couldn't help but cast a wary glance out the window at the collapsing landmass, noting that sections of the castle town slid into the Mediterranean. Not unlike one of those old disaster movies before the emergence of quirks. However, she did notice that while the monolith had fallen, it didn't quite sink beneath the waves, at least not entirely. She sent the artifact a look of contempt, something about that thing... it just didn't sit right with her. It wasn't out of hatred or dislike for the religious practice the people of Fortuna were a part of, she just felt that of all the things that deserved to be lost to the ocean, that was the number one thing on her list.
It just… felt wrong.
Nemuri shook her head as she put those thoughts aside and decided to examine the situation as a whole. The Pro Hero had to admit, she didn't think her first trip to Europe, let alone Italy, would be like this, but a small part of her was glad it turned out this way. Returning to what mattered, she looked down at Nero, still asleep from when she used her quirk to get the boy to relax and let the medic check him for any injuries. The woman couldn't help but give the child a look of concerned confusion, not because of any physical injuries he might have suffered, but emotional injuries. Her mind kept returning to what he had said when she initially found him and right before he passed out from her quirk. She couldn't stop thinking about his words and tone.
'"You're saving me?" "You saved me." Why did you say it like that, Nero?'
Nemuri repeated Nero's words in her mind over and over again. She didn't know why it bothered her so much, but his words just wouldn't leave her. It was one of those moments when she wished she could work more with children or younger individuals because if she had, she might be able to understand the situation better. However, many adults, especially parents, weren't all too eager to let someone like her around minors, given how she acts and dresses. She knew the reason why; it was part of her persona as Midnight, but she couldn't help but feel frustrated at the moment as she was a Pro Hero who had just saved a young boy from a collapsing building and sinking island. Except, while he wasn't in physical danger anymore, some psychological or emotional trauma was still present.
And she didn't know how to approach that to help him.
Nemuri barely registered the medic who had to physically touch her shoulder to get her attention given how focused she was on Nero. It took the woman a second time to get the Pro Heroine's attention, blinking a bit as she looked up at the medic.
"I'm sorry, say again," asked Midnight, having missed what she had said.
"I said that he is fine, just a few cuts and bruises, but when we land, a doctor will give him a proper examination," explained the rescue worker, Nemuri sighing with relief.
She looked back at Nero, a relieved smile gracing her features, but in her mind, Nemuri replayed his words over and over again. She was so engrossed in her thoughts, the Pro Heroine barely noticed that the helicopter had touched down on the secure deck of the aircraft carrier, and the roar of its engines gradually subsided. Midnight carefully held Nero as they disembarked, the unconscious boy cradled in her arms, the doll still in his hands. The medic followed closely behind, ready to provide further assistance if needed. The carrier's crew, prepared for the arrival of Fortuna refugees, quickly took charge, guiding Midnight and the others to a designated area.
As they walked through the organized chaos of the carrier deck, Midnight couldn't help but notice the diverse group of survivors from Fortuna. Families huddled together, children clutching belongings, and worried expressions etched on their faces. The Pro Hero scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces or anyone who might be looking for Nero.
Spotting a makeshift medical station, Midnight gently laid Nero down on a cot, and the medic resumed her examination. The boy stirred slightly, showing signs of regaining consciousness. Midnight glanced around, determined to find the family that had been caring for Nero in Fortuna.
Amid the crowd, she spotted Kyrie and Credo with their parents. Relief washed over Midnight as she approached them, determined to reunite Nero with those who had been looking after him.
"Kyrie, Credo!" she called out, catching their attention. The family turned toward her, expressions shifting from worry to a mix of surprise and gratitude.
Midnight explained the situation briefly, "I found Nero in the chaos. He's going to be okay, just a bit shaken up. Your care for him meant a lot, and I wanted to make sure he's back with you as soon as possible."
Kyrie and Credo's parents rushed forward, gratitude evident in their eyes. Midnight led them to where Nero lay, still under the watchful eye of the medic. As they approached, Nero's eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to recognition as he saw familiar faces.
"Nero!" Cried out Kyrie with joy as she rushed over to Nero, throwing her arms around him as she hugged him tightly.
The family embraced Nero, expressing their gratitude to Midnight. As the emotional reunion unfolded, Midnight couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Her mission to save Nero had extended beyond physical danger; she had helped restore a sense of security and belonging for the young boy in the midst of chaos.
The aircraft carrier, now a temporary refuge for the Fortuna survivors, buzzed with activity as the crew worked tirelessly to accommodate and support those who had narrowly escaped the disaster. Midnight observed the scene, knowing that the journey to recovery had only just begun for these displaced individuals
1 week later…
While her duty as a Pro Hero might have been following the evacuation, Nemuri had actually decided to stick around for a while, to help oversee anything she could help with when it came to helping the refugees get their accommodations when they reached the island of Sicily. However, during her time helping out, she did notice quite a few things about the crews helping the refugees: for one, the crews seemed very disinterested or even dismissive when it came to providing aid to the families. When it came to medical treatment, she noticed that many doctors seemed to just go through their patients as quickly as possible, discharging them as soon as they could, like they didn't want to bother with them. When Nemuri inquired about this, the medical staff explained that they had several dozen other patients they needed to get to and they had limited resources to work with.
Something else that she noticed when she looked into things: the supplies they were given seemed very cheap and when there were quality products, it seemed like there was a distinct short supply of what would normally be found in a crisis center. Everywhere she looked, the Pro Hero noticed there was a distinct lack of attentiveness or care for these people. However, things reached a truly breaking point when Nemuri learned about what was happening the following week.
"What do you mean you're discharging them already?" Inquired Nemuri as she spoke to the head of the relief center.
"I mean that I've found several families are ready to be released and are no longer in need of government support," explained the man as he flipped through a set of papers on a clipboard, "The Eleisons met the requirements for discharge."
"But isn't it a bit soon to be sent out following a crisis?" Midnight pressed, furrowing her brows in confusion and frustration.
"Normally, that would be true," he replied, his tone a bit dismissive, "But this a… unique situation regarding these people. We still have many more refugees who require more critical attention." The supervisor handed off the clipboard to his assistant.
"What makes this different compared to other crises?" Demanded Nemuri, her tone being a little more curt. What reason could there be to be so dismissive of the suffering of innocent people?
"Look, ma'am," said the man, getting fed up with her constant probing and questions, "While the system isn't perfect and resources are less than what we would prefer, we can't afford to babysit these people forever. Some families are ready to move on, and we've got to focus on the more critical cases. The Eleisons are fit to be discharged."
"Even still, will the family receive some kind of aid or compensation for what they lost?" Nemuri had an inkling of why families were being discharged so soon.
"Our job is to ensure the refugees are healthy and fit to be released," stated the man, glancing over at his assistant, "We'll direct them to options for housing and employment, but beyond that, they need to handle it themselves. We need to focus on those who can be more beneficial to society as a whole. We can't help everyone."
Nemuri glared at the man, "So because they are Quirkless, they are being discharged sooner than others who do have Quirks?"
"Tough decisions need to be made, and ones like this aren't made lightly," stated the man, "We wouldn't have slated them discharge if we weren't certain they couldn't take care of themselves. Besides, I figured Pro Heroes would be familiar with such choices."
Moments like this made Nemuri wish she could glare like Shouta, she'd even take being able to yell at people like Hizashi can. Not only could she tell that the people working with the refugees were doing the bare minimum, but the reason why many were being discharged due to their lack of a quirk was just as reprehensible. That's not even getting into the fact that many of these people had children among them. Their entire lives had been changed, their home was gone, and now they were subject to basic discrimination.
"I see," said Nemuri evenly, a hard grimace on her face as she turned to leave, "Just know I will be checking up on them before they leave.'"
"I would make it quick," suggested the man as his assistant handed him a different clipboard for him to look over, "They are scheduled to leave tonight."
"Of course," replied the Pro Heroine as she turned to leave, heading for where she last remembered seeing the Eleisons.
Ever since Nemuri saved Nero, she had been regularly checking up on the family, so often that at least once a day she would go to the Eleisons and interact with them. Though, much of her focus was on Nero, mostly due to what he had said to her when she rescued him. It truly bothered her, what the boy had said and the way he said it.
But she was glad to say that when she saw him with Kyrie, Credo, and their parents, he was much brighter, friendly and happy all around. Like a child should be. Especially now compared to when she rescued him from that collapsing building. With the situation calm and she was wearing her glasses, she could say that Nero was three things: small, cute, and very kind. Unlike many people who live around the Mediterranean Sea, Nero had very white skin and Snow White hair and blue eyes. The same could be said for Kyrie and Credo, but compared to them, Nero was much paler. Not in an unhealthy way, but definitely noticeable.
However, despite the happiness and joy from the children, there was a somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere hanging around the parents.
"Do you know where you will go when you leave?" Asked Nemuri, holding a cup of coffee in her hands as she spoke with Kyrie and Credo's parents.
"The rescue services have given us directions to a boarding house that has room for us to stay while I find work," explained the father after a tired sigh, "but it will be a difficult change for all of us."
"I can't imagine what it must be like, to lose your entire home like that." Nemuri noted, having been very fortunate in her life.
Nemuri continued sipping her coffee, her gaze shifting from the parents to the children playing nearby. The laughter of Kyrie and Credo echoed, and Nero seemed engrossed in building a small tower with blocks. However, the unease in the parents' expressions lingered.
"I'm glad to see the kids doing better," Nemuri said, a warm smile on her face. "They seem resilient, considering all they've been through."
The mother nodded, her eyes following the children. "Yes, they've adjusted surprisingly well. Kyrie and Credo have each other, and they've been a great support for Nero."
Nemuri observed Nero for a moment, noting the genuine happiness on his face. "He seems happy playing with them. It's good to see him smiling."
The father sighed, exchanging a glance with his wife. "He's been a blessing. We can't thank you enough for saving him that day. But…," He hesitated as if wrestling with how to express his thoughts.
"But what?" Nemuri prompted gently, sensing an underlying tension.
The mother bit her lip, a furrow forming on her brow. "We're worried about Nero. When we leave for the boarding house, it might be tough for him."
Nemuri furrowed her brows in concern. "What do you mean? Is there something specific bothering him?"
The parents exchanged another glance, sharing a silent conversation. The mother took a deep breath before speaking, "Nero... he won't be coming with us."
Nemuri's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of surprise and concern on her face. "Why not? What's happening?"
The father explained, "The rescue services provided support for our family, but it's limited to us—Kyrie, Credo, and ourselves. They never formalized Nero's status as part of our family."
Nemuri set her coffee cup down, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "But he's been living with you all, like family. Why wasn't it formalized?"
The mother sighed, her gaze dropping. "We never anticipated a situation like this. Our daughter has been there for him from the very beginning, and while we've treated him as our own, legally, he's not."
Nemuri leaned back, processing the information. Nero continued playing, unaware of the conversation taking place. "So, what does this mean for Nero? Where will he go?"
The mother took a deep breath before answering, "If I had to guess, I would assume back into the foster system or a different orphanage."
Nemuri's gaze shifted back to Nero, who was still engrossed in his playful world, unaware of the impending change. The weight of the revelation about his uncertain future hung in the air, and Nemuri couldn't shake the concern that crept into her heart.
As she looked at Nero, his innocent laughter and the warmth of his presence tugged at her emotions. A knot tightened in her stomach, realizing that the impending separation would be a profound loss for the boy. She couldn't fathom the thought of Nero, this small and kind soul, being tossed back into the uncertainties of the foster system or another orphanage.
The parents exchanged a somber look, their worry mirroring Nemuri's own. The scene was now charged with an unsettling tension, and Nemuri couldn't help but feel the weight of the decision that loomed over Nero's fate.
The mother's voice broke the silence, "We wish things were different, Nemuri. Nero deserves stability, but our hands are tied in this situation."
Nemuri nodded slowly, her mind racing with thoughts on how to help Nero through this difficult time. The bright smile on his face as he played with the blocks seemed both heartwarming and heartbreaking, knowing that it might be one of the last carefree moments in this makeshift family.
To Be Continued…
Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, I've been struggling with several personal matters. Had a brief existential crisis, questioning my existence, more or less had a questioning of self-worth and stuff when I'm in my early twenties. I'm also sorry if this chapter seems like it's quality has dropped, it has been a really long time since I last wrote, so getting back into this was tricky. I plan to update my other stories, but since this is the last proper story I wrote, I hope this is acceptable. Again, I'm really sorry it took so long to get this out, but I hope it can work as a start for more chapters.