"It is my turn!"
You cheer brightly, switching out with April to Aizawa's Quirk Apprehension Test and U.A entrance exam or the equivalent of it. You couldn't wait the moment you arrived to the deserted area where it would be. The others went first since they where the oldest and you went last.
Though patient and enjoyed watching the guys and April showcase their quirks cheering for them, you just couldn't help but feel a bit impatient and eager to start.
It showed from the smile extending across your face and the way you leaped over to the spot everyone stood a few feet before Aizawa. While you smiled he did not share the same expression or enthusiasm as you. He just wanted to get this done.
Standing obediently before him, hands rested together gently before you, not on the sides or crossed or behind the head, wait to be instructed on what to do.
"I am ready! Please instruct me on what you would like me to do!"
Aizawa had a few thoughts, but threw them away. Instead lifted his goggles up, concealing his eyes, just as he did with a few of the others. That you remembered, what you didn't remember was the sudden blitz. In mere seconds before you even blink find the man before you, face to face.
Staring directly at you, snatched your breath away for a second. A second Aizawa took advantage of, ensnaring you in his binding cloth, much to your surprise. You instinctively activate your quirk finding it didn't work.
Your heart dropped.
He saw it spread in your eyes.
Even now, presently, looking down from his seat in Commentator box at the dark silver dome in the arena where you now reside. It wasn't hard to see what happened. Even through his bandages, he saw it clearly.
You froze.
You became distracted within that second and this happened.
Nothing changed, it was absolutely clear what needed to be done.
With you.
Aizawa wasn't the only one, the thought crossed Kirby's mind the moment his heart stalled and nearly dropped from the attack. He shot up from his seat filled with body tremors all over it was nearly visible.
"...No," he gasped quietly. Eyes wide, nearly bulging at the dome. That remained encasing you.
His mind blank with rushing worry and uncertainty, he felt the chill rush down his spine like ice. Everything faded out but the heavy thumping of his heart echoing. In that momentary darken silence a small memory surfaced.
Of him, a few years younger with his wife standing together in a room in silence softly looking intensively at the little girl huddled in the corner surrounded by scatters of ripped and broken toys. That she broke, from what the nurses told them. The girl rocked back and further shivering even though it wasn't cold in the room.
She looked like mess...a vacant dull look in those bright golden-yellow eyes, that stared solely at the wall. Fresh inflicted scratches on her bronze skin, arms really, that she continued clawing at it had begun surface bleeding. Bits of blood stained the tips of her ragged nails.
The sight before them wasn't quite a surprise for Kirby, been long his profession...but his wife was heart broken and she had every right to be, hot tears in the corner of her eyes ready to fall. Seeing family like this...was enough to make anyone cry.
This...this was what she and her would be taking into their home. If they could get to her, but with her quirk active producing a thin lined golden-yellow barrier preventing anyone from administering physical contact. Kirby remember seeing this before with her, but it was more in a aggressive offense way two weeks ago when she was with...that boy.
Her brother.
She lashed out with fury the moment someone came a tried touch him. Blasting a concentrated emission attack at the people. It didn't do much damage leaving some scraps on the men, but the baring look darken scrunched on her face said it all. Though it was clear she was just being protective, the way her eyes locked with each and every man for a eight year old was fearsome if not murderous.
It was a good thing her body couldn't handle the output she exhibit and she passed out.
Allowing her to and her brother to separated, though it left her like this...staring vacantly at a wall. At least that's what he thought it was mainly, but it was more, one thing was certain that Kirby learned about his youngest daughter back then...enclosed places wasn't good.
Coming back from that memory, Kirby bit the bottom of his lip. How where you fairing right now? He could only imagine you curled up on the floor of arena whimpering and without his wife...no she put somethings in place so that...you'd be okay.
Still...he wasn't sure how long those placements lasted with her gone. He shuddered a bit thinking about it. The mind was a delicate place...anything and he knew that well, anything could set it off.
He just hoped,swallowing the hard lump lodged in his throat, that...wouldn't happen.
"May..." he worried, clenching his hands. Did his best to hold back his tears, wishing April or one of the guys would rush to her aid.
But knew no one could.
From their seat those sharp golden amber eyes lavishly grim look of worry wrinkled on Kirby's face. The woman almost let a small chuckle escape. The child sitting next to them looked to her for a moment.
She rested a hand rest on their head, sending an instant chill down their spine. The child instantly looked back at the arena.
Nothing had changed except Midnight holding up her flogger whip overhead, started counting down.
"Idiot boy," she hissed grinding her teeth, glaring at Jun her eyes flashed a heated amber glow. "He's forgetting the goal." She slammed a fist down.
The child flinched a bit, it went unnoticed.
Each number Midnight said flushed heat through the women's body, she was ready to stand and shot at Jun. But remained seated, feeling Endeavor's heated glare on her. It burned.
She kept herself unfazed and eyes forward. It was a good thing the hero couldn't hear her quickened heart pounding in her chest.
"Think boy, think," she muttered digging her manicure nails into the arm rest of the seat. "You shouldn't have used that attack! You can never think clearly! Damnit!"
Midnight was almost done, her whip lowering, Jun saw, despite the smirk he had to mask his surprise and filled joy that he won against...so fast. He felt their razor eyes on him.
"Shit!" He hissed bitterly, sighing internally. He had to do as she said.
Looking at dome, it was perfect, but there was no reaction from you. Thinking quietly and quickly, he knew another way.
How could he forget?
For a moment the corners of his lips trembled, before thinning into a curled smile.
Shinso arched a brow leaning forward. "What the heck is he doing?"
With one hand out towards the dome, June raised his other one behind him in the direction of students of class 1-A. Particularly at a certain individual. Dark silver energy collected inches before the palm of his hand. In the air, takes shape of something long, point and sharp tip.
"W-What's he doing?" Mineta panicked fear plastered on his face. Nearly screaming off the top of his lungs.
Others wondered too, this sudden gesture took them all by surprise. Especially a certain someone, their heartbeat thrashed in their ears. It was all they could hear.
Fear spread on their face, wrinkled in confusion. That locked them place and shot a cold tremor down their spine, their mind trying to process all this. Was Jun...was he really...this was against the rules, it had to be...it had to be...it...
"Say bye, bye," Jun whispered, thrusted his hand outward.
Sharp shooting the attack, like an arrow, shocking nearly every one in the crowd. Holding their breaths, the attack pierced through air across the arena with prejudice.
It was quite clear, Mashirao shot up from his seat the same as April her eyes glowing.
"Miydor-"
"Repeal!"
Before the name left Mashirao's mouth and a gasp fell from the crowds' mouth, a figure zipped past Jun and placed themselves between the attack and students. Concealed them and themselves in an half circle golden every barrier. Deflecting and stopping the attack.
"Wh-what the-?" Jiro blinked a bit breathless.
She like the others looked to see, quite a few gasped at what they saw. Mikey's dropped mouth upturned into a huge grin and thrusting cheer.
"Yeah!" He laughed, jumping out his seat rooting. "Yeah!"
Standing himself a smile slowly spread on him, Izuku looked at arena eyes wide for a moment turn instantly to joy at the sight of you. Standing before everyone keeping up the protection.
"May," April breathed quietly, Iida dropped his eyes to her for a moment.
"She's okay!" Izuku exclaimed letting out a heavy breath. His heart settled.
Mashiaro felt the same, his tail lax behind him seeing you. He chuckled a bit, at the scare he had, it quickly dropped and sharpened when he looked at Jun.
"Well," Jun scoffed cocking his head muttering , "I knew that would work."
You where surprise it did work and managed to get over to the others and shield them. Your arms and hands, raised and extended outward, outlined in golden energy. Feet planted firmly on the arena floor providing Resilience for the shield. Your heels just a nearly a foot away line, stare puzzlingly yet hard at Jun. For a moment your eyes gasp a moment seeing the way his eyes where glowing like your own and the darken look hidden in them.
Nearly shot ice down your spine. Instead sent a small tremble through your arms. Locking them in place for a second, it was noticed from the seats. Quickly you disperse the shield and return your eyes back to normal.
Drop your arms to the side. Let out a small breath to the side, blink a moment find yourself back again isolated in the dome and somewhere...familiarly dark and tight, your body tensed with shock in a chill. Blink again find yourself just fine, out and free.
"What's the matter," Jun gibes, smirking, " you seem a little flushed? Didn't you like my Iron-Maiden? What not good in the dark?"
You eye him unsure what he meant.
He squinted with a hard smirk. Looked passed you to the class. "I was wondering what would get you out, I almost forgot what worked. Honestly, I'm sort of glad it didn't land. Can you imagine just how much in trouble I would have gotten in if I did?" He pushed a thin smile. Pointing his chin towards Izuku. "No hard feelings right?"
Izuku tensed from the look Jun gave. His blood nearly ran cold, April reached out a hand and set it on his shoulder.
Squeezed it.
He looked at her, her eyes stared forward locked on Jun with a probing gaze. Jun flashed his eyes on her and the same intense, fevered stare he gave Izuku gave her. Hopping to Leo and Mikey, locked with Mashiaro too, to finally rest on Raph and Donnie who came back.
Raph stared hard back, Donnie sunk under.
Feeling their internal response you step forward. Turning Jun's eyes back to you.
"You forgive me, right?"
He smiled.
Something in you started shaking a little. It knotted in your stomach.
He shrugged a bit. "I was trying to get you back, I mean, we did promise to have a good match, right?"
That's right, you did. But...your lips pressed together in slight grimace for a moment. Look to the side.
Jun saw opposing emotion on you, smiled inside. Dropped it outside. Put it backwhen you looked back at him. He waited for your response, against your better judgement nod.
"Yes, that is...that is what I said," you swallow forcing a smile. Move over a bit, standing before Izuku, close your eyes with your smile.
Now respectfully to Jun, as Splinter taught you, leaving quite a few surprised and confused.
"What's she doing?" Mineta scratched his head, pointing.
You come up, opening your eyes. "Let us have a good match."
"You've gotta bring your best, they're watching." He gestured behind him. "Last one standing?" He asked.
Your skin prickled from his words. Yet you agreed.
"Yes, last one standing."
Just the words Jun wanted to hear, taking a few steps forward, you do the same despite the shakiness of your legs. That was noticed, meet Jun back in the center. Stand at least four feet away, your smile remained.
A smile Jun was ready to snatch off, but restrained himself, reached out a fair hand to you. That surprised you for some reason. You look at it for a moment.
Back in the seats April gripped her pants, gulped. Held her breath, leaning forward. A slight chill ran down her spine at Jun's hand, something wasn't right...something just...
Don't...don't...May...
"Well," Jun asked lifting his hand a bit more, "come on. Take it. I want to get this over just as much as you. We'll show everyone who the best is. Trust me."
Those words...they..."Yes." You take it.
A gesture you wished you hadn't. He latched onto your wrist, snatched you forward and rammed the butt of knee into your torso.
Expelling out like a volcano. You almost lost vision for a moment, the world around you...spun, from the sharp elbow he plunged in between your shoulder blades. Slamming you hard to the floor, your body froze from the pain. A copper taste slightly filled your mouth.
Mikey's mouth dropped. Leo's eyes bulged. Donnie winced. Raph's eyes widen. April openly stared. Kirby...froze and shouted. Splinter...dig his claws into the armrests, it splinted.
Toshinori glanced quickly at the Hamato, turned back around to the arena. The assault surprised him, Jun did it so...effortlessly. So fluid. Like one motion.
You laid face down, unresponsive. His heart pitied for you. She was knocked unconscious, with a hit like that I wouldn't be surprised.
"Man, that was brutal!"
"There's no way...she'd come back from that."
"How did he just...just...it was so fast!"
It was fast, the speed and reflexes Jun gave was nothing like...like before in the match. Your head was still spinning and face stinging, the floor was harder than you thought. But, luckily you managed to find away to elevate some of it. Standing over you, Jun watched and waited for you to move. He saw your finger twitch a bit, then curl, to where you whole arm began to move. He wanted to strike again, but held back and let you get up. You where bleeding a bit from your mouth and the corner of your head, but that wasn't what surprised everyone. The slight greyish discoloration and black vines on your face earned the reaction. Your face looked the same...back at USJ when you passed out and became cold.
"S-She's...up?"
Someone said.
Slowly the markings and coloration faded from your face, getting up stagger a bit, flash your eyes at Jun. He stood back for a moment, with a flat look and narrow eyes. It was almost like ice the way he looked, nearly done yourself standing completely, something fast and sharp shot passed you nearly grazing your cheek. Your heart dropped like a an anchor, whipping around push off. Flying in the direction of the attack, back the students, you weren't sure who it was aimed at this time nor did you care, knowing you wouldn't reach them in time to stand between them and the attack thrust your hand out. Forgetting about the pain screaming from your shoulder blades.
Cast a shield before the class, stopping the attack. It wasn't that strong, using only one hand, it vanished after impact, but it was enough to ensure no one was hurt. A good sign for you, your heart started beating again. Lowering your hand manage a small smile, a smile that cost you.
"Shit! May!" Raph yelled, with Mikey.
April nearly sprung from her seat, Leo too. But he held himself back, biting the inside of his cheek. Knowing there was little he could do, though wished he could. The same with his brothers and April, the pained stare wrinkled on their faces. Raph's jaw clenched so tight his teeth might have cracked. The restrain of being unable to...jump in and offer assistance to you right now...rattled each of them. But, Leo knew this wasn't New York anymore, looking to April he saw it set in her eyes despite her internal screaming. They've always been a team, doing everything together, fighting others. Having each others back, when one of them needed help they'd go and help. Now, Leo clenched his hands a bit, Momo noticed, now...they weren't together nor could they jump in and help. Everything they've been taught was what needed to bring in order to...further themselves and becoming stronger.
In a sense...alone.
They each needed to go beyond their current state, just as the school's motto says. Go Beyond, Plus Ultra. Right now, despite his own turmoil feelings Leo had to just sit and watch, watch you figure out this fight. Go Beyond, Plus Ultra...as coldly as this thought passed through his mind, he hoped you'd learn and understand this...wasn't New York anymore.
"I told you to bring your best," Jun said in a voice devoid of emotion, appearing behind you, arm draw back and hand clenched in a fist charged with dark sliverish engery. Eyes glowing, drove his fist at you.
That split second was...all it took for your mind and body to freeze. Everything went blank, forgetting what to do next, reacted suddenly. Your feet pushed off the ground, held in your stomach curved forward barely dodging the strike. Land a few feet away from Jun.
He stopped, surprised for a moment, smirked. "Well," he turned around to you, charging up his other hand, outlining himself in a silver glow. Automatically you do the same, matching him. Others blinked wide-eyed, double take at the sight before them. Jun scoffed turning chin. Eyes glowing intensely."look who's serious! You were a bit slow, not surprised, you've gotten a bit soft. But, that's to be expected!"
His energy spiked wildly, blazing around untamed. A manic grin thirstily twisted on his face and in his eyes. It struck something in you, it spread his grin further. The thirsty look deepened into a darkened and seething desire that burned a rooted violence. His eyes locked solidly with yours, like a predator, your heart jumped with a chill. Something, something just didn't seem right...the blaze energy he was giving off and releasing was...nearly suffocating. The power was awing at first, but filled with such...rage. Your nearly flattered under it. For some reason, though you hadn't registered his energy imprint it seem...oddly familiar. As though you could read it, at this very moment and focused on that, it's what you managed to get helped you to swallow the paralyzed fear and cement yourself and trembling legs.
Remembering Splinter's words as quickly as you could, calm your face it was nearly unreadable.
Jun was at a lost for a moment, scanning your face for any crack, saw nothing. The face...he remembered you had whenever the two of you stood across one another and 'played'. Not an ounce of readable intent or expression. Except it was colder than calmer, still, it was the same face.
"Fine," he grunted.
Pushed off, charged you. You react doing the same, he threw the first punch, you swipe to the side lock and grab him by the wrist. A few gasped at quickly you reacted and sudden change. A change that didn't last long, Jun twisted and spun himself around came at you with a energy coated knifed hand to the throat. You let go of him, jumping back. The ends of your pony tail sliced off, small strands of hair drifted slowly to the floor. Present Mic got the crowd roaring.
He was fast, thinking quickly flip back avoiding his knifed hand again. Left your mid-section open, felt a blow like a sledge hammer there threw you back like a sack of potatos, your body skid across the floor. A dull sciatica pain settled in your stomach, but you absorbed it, get up.
Get punched!
Right in the same spot, it was like something sharp was thrusted through you. The pain nearly made you throw up a scream, but you bit it down. Numbing the area, allow yourself to be thrown across the arena again. Stopping a few feet from the boundary line.
"I-Is she okay?" Mina gasped, covering her mouth a bit. Looked to Mikey who had nearly the same expression, except no hand covering his mouth.
You weren't okay, to say the least, air nearly knocked you out twice. How could you be? Aizawa looked down at you laying there, pain wrinkled deeply on your face, he wasn't sure why you didn't block that attack. It was quite clear you could have. His eyes narrow observantly, there was no way a Hamato would have student react like this? Not to mention your quirk, you hadn't really used it, only when it came to providing protection to others. He knew there was a certain glitch with your quirk if overused or expelled too much.
Where you saving your energy for something? He tried to read you, but the pain etched on your face made it a challenge. He knew one thing, there was something weighing on your mind that was taking your focus away from this match. A sense of worry hidden in your eyes, that scared you. There was something else he noticed with you, watching you get up jump to the side avoiding Jun's thrusted kick. Coated in energy.
Your back was always in the angle where the students sat. There was a considerable amount of distance but, but too much, the way you positioned and angled yourself aligned discreetly with Izuku. In a sort of protective stance and state. Doing your best to keep Jun away, taking on the physical assaults', when he knocked you down, you'd get up and seemingly flee getting Jun to chase. Moving him away from the others, from Izuku but kept yourself in-between. It didn't go unnoticed and was quickly seen by most of the teachers and pros.
Outside the arena, still on guard duty pro heroes Mt. Lady, Death Arms, and Kamui Woods take a moment to watch the match. Hearing the cheers and Present Mic's commentary, watch the two students. You quickly produced a shield, deflecting Jun's sharp stream blast of energy. It nearly hit you back, but you managed to jump out the way, and block Jun's spun kick.
"She's taking a beating," Mt. Lady said rather board. "the other kid is good. He's got pinned."
Death Arms nodded. "She managed to make through each event fine, of course with help. Which isn't wrong, but she clearly relies on it. I can see in her eyes she's uncertain and lost."
"Yeah, she won't get scouted by heroes." Mt. Lady added, "It's not a good thing to have to be a hero."
"She lacks confidence in some way. She's kind of spacey too."
"Now, I wouldn't say she doesn't have confidence, otherwise she would have dropped out right now. She's got guts, I'll give her that, but considering how many times she's being hit in it, not for long. Would I personally take her on, no. What do you think Kamui?"
They look at the silent hero, he hadn't said a single word, remained focused on the match. He heard everything his collogues said, narrowed his eyes a bit at you. Observing your eyes, body, and much more.
"She's holding back," he stated.
The heroes look at him surprised for a moment, then back to the screen. "You're joking, right?" Mt. Lady scoffed a bit, sat that he wasn't. Looked back at the screen, trying to see what her fellow hero saw.
Saw nothing.
Back in the arena, in the seats the same could be said for those watching. Splinter watched you get hit back, a bit more marked up than before. Drizzle of blood in coming from the corner of your mouth. Watched you wipe it away, such a soft heart you had. Both your greatest strength and weakness. The training before all this he had with his sons, April, and you was to prepare for this event. Each of you spared against one another, he watched and instructed. You where focused then, with everyone, that was it...it was with everyone.
A familiarity.
Damn, he clawed the armrests. How careless he was. His eyes soften painfully watching you. Toshinori peeked behind him at the Hamato, opened his mouth to say something, quickly closed it, returned back to the fight.
She's protecting, he summed, she could easily use her quirk against Jun or at least on herself. From what her files read. But, she's not. It's completely different from years ago, they both are. She would have completely unleashed it by now.
He remembered.
I guess that's good, he lamented, still...huh? He noticed Endeavor out the corner of his eyes watching the match, no...surveying the match. His attention honed solely on it. What is he doing? Trying to follow the direction the Flame Hero was looking, Toshinori saw, and rose a brow. Why is he looking...at young O'Neil?
The answer would have to wait, another shout from Present Mic turned the hero back to the arena. Again, for the hundredth time you where shot back by Jun's straight shot attack. It knocked you out for a second.
Casting you darkness, all you could think about was...keeping him safe. You had to keep him safe, it played over and over in your mind. A-As long, as long I can keep this up...th-then..you ache, then..he'll be alright. I'll keep you s-safe. I promise. Okay? You look to the small child standing far away crying.
Opening your eyes, get up despite the aching rattling in your muscles. Stand, face Jun, arms up like Splinter taught you. Front food slid forward, the other planted firmly behind you. One arm extended behind you like a ballerina, the other curved and up gracefully. Leaned back a little, stare hard yet soft at Jun.
He didn't understand, you should have been out...but that look settled on your face he wanted to punch off. It held so much, he wanted to scream. That much hadn't changed with you, that same face he remembered staring up at...her. Hard like stone, standing before him. While he trembled behind you on the floor, trying hard not to whimper. You kept it up, turning a softer look to him with a hand out to him. It was there in your eyes now...but not for him. Racking his mind for a moment at who could be for...he threw ever attack he could think of at you. Watched you get knocked down and take it. To get back up, flee and he'd follow. To do the same thing, you hadn't really used your quirk...as you where suppose to or he was suppose to get you to do. But, you showed nothing...why?
Stopping for a moment, he took a slight step towards you, you moved just a little to the side and it clicked. Quickly looking behind you, calculating the angle saw it and saw red.
His eyes flashed darker, you'd been playing him as a fool...fine, a plan surfaced, rushed you. You get ready, to counter, rush in with kick swiping up.
He leaped.
Avoiding it.
Locked eyes with Izuku, again, pointing a charged hand out. Scowled and fired. Muttered.
"Die."