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Chapter Nine

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When Kazuya woke up, she was immediately blinded by the rays of evening sunlight leaking through the window next to her. She groaned and brought her hands up to cover her face in hopes of retreating into the darkness.

"Slowly, dear," a sweet voice chastised from her bedside.

"Why am I so tired?" She gasped through a painful yawn. Her eyes fluttered open and she noticed the older woman next to her was none other than UA's nurse, Recovery Girl.

She smiled warmly, "You used up a lot of energy, Miss Imai. From what I can tell, you pushed your quirk too much after not training your telekinetic powers. This caused your motor cortex and parietal lobe, the parts of your brain that control movement and perception, to temporarily shut down."

"So," Kazuya groaned as she propped herself up on her elbows, "I couldn't move and became an idiot?"

"Precisely! It seems to last only for a few hours, but my quirk will leave you drowsy for a little while longer," Recovery Girl explained, shuffling to a couch in the corner and picking up a lavender-coloured school bag. She handed it to the student with a huff, "Now, I've taken the liberty of calling your mother for you. She should be here any minute to pick you up."

"Thanks…" Kazuya mumbled distractedly. Her attention shifted to the opposite corner of the room, where a bandaged Midoriya sat, looking out the window while deep in thought. A drawn curtain covered the bed next to him. "Glad to see you're okay," her lips twitched upwards.

He jumped slightly then turned to her with an awkward laugh, "O – Oh, same here!"

"I'm counting this as a win," she held up a fist and half-smiled. Her hand immediately dropped to her forehead as a dart of pain shot through her skull. Midoriya stared at her with solemn, worry-filled eyes, prompting her to wave away his concern.

She could tell something was on his mind, but he didn't want to say it. Undoubtedly, he was wondering if she had something to do with the attack.

Everyone probably will after today.

"He wasn't lying when he said he was my dad," Kazuya waited to try and gauge her classmate's reaction.

"Did he know you were going to be there?" Midoriya asked quietly. Kazuya shook her head and let her eyes drop down to her lap as a single hand ran through her fallen tresses. Where had her hairband gone?

"No, he didn't. He helped me, but I can't understand why he was there in the first place," she tightly grasped fistfuls of bedsheets, clenched fists shaking, "I don't want you to think of me that way. I'm not bad."

"I know," Midoriya nodded as the doors swung open.

"Mijita!" Her mother came running towards her, wrapping her in an aggressively loving hug.

"M – Mom," Kazuya wheezed. She was sure her ribs were broken.

"Shh, it's okay, Sweetheart. Mamá's here now," Elena cupped her daughter's face in her hands and squished her features. Before the teen could say anything, she pulled her into another crushing hug with a violent gleam in her loving eyes.

"Thanks, but — "

"I swear, if I ever see those villains again, I'm gonna light them up like fireworks!" Elena suddenly pulled away and snapped her fingers, sparks igniting between her digits like flint and steel.

"I'm fine, Mamá. Honestly," Kazuya rolled her eyes as her mother rubbed her cheek with her thumb. The older woman's face dropped when she began checking for scratches and bruises.

"Look at you. You were attacked by thugs and your father isn't even here. That lazy son of a…" She stopped herself with a scoff, mindful of the other kid in the room. There was a long pause, during which Kazuya narrowed her eyes and let her shoulders slump, uncomfortable with where she was about to take the conversation.

"Mom…Dad isn't going to come," she bit her bottom lip anxiously, but still earned a confused stare from her mother. Elena had gone eerily still.

"What do you mean?" She searched the girl's eyes for a hint.

Imai Elena was a brilliant woman, who fought tooth and nail to get to where she is today. She had sacrificed her relationship with her family for the sake of starting anew, but as her daughter shared the details of the USJ attack, something changed.

Kazuya waited for her mom to shout, cry, or break things, but the only movement she could see was the shrinking of her pupils.

"Your father attacked you?" Elena's knuckles turned ghost white as she gripped the side of the bed with frightening strength.

"No," Kazuya closed her eyes and bowed her head, a bead of nervous sweat rolling down her temple, "Well, not the whole time…?"

"Christ, Zuzu, is there an appropriate time to murder your daughter?!" her mother snapped, throwing her hands up exaggeratedly.

"Don't call me that," her gaze quickly lifted to challenge the older woman's scowl. Elena's eyes widened, but she quickly fixed them and bit down hard on her bottom lip. A tanned hand ran through her ebony hair as she regained her composure.

"Sorry, sorry, I know you don't like it anymore. I just — " a frustrated growl reverberated up from her chest, "First your sister and now Tai…We've already lost so much."

Silence filled Recovery Girl's office as the Imai women thought over the reality of her statement. Kazuya watched Midoriya whisper something to the person in the bed next to him. Despite her curiosity, she let them be and swung her legs over the side of the bed. With one hand, she motioned for her mom to help her stand while gripping the bed for stability with the other.

"Are you sure you're okay, Imai?" Midoriya asked, nervously watching her take a few shambling steps.

"Kazuya. You can call me Kazuya," her voice trembled like her legs underneath her. She was suddenly hit with a dizzy spell and cursed her off-centre balance. Luckily, her mother was able to grab her and keep her upright.

Midoriya wasn't like her personality-wise. He's anxious and polite while she is loud and hot-headed, not to the extent of Bakugou, of course. Even so, she saw many parts of herself in the green bean boy, and couldn't help but want to be friends. She had only ever cared to have Hitoshi around before now, but maybe this was a sign she was changing.

"Right!" Midoriya grinned more comfortably this time. It took him a few seconds to realise she was waiting for his name, too. "I – Izuku!"

"Well, Izuku, you still looked pretty cool out there, reckless as you were." The corner of her lips twitched into a hint of a smile, too exhausted to do anything but sit and listen to her mom mutter swears as they shuffled out the door.

Their house felt empty again, just like it did when Kagami left. To be fair, her father hadn't been home much over the past few weeks. Even when he was, he was sleeping or working down in the basement. That didn't mean Kazuya didn't miss him all the same.

She wondered what was down there that took up so much of his time. She contemplated going downstairs, but another wave of vertigo hit her and her mother practically dragged her up to her room.

Once at her bed, she slipped off her socks and crawled under the sheets, half-listening to her mom's lecture about not talking to the police alone if they came knocking. She ranted to herself in Spanish while restlessly organising the clutter in the room.

"Dad's going to be okay. He knows what he's doing," Kazuya said in hopes of easing her worries. The noirette froze with an uncertain look in her eyes, but she smiled regardless.

"You just get some sleep. You've got no school tomorrow, so we can spend the day however you want, alright?" Elena rubbed circles on her daughter's cheek with her thumb. Sitting on the end of the bed, she ran soothing hands through deep blue tresses and started singing a soft tune.

"A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi niña tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea."

Kazuya curled up in the fetal position, head resting in the lap of her mother. She hadn't heard her singing since she was in primary school. She missed it.

"Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora. Ruiseñor que en la selva cantando y llora. Calla mientras la cuna se balancea. A la nanita nana nanita ella."

Little spring running clear and loud. Nightingale that in the forest sings and weeps. Hush while the cradle rocks. Come, let's sing a little lullaby.

"A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella. Mi niña tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea."

Come let's sing a little lullaby, come let's sing a little. My little girl is sleepy, blessed be, blessed be.

By now, Kazuya had fallen fast asleep and Elena stopped singing. She took a quick look around the room, a strange feeling rising in her chest when she realised the decor hadn't been updated since Kazuya was small. Even in middle school, she always liked her cartoons, stuffed animals, and sugary snacks.

Please, never grow up, sweet child.

Elena had only made it to the hallway before all the held-back tears streamed down her face like a waterfall. Her head leaned back, hitting the wall behind her with her eyes shut tight and her jaw clenched to keep from screaming. Her puzzle pieces of life had been thrown everywhere and there was nothing she could do but protect the bits she had left in the box.

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Kazuya got some much-needed rest that night, staying in her warm bed until noon. Her mother made breakfast and joined her in the living room to watch cartoons while they ate. She would have loved to sit there all day if they didn't have to go to the police station. After breakfast, she lazily threw on a pair of denim shorts and an oversized hoodie, then hopped in the car.

Upon arriving at the precinct, Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa sat down with the remainder of the Imai family in an interrogation room. It wasn't a new environment for them, and he knew that.

"I guess I'll get straight to the point," he gave Kazuya a small but warm smile that was probably meant to lower her guard, "My quirk tells me when people are lying, but I'd appreciate it if you're honest with me the first time around."

"I've got nothing to hide, I just want to get this over with." Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms. Elena shot her a glare, prompting her to sit straight and utter a quick "Sir".

"It's alright, Mrs Imai. I've taken statements from all her classmates, so this is just a formality." Detective Tsukauchi took a pencil and pad out of his coat.

"If that's the case, then you have all the information already," Kazuya fought the downwards twitch of her lips.

When the detective raised an eyebrow, she knew where his line of questioning was going; "Let's cut to the chase. Many students told me that your father was one of the intruders. Is this true? Was Doctor Imai Taigen at the USJ raid?" She felt her mother nudge her leg with her foot when she didn't answer right away.

"Yes," she ultimately sighed. Why couldn't he just accept that she didn't know any more than her classmates?!

"Did he participate in the fight?" Tsukauchi scribbled her first answer on his notepad.

"He tried to fight me, then he stopped. I don't think he fought anyone else after that," Kazuya explained while picking at the dirt under her nails. She was starting to get restless.

"Did he tell you why they were there?"

"No."

"Did you protect him even after he tried to kill you?"

"Yes."

Her mother's gaze softened at the last answer. The look on her face didn't tell Kazuya what the older woman was thinking, but she could tell she was thinking about her husband by the way she was twisting her wedding ring around her finger.

All the questions that followed were answered the same way as the previous. Detective Tsukauchi didn't seem phased by Kazuya's lack of details. She had been right, after all.

"Did he help you when you lost control?" She averted her eyes this time. A minute or two passed with no answer and the investigator sighed. "I'm not trying to accuse your father of anything. I just need to know what happened," He closed his notepad and folded his hands above the table. Kazuya furrowed her brows and thought about how to word her thoughts nicely.

"My dad's not a bad person. He helped me and wouldn't attack me when they told him to. He has his reasons for working with the League of Villains, I just don't know what they are," she finally turned to Tsukauchi again, eyes burning with passion. He read her face for a long while, probably deciding whether or not she wasn't lying.

"I believe you," he smiled again, "Can you tell me anything else about his involvement?"

Kazuya's jaw tensed and her breathing stopped for a moment. She didn't want to tell him about her father helping to create the beast that almost killed All Might. Maybe it was shame, maybe it was fear; either way, she wasn't going to answer. His quirk won't work if she ignores the question, right?

"How are Aizawa and Thirteen? I heard on the news that they were the most injured."

Tsukauchi sighed, something on his face saying that he knew she was hiding information.

"Both Aizawa and Thirteen are fine. They're getting their injuries treated and should make a full recovery. Your classmates are unharmed, as well," he reassured her patiently. This was comforting news for Kazuya.

She remembered Asui, Mineta, and Midoriya carrying their unconscious teacher and the fear that welled up in her. Sure, he was lazy and cynical, but he wouldn't be a teacher if he didn't care about the kids he taught. That part of him was admirable.

"Is that all then?" Elena asked, just as eager to leave as her daughter.

"Is that everything you know about the attack on the USJ?" Tsukauchi glanced at the lapis-haired girl once more. She gave him a curt nod and felt her chest tighten when he smiled. He knows! "Alright, then. Call me if anything else comes to mind," he slid a business card across the table and then pocketed his notepad.

Kazuya took the info and then speed-walked out of the precinct. Immediately, she felt like an immense weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She didn't want people to jump to conclusions about her father when none of them even knew who he was, but she wasn't certain she had the complete story, either.

Whatever. It doesn't matter right now. There was nothing she could do about it except let that worry lurk in the back of her mind while she went on with her day.

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The day she had to go back to school, Kazuya was prepared for the stares and gossip. Information about her father's involvement hadn't been released in an official statement, but it made it on the news, anyway. Damn leaks.

Her name wasn't mentioned but a picture of her family at a banquet was put up along with a stand-alone shot of her dad. Detective Tsukauchi called to personally apologize, but the damage was already done.

"That's her, right?"

"I heard she helped her father try to kill All Might."

"Do you think he killed his other daughter?"

"Do you think she'll come after us?"

Her hands tightened around the straps of her backpack.

"Don't listen to them," Hitoshi scoffed, glaring at anyone who dared to stare for too long. It was at times like these that she appreciated her brooding guard dog.

"It's pretty damn hard when they're so loud," Kazuya sped up and kept her head ducked so her bangs covered her eyes. Her jaw was clenched so hard that her teeth felt as if they were about to shatter. She was not looking forward to facing her class but there was no avoiding it.

As she grew closer to her classroom, she could hear her friends talking about the incident through the door. It was sad. She had finally opened up to some of them and now she'd have to build that rapport all over again. Or not. Maybe they'd bully her for the rest of the year like her junior high classmates.

"Are you going to be okay today?" Hitoshi asked, hesitant to leave her side.

"I have to be," she sighed despite the twisting of her gut. She frowned for a split second before steeling her nerves. Her violet-haired friend furrowed his brows and nodded before she left him standing in the hall.

The second she entered the room, the voices came to a halt. With a blank expression hiding her anxiety, her eyes studied the faces of her classmates. She needed to address the situation and get it over with, but where should she even start? Sorry, my dad tried to kill you, but if it makes you feel better, he abandoned me and my mom.

"Uh, good morning, every — "

"KAZUYA!" Pink fluff blocked her vision as toned arms wrapped around her with the strength of a bear. Her hands fumbled to grab the door frame and keep herself from tumbling to the ground.

"Mina?" she gasped to replace the air expelled from her lungs.

"She was worried about you," Kirishima beamed up at her from his desk.

"We all were, ribbit," Asui added. Kazuya stared at her classmates with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. Much to her surprise, none of them were giving her the same disgusted or hateful looks she was getting in the hallway. Except for Bakugou. That's his resting bitch face at work, though.

"I'm never letting you out of my sight again!" Ashido wailed, her grip tightening, "I couldn't see everything from where I was, but I saw you run towards the fight. I had to force the story out of Midoriya!"

"She's scary…" the sweet little broccoli boy chuckled.

Kazuya scrunched her forehead in confusion, "Shouldn't you be trying to chase me out of class like some angry mob in a witch hunt? You know, pitchforks, torches, screaming obscenities, the works?"

"It's a little confusing, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you had nothing to do with the attack," Uraraka shrugged. While her words were true, most people ignored that fact. Rarely did anyone stop to think about what possible reason she would have for letting herself get attacked.

"Usually, the families of more notable villains whose identities have gone public are shunned or pitied as if they were somehow involved. The truth is no one truly knows," Yaoyorozu added matter-of-factly. The smile on her face said she was trying to help, at least.

"She shouldn't even be here," Bakugou scoffed from across the classroom, drawing plenty of attention and silencing the extra conversations. Kazuya mulls over his words for a second, her eyes fixated on him with a strange glint in their muddy depths.

"Why is that?" She gently pries herself from Ashido's grip.

"You can't control your quirk, your family is shit, and you have the confidence of a fucking hamster," he glared at her with his chin propped up on his palm. They both knew he was right. Leave it to the explosive pomeranian to tell her the harsh truth.

"Kacchan!" Midoriya gasped as if surprised by his childhood friend's words.

"You really are a hopeless asshole, aren't you?" Ashido pouted, standing in front of Kazuya like some guardian until she got carefully pushed to the side.

Tensions grew as the cobalt-haired girl took a few long strides and then stopped right before Bakugou's desk. He furrowed his brows, daring her to pick a fight. As if on cue, she dropped into a deep bow.

"I want to apologise on behalf of my father. He shouldn't have threatened you like that." A few faces in the room blanched.

"You're apologising?!" Ashido shouted in disbelief.

"I mean it was a bit out of pocket. He doesn't know Bakugou's constantly an asshole like we do," Kazuya shrugged.

"Oh, that's right!" a little lightbulb lit up in Midoriya's brain, "The Doctor snapped at Kacchan after he insulted Kazuya!"

"Since when did you two become so fucking friendly?! I could fight that old bastard any day!" Bakugou's chair scraped along the floor as he shot to his feet.

Disregarding the bickering of her friends and the human grenade, Kazuya let her gaze wander further back into the classroom. There was a second person she needed to confront if she wanted to get this guilty weight off her chest.

Todoroki was staring out one of the windows, either oblivious or blatantly ignoring her. She strolled up to his desk and bowed once again.

"I'm sorry my dad tried to turn you into Tatsuo the Iron Man," Umber eyes peeked through thick lashes to see if he was paying attention or if she just looked like an idiot, "I owe you big time for not killing him."

After an uncomfortably long minute of silence, Kazuya straightened herself with a frown. Todoroki stared at her with an apathetic expression. He reminded her of Hitoshi before they became friends: indifferent eyes, cold demeanour, blunt words. She wondered if he also had a soft spot hidden under that defensive shell. Maybe they'd be friends?

"I didn't spare him because of you, I spared him because I wanted information." The hint of annoyance on his features made her smile twice as wide. She contemplated teasing him like she would Hitoshi, just to gauge the similarity of their reaction.

Maybe just a little bit…

"Still I owe you," her expression darkened as she smiled at him like a wolf in sheep's clothing, "and I don't like being called a liar. It's only fair that I offer you my services until I feel you've been properly repaid." Todoroki clamped his mouth shut and glared at her, practically radiating negative energy.

Checkmate.

The sound of chairs scraping against the floor has the two turning to watch the escalating commotion at the front of the class. Kazuya's face relaxed into a soft smile as she watched Midoriya restrain a seething Bakugou, who looked ready to kill Ashido as she stuck her tongue out.

"Let me go, you damned nerd! She's going to get her ass beat for that!" he roared as he thrashed about, the mousy boy behind him holding his torso firmly.

"Kacchan, please!" Midoriya whined, eyes shut tight. The noise didn't settle at all once the bell rang, although Iida somehow managed to shout louder than everyone else when he announced class was about to begin.

They were still unaware of who their substitute teacher was, so the minute following the bell was filled with whispers and speculation.

"As long as it's not Present Mic, I don't care," Kazuya grumbled when Kirishima turned to ask her about her theories. His laugh said he didn't want to voice his agreement.

"Morning, class." The pure shock on (almost) every face in the classroom might have been funny if what they were looking at wasn't so alarming. Aizawa stood in the doorway, covered from head to toe in bandages with both arms in slings.

"He looks like a zombie," Ashido's pink colour paled slightly.

"The Mummy has risen," Kazuya felt a bead of sheepish sweat roll down her brow.

"My well-being is irrelevant. What's more important is that your fight isn't over yet," their shambling teacher explained once he got up on his podium. A looming sense of dread weighed down on the students as they anxiously awaited his next words.

Please don't say it's a test. Please don't say it's a test. PLEASE DON'T —

"The UA Sports Festival is about to start."