Too early

Time went by way too fast.

Or rather...we didn't have enough time.

I don't have enough time...despite not knowing how much I've got left.

I continued to look from outside the window, connecting brushes of greenery as the truck passed by.

Looking in the reflection of the window, I saw Hakim staring straight ahead...he looks so lifeless...almost dead. It's understandable why he's barely gotten any sleep.

"There's no point in asking...but are you okay?" I asked him.

"...I should be the one asking you that," he replied groggily.

"I feel fine today...You?"

"Like absolute shit," he chuckled.

His response got a chuckle out of me, too. I lent up against the window once we passed by a sign to our destination.

"We're almost there. Remember what we agreed on?" he asked me.

"Yeah. If anyone wants to get personal, just say "I was sick"."

He nodded, "Yeah."

"What about you? Are you going back to...your hero duties?"

"If I don't, that'll catch Auntie's attention. You know it's not easy to lie to her. Her Quirk should've been "empath" and not "redact"," he chuckled again, taking a sip of his coffee can filled with espresso...

Well, probably little of the beverage is left because of our trip from Iwaizumi to these mountains.

"I also need to stay in the field to not raise suspicions and get some clearance in Tartarus."

I looked down at my entwined hands, "..."

"What...? What's up?"

"Poor Aunt Xi...I had no idea."

"None of us did, Ami."

"...Hakim...do you agree that our mother...isn't the best person?"

He didn't hesitate to nod, "Yes."

"What if...I told you I see her as a monster? More villain than anything?"

"I believe you. I do, Kamilah..."

We were approaching the cabins, and the engine would've brought attention anyway even if we weren't being expected.

I traced my lips with my index fingers from the middle, pulling the ends up to help clear the frown on my lips.

When Hakim got out of the car to go to talk to two of the hosts of the camp, it gave me more time to clear my thoughts.

'Everything will be okay! I'm going to have a good time at this camp! Don't think about anything you learned in Iwa! Have fun! Be happy!'

"Be happy...even if you have to lie to everyone else...including yourself."

When I heard the car door behind me open, that was the cue to get out. I hopped down from the tall truck after taking off the seatbelt. Closing the door behind me, I looked around the area...

The constant noise of cicadas should keep the silence away; therefore, I won't be able to think about dark thoughts.

Hakim closed the door after pulling out my suitcase and duffel bag, handing them to me with a blank expression that soon turned somber.

"You sure you'll be okay? You can still turn ba-"

"I've been through much worse, Hakim. So...so much worse..."

"..." Hakim bit his lip, visibly shaking from anger. "Yeah...don't remind me."

I tried to imitate Izuku's burst of energy and ray of sunshine, "Well, as you asked, I'll be okay! It's just a little rain! I'll take some rain with my sunshine!"

It wasn't the best, but I got a bittersweet smile from Hakim, making the dark circles underneath his eyes crease up, somewhat making them disappear.

"I see what you did there..." he mumbled. "But you're not getting married."

I shrugged, "Can't get married if I-...no, that's going too far, especially right now." I shook my head, lightly punching his chest. "Be careful, Kimy."

"You, too," he said, gently patting the top of my head so he wouldn't mess up my coils.

Spinning on my feet, I walked toward the...now four people standing in front of the building. I knew there are 4 members of the "Wild Wild Pussycats", but I don't think Mister Kan and Mister Aizawa are a part of them.

That name is wild by the way.

I kept my smile on, "Mister Kan, Mister Ai-"

"SHIMIZU."

I stiffened, "Yes, sir?!"

"How could you allow yourself to fall sick before the Training Camp?!"

"Well, I...because I'm human?"

"You-..." Mister Kan looked off to the side, "You make a valid point, I suppose," he huffed.

"You're not one of my students, but you're still the sibling of one of my prior students. How are you feeling, Shimizu?" Mister Aizawa asked me.

I blinked, "Eh? Well, uh...I'm feeling better, sir. If you don't mind me asking why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your class?"

"They're training with the other members of the Pussycats. I came here because I'm concerned about you and your brother's condition."

I tilted my head, "Our condition?

"When Hakim was still attending U.A., he would fall sick quite a few times, but he just kept pushing himself...looks like he already has right now," he said, nodding behind me.

I turned around to see Hakim looking tired, with no smile or relaxed expression on his face until he made eye contact with Mister Aizawa. A tense and surprised expression replaced the exhausted one, I've never seen Hakim look so alert.

A...forced smile slipped on his face as he waved shortly before making his way back to the driver's side and getting in.

"He, uh...he didn't catch my sickness. He's just stressed right now, ya know? Hero work and all that, I'm sure you know..."

"Right," he brushed off my excuse as if he didn't believe me.

"We haven't gotten the chance to introduce ourselves," a woman with a brown bob cut in, "I'm Mandalay, a member of the Wild, Wild Pussycats! It's nice to have you join us!"

"Mhm. And I'm Pixie-Bob, another member of the Wild, Wild Pussycats! I hope you've recovered well, Shimizu, because your classmates are being put to the most extreme test!"

I nervously chuckled, "...how extreme?"

Before I went outside, I was shown to a room of my own, thankfully, and I used the opportunity to change out of my school uniform into the P.E. uniform.

When I got down to the lobby, I didn't see any of the 4 teachers in sight anywhere.

'Maybe something came u-'

"Who are you?"

Looking down, my gaze met with a young boy's.

Though his appearance didn't match whatsoever, the look on his face reminded me of a younger Katsuki.

"You're one of those wannabe heroes, aren't you?"

I blinked at the coldness in his voice, then laughed, shocking him seemingly.

Crossing my arms together, I relaxed into the chair.

"Whoever said I was here for that?"

He got his grip back, glaring at me, "Then, why are you here?"

"I'm an observer. My sole purpose for being in this school is to study the students out there under pressure that is very well possible to lead to emotional and mental conflict. I let everyone assume I'm here to be a hero, and it has its advantages, but I'm only here to keep up my family's image. I'm studying to become a psychiatrist and psychologist."

He tilted his head, a shred of curiosity on his face, "Psy...huh?"

"Oh...right. You look to be about...5 or 6 years old. I guess my terminology's a little too up there. Uhh, I want to become a doctor that helps people with the...problems in their brain."

He nodded, "Oh...I understand now. So long as you aren't like those freaks out there, I don't care."

"What makes them freaks?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

"Becoming a hero is stupid."

"It is," was my quick reply.

He stood there, surprise expressed on his face at my response.

"And so is a villain."

"Yep," I said with a nod.

"A-And Quirks!"

"Yes, yes, and yes," I agreed.

He seemed to have gotten frustrated with my agreement at which I chuckled.

"If you're trying to find out what makes me tick, kid, it's none of the subjects you just listed. I understand that this superhuman society is...a complex-...difficult...well, not-so-easy mess. If Quirks disappeared, I believe there would be less casual-...less problems. But I also understand that if there were no heroes, we'd be in trouble. If there were no villains, we'd still be in trouble. Why? Because eventually, money, fame, power, ad revenge makes a person go bad."

The boy stared up at me with...what I think is amazement, wonder? I don't know...

"I wish...I was surrounded by more people like you. You're different. What's your name?"

"Kamilah, Kamilah Shimizu, and...thank you?"

He jumped, realizing he hadn't given me his name, "Kota. I think...you made me...dislike the world...a little less," he said bashfully before running off outside.

I blinked, '...Did I plant a seed of goodness for the future...or did I just create the next evil seed of villainy?'

"Shimizu, follow me!"

I spun around, "Yes, sir!"

"Shimizu."

Anything to get out of this situation.

"Shimizu...?"

I'm not ready for this bullshit.

"Shimizu?!"

My head turned directly at Komori. She took a step back out of fear. I didn't intend to make my stare cold, but this expressed my discontent with this trip.

"What?"

"I-I'm sorry!" she said, bowing.

"Don't apologize. Were you saying something?"

"I was just asking i-if...you're okay. You don't look so well."

"Let's just say..." I glanced at the destruction around us, "I'm not having a good day."

"Oh...w-well, hopefully, it gets better! By the way, I like your hairstyle."

I touched a part of my coily long hair, smiling a bit, "Thank you."

If I'm going to go out, at least go out in fashion.

"Do you want to train together?"

"...I'd like to, but I don't think that'd be wise."

Her one eye that peaked from behind her bangs expressed confusion, "How so?"

"Because I'm not having a good day, my emotions might affect my Quirk and...I already don't like using my Quirk because shi-...things can get out of hand and I'm not trying to catch a charge if I accidentally hurt you so...yeah."

"..."

"Plus, I like to train my body and mind more than my Quirk; it's not something I want to rely on all the time."

"O...kay...so what I'm getting is that you're trying to be a hero without...or as if you don't have a Quirk?"

"Isn't that impossible?"

I snapped my gaze to her, "Who said it was impossible?"

"Well, it's practically unheard of is all..."

"Well, I guess..." I began as I lent down to her height, walking backward while holding my hands out on each side of me, "I'll be the first, huh?"

As I finished my sentence, a cornflower blue rokushaku bo appeared in my hand. It's not materialized, it's something I found out my Quirk can do in Iwa. I can put out enough energy to form a weapon and have the same impact as the actual weapon would. Also...

I found out that my father used to wield the bo when he was a hero.

I lent up after gripping the weapon and putting it over my shoulders, spinning around on my feet.

'I'm gonna hate this...but I need the silence.'

"Milah-chan!"

Suddenly, I felt my body not touching the ground, my feet barely brushing the ground...and being cradled in his arms.

I looked at the beholder of the arms cradling me, being greeted with gentle and worried green eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I blinked, mouth ajar, no word coming out, "..."

"Milah-chan?"

Turning my head in the other direction to see someone person in a...metal can of boiling water? With ice surrounding it?

'What the...'

Meeting mismatched colored eyes, I continued to stare, mouth agape a little at the test Shoto was putting himself through...

And those muscles.

He stared at me with a mix of panic and relief before melting the ice...that hadn't it been for Izuku, would've impaled me...

Impaled me...

I slowly looked down to see thick and clear pointed sticks...sticks? going through my stomach. They were coated in blood, making them shine like a gem despite the raging snowstorm.

'After all this time...i-it gets m-me now? Death wants me n-now? No...n-no, th-that's unfair... It's unfair! J-Just a little longer! Toya needs me! He needs me, damn it!'

The realization that I've been impaled made me panic, hyperventilate, break down, and after all that torture, faint. The worse thing I could've done was faint; with this many injuries...

I'll surely die...but maybe...

"Milah-chan?"

I looked up from my unoccupied hand grabbing my stomach and back at Izuku; whatever face I'm making for Izuku to look so panicked...is a sure sign that I just had some kind of traumatic reaction.

"Wha...what just happened?"

"You...well, you weren't paying attention and nearly got hurt, then you just froze up. Are you alright?"

I looked back down at my stomach, lightly patting it without the hand still unknowingly gripping the bo. 'I just froze up? That's it? Okay...good...nothing serious...'

Noticing Izuku's hand resting underneath my knees and on my right shoulder, I looked back up at the increasingly worrying viridian.

"I...I'm good...but I'll be great when you put me down."

Immediately, Izuku gently put me down. I turned to him, sizing him up with a judgemental expression, making him stiffen.

I smiled at him, "Look at you! All strong and shit, holding up my big ass!" I exclaimed, lightly punching him on his shoulder. I raised my bo to his chin, making him tilt his head up. "But...I'm a big girl, I can carry myself."

With a wink, I spun back in the direction of the forest. Zooming in to a far part of the forest, I was about to teleport-

"FOX!"

I simply tilted my head on my right middle finger, "I could've sworn I heard someone!" I queried obnoxiously loud just before teleporting.

"Hey, Kamilah, let's take a break."

"Okay..." I sighed, making a slow walk toward the wooden porch. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, today, it doesn't burn. Here, drink some water."

"Thank you," I chirped while taking the water bottle from him.

"Welcome. Hey, Kami."

"Yes?"

"What do you think about marriage?"

"Ma...marriage? Um...I don't know?"

"Well, let me put it in a way you can understand...how do you feel about getting married?"

"Hmmm...I've never thought about it. Since you're brought it up though..." I looked right at those turquoise eyes, "As long as marriage isn't anything like the lie Mama has built with Uncle Rio...then I don't mind being married."

"Really?"

I nodded, feeling my cheeks warm, "...and I know that's something you can provide me," I whispered.

"Huh?"

"N-Nothing! Just talking crazy!"

Toya tilted his head at me, blinking owlishly before grinning, "We're both crazy so I'd understand, Kami."

"W-Well, my crazy is different than yours!"

"Sure it is," he chuckled.

I knocked down the last stack of stones.

"It most definitely is now..." I mumbled as I straightened my posture.

Looking up at the sky, the hues of orange and pink mixed, letting me know that the sun was already beginning to set.

'I've been training for this long? It was late in the morning when I got settled so it's been about...5-6 hours of training. I'm surprised no one's come looking for me...'

Well, it's not like anyone can find me because I walked farther out than I probably should've. When I found the waterfall, I deemed this area a good spot to train. It's like white noise to me...it's not as bad as the silence.

Taking a deep breath in and out, I hopped from boulder to boulder before landing on the ledge behind the waterfall and shuffled over to rest behind the peaceful curtain.

I gently laid down on the cold and moist stone, cooling me off from the summer's heat. I decided I'll eat after I catch my breath and regain some energy.

'This mountain may have some good food if I look hard enough, it's also a part of survival training if ever stuck in a critical situation. I don't want to go back just yet so that's a good enough excuse, I suppose.'

I turned my head towards the waterfall, creating a beautiful overlay to watch the sunset from behind, and the few stray droplets that got on me made my skin less dry.

'This is nice. The last time I found myself laying in the middle of nowhere was when I nearly died from impalation. I haven't thought about randomly sitting in nature...I should do it more often with whatever little time I have left.'

My eyes began to feel heavy, the sound of water was lulling me, and the coolness of the stone felt like a cool blanket.

"Just let...nature...take its course..."

My grandfather on Jameela's side migrated from Brazil to Libya to see my grandmother. Before this, she went to stay in Brazil for a short time because of a crisis in Libya.

After 15 months, the time my grandfather spent in Libya, Jameela was born. Our maternal grandfather and grandmother died in a massacre when she was 13 years old, leaving her psychologically scarred.

The crisis wasn't over, it went cold for 14 years and 3 months.

Within two years, she traveled in hot and dry, rain and hail, sleet and snow, looking for somewhere to reside. She reached Japan by ship when she was 16. She told us she sneaked on. Uncle Rio was assigned to a mission about villains sneaking on cargo ships, claiming to be an legal immigrant.

That's how they met.

Jameela ran from him when they first met. Rio didn't say anything for her to be scared off, only stared at her in awe.

Rio met Jameela first before my dad.

Grandpa said Rio said somewhere along the way of her roaming around Japan, crimes were decreasing in certain districts...and one of those crimes happened to be my dad getting into trouble with a gang. He owed some money to them for doing a favor for him but never paid it off. Rio didn't know anything about his younger brother getting in trouble and doing these kinds of activities.

Jameela was found by Rio a month later, taking down some thugs trying to harm civilians. He took her in and kept her in hiding; he and dad shared an apartment Grandpa and Grandma paid for them to stay at to receive better schooling. Rio went to U.A., and of course, dad went to Ketsubutsu.

Rio committed a crime, keeping an illegal immigrant and potential threat in hiding. Somehow, by doing this, he gained Jameela's trust.

Dad didn't find out about her whatsoever for 3 years until Uncle Rio left the house for a long time because of a mission. He was looking for a spare game controller and he found her. Jameela threw the book at him; according to what dad told Uncle Rio, she had missed him because he dodged it. Grandma told me dad kicked out his friend after discovering her because she was yelling for Uncle Rio in her native tongue.

After 4 years, she got the hang of Japanese, but of course, held on to Arabic, Domari, and English.

Dad reassured her of his relationship with Rio and had as many conversations as he could with her, not before thanking her for saving his life.

Of course, a few years later passed by and Hakim was born. However, Uncle Rio got critically injured in a mission and was hospitalized for a long time. That information wasn't fully explained though...

When she was going through one of her episodes and I was younger, Jameela told me about what happened that night between her and my dad, but never about their relationship before I was born. Mentioning it around her would make her go bat shit crazy even if Kimy and Rio were around, so I complied when they told me to stop pushing the subject around 8 years old. Hakim admitted he'd lie to me about "not remembering" what happened exactly the night he tried to "kidnap" me since he was so young...

I knew.

I always knew.

He was lying to me...to protect me.

"You'll catch cold if you just lay there."

I fluttered my eyes open, staring directly at black boots a few steps away from me. My gaze slowly moved up the dark figure, settling on a pair of still turquoise eyes.

"..."

"Didn't ya hear me, Doll?"

My eyes narrowed, "..."

"Hey-"

"You're not real."

"..."

"..."

"Are you just now coming to that realization?"

My eyes fell from his gaze, "...I want to."

"So you haven't?"

I shook my head in agreement.

"...good," he mumbled. "I don't want you to."

I felt a single tear slip, "Why do you haunt me?"

"Because I love you."

"Loved," I corrected him. "We...loved each other. A dead person can't love, and a living person can't love the dead. I...It's not good, this is not good. This is an unhealthy habit! You're not real, Toya...you're just some entity I've created in my head to cope. I've mourned for too long...and I don't want to spend my last moments mourning over you...when I should be cherishing the memories I've made with the people in this life. I would love to start my new chapter with them. Our chapter, it's been written a long time ago. Please...turn to the next page..."

Those words...I've said them again. Misuzu understands how I feel. She's frustrated, too. She's been through this before.

Unlike the heartwarming reaction I received from Joon-Hee, I got raging cold eyes and a scowl from "Toya". He made abrupt steps to get to me, I didn't react fast enough because he was already sitting in front of me, pulling me up by my shoulders.

I gasped as he pulled me up into his lap and wrapped his arms around me, burying my face in his exposed collarbone. Toya felt unbelievably real. His skin felt warm...just like how I remembered it.

"You can let go...but I won't. Fight all you want, Kami...I'll never let go, I'll never leave you again. The past never dies..."

I felt the water gathering in my eyes, "...You'll never let me go?"

"Never."

I wrapped my arms around him to pull this entity, this fake, this projection closer to me. Even though I knew he wasn't real, his warmth is a comforting reminder of the past.

On my way back to the camp, I happened upon an apple tree. It was edible because I saw a few birds flocking to it, I made sure to clean the one I got in the river.

I took a bite out of it, enjoying the taste of something after hours of not eating anything. "It's the simple things in life..." I sighed.

The sudden vibration of my phone made me jump and laugh out loud. Luckily, I didn't waste my apple nor did I choke. I continued chewing as I fished it out of my pants.

"...I told him not to call me during this trip..." I groaned.

Holding the device up to my ear, the ringing noise playing over and over...

Finally, the other line was picked up, but he didn't say anything.

"Hey."

["..."]

"Hello?"

["..."]

I sighed, "Please, don't be mad at me, Joon."

["So you think...now that you transferred to the popular hero school, made new friends, and you didn't tell me you went to Iwa...you can go have a nice life?"] He scoffed, ["You trippin'."]

I poked my bottom lip out, "I'm sowwy, weally, I am, Joon-kun!"

I heard him click his tongue against his teeth, ["It's fine. You haven't seen your grandparents in a long time. How's everything going at U.A.?"]

"Well...I'm adjusting. Most of the people I've met are decent."

["Let me guess, the rest think you're unpredictable."]

"Hey, I don't want to become popular; that's not what I'm here for. Once we get out into the real world, things like being "popular" in school won't matter."

["Eh, true that. Where are you right now? I didn't want to stop by your place for a while because I figured you were overwhelmed. Hakim told me you were going on a summer camp trip. You got there today?"]

"Yeah. Don't worry about me, I'm managing. And aww...how considerate of you. I miss you."

He chuckled, ["I miss you, too, Ami. When you're back home, just give me a call or text, and I'll be over to kick it with ya. Get back in your vibes since you've been disoriented, 'kay?"

I lightly bounced twice in excitement, "'Kay. You always see eye to eye with me, matching my vibe. This is why we're friends. Saranghae."

He chuckled again...this time, lowly, ["Nado saranghae, aegiya."]

A shiver ran up my back...but I couldn't tell if it was affectionate or...disturbing.

"Hey!"

I looked ahead of me to see the angry Pomeranian staring right back at me, immediately frowning, "What's good, Bakago?"

He glared, crackles sputtering in his hands, "Get your ass back to camp and come eat!"

I tilted my head, "Eat?"

He pointed a thumb behind him, "You damn air-head. We were given food to-"

"Say less," I cut him off, picking up my pace. "You said the key-word: food. I don't need to be convinced."

I heard Joon-Woo laugh on the other line.

I looked back at Katsuki as he followed behind me, "And if it's your cooking, I'll be glad to sit down and let you insult me as much as you like."

"Tch...I saved you some curry. Don't even think about sharing with those 1-B extras."

Giggling at his remark, I held the phone back up to my right ear, listening to Joon's laughter die down.

["Hahaha...hah...heh... Who's that?"]

"Just an..." I glanced at Katsu, who is now beside me, staring intently. "...acquaintance."

["Oh, yeah. The guy you told me about who used to bully your other friend and...as you say, "miserably fail at doing the same thing towards you". Also, the guy who won the Sports Festival, right?"]

"Yes, that one."

["He really is violent."]

"I know, right? I pity my Izu Bear. For years, he had to deal with torment and insults. Not to mention how you said I've had to suffer the repercussions as well..."

"Gimme your damn phone!" he yelled, snatching my phone out of my hand.

"Wha-Yo!"

"Whoever the hell you are, back off my girl before I find you and blast you! Die!" he yelled, ending the phone call abruptly.

"Damn it, Katsuki! I'm not your girl! Gimme back my phone!" I shouted, reaching for my phone.

He held it above his head and I had to jump a little to try to get it from him. As I did, I didn't realize we held the attention of our classmates. We walked further than I initially thought.

"Katsuki, don't make me use force!" I threatened.

"Haah?! Force? What does short stuff like you got?! Last time I checked, you were ignoring me and "sick", right?!"

"Gimme my phone, bro!"

"Ah, Kacchan, you might not want to underestimate Kami-"

Katsu looked at Izuku, "Shut it, Deku!"

Taking the chance while he was distracted, I quickly ducked down, balancing myself with my hands on the ground, and swiped my right foot at the back of his knee, making him buckle.

Turning around swiftly on my hands and standing up, I used my right leg again to keep him kneeling before me by planting it on his left shoulder.

His expression is priceless, with exact disbelief and shock. I'm never gonna let him live this moment down. While leaning down towards him, I reached my left hand out and smiled down at him.

"As he said, don't underestimate me, Katsuki. Now, if you would so kindly return the device you snatched from me..."

Seeing as that he was too in some kind of trance to hand it to me, I grabbed it from his right hand, then lifted my leg from his shoulder and back to the ground.

"Owned," a dark and short-haired girl from 1-A vocalized,

Heading to the set-up tents, I decided to say another remark just to mess with the already stunned blond.

"Just because I'm plump, doesn't mean I'm not a fox."

I looked at my phone to see the lock screen. Either Joon hung up or the call ended between me and Katsuki's scuffle.

I sighed, 'I'll call him back later.'

Don't.

I jumped in my spot, a shiver going down my spine again, 'Again. What do I gotta do to communicate with her?'

"Kamilah."

I lifted my head, tilting my head, "Yes, Shoto?"

"I wanted to apologize about earlier. I was too focused on my training that I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. You could've gotten hurt..."

I waved him off, "Nah, it's not your fault so there's no need to apologize. I was the careless one. I've been more so as of late..."

Shoto looked as if he wanted to protest my nonchalant claim, but he didn't. "Where were you?" he asked expression remaining calm.

"Oh...just...contacting a friend. So much has happened for the last few months. I've barely got the time to-"

He narrowed his eyes, "Fujisaki?"

Shoto doesn't care much for Joon. The reason? Because we are, and I quote, "too close".

'He probably still thinks of him as "Mista Steal Yo' Girl". But how is Joon gonna steal me when I'm not Sho's girl? Damn...I sometimes question if I'm colder than him.'

"Shoto, understand that Joon's just worried about me. We've always been close. I told you that he's always been like that because of an Quirk accident when we were kids."

"..."

I shook my head, "You wouldn't understand. I met him long before I met you so I don't expect you to understand...many things about us..."

Shoto, of course, made an offended expression because he doesn't like how "easily" I let Joon, and I quote, "get up close and personal" with me.

I shook my head and headed over to Komori once I spotted her, wanting to get informed on what was going on.

'I didn't say that last part...Was Misuzu referring to her and Joon-Hee? Or was that just me going out of line because of Toya?'

I glanced back at Shoto, who kept his eyes on me. That should've made me shutter in discomfort, frown at him, or feel some kind of rage or disgust toward him...

But I felt nothing...nothing but pity and remorse.

'After so long...do I finally feel acceptance?'

Dark.

Wind.

"Here again?"

As soon as I turned around to confirm where I am, the darkness faded into the light colors of dawn and the wind slowed to a gentle breeze.

The swirls of light blue, soft purple, and smooth pink were endless, there were no horizons to spot its end until...

Until I settled my eyes on a giant balance scale in the distance, a golden balance scale with a person standing in front of it, looking up at it.

The balance seems to have been surrounded by an oasis and sands extended from it past my feet.

In between the balance was a tall golden hourglass in the middle with...blue sand filled in the top half and somewhat visible specks coating the surface of the bottom half.

Standing beneath the left weight of the balance is a periwinkle and white statue of a nine-tailed fox while the right weight had a cornflower blue and black statue of a...what do I think is a jackal?

"Oh...this is different..."

"How many times have you cheated death, little one?"

I was taken aback by the question from the...woman.

"That's not information I'd be comfortable sharing with a random person, but because I know you're not a random person...3 times."

"You're wrong."

"Oh, now that I think about it, after what happened today, 4 times."

"You're wrong again."

"Ah? Am I?"

"You've cheated death for over 4,380 days."

"...Excuse me?"

"From your perspective, you've cheated death 4 times, which is really 5. "Why don't I remember the fifth?" is what you're asking yourself. Well, Jameela begged Yuiko to erase some of your early memories, the very first time you could've died."

"Wait, hold on...what? How...how do you know that?"

"Because I'm the one who saved you, Kamilah," she answered, turning around to face me.

The woman before me almost looked exactly like me. She has straightened waist-length violet-purple hair, cornflower blue eyes, and a limestone brown skin tone, unlike my honey brown tone. She's taller than me by a couple of inches and her figure is just as chubby and curvy as mine if not fitter.

"Saved me...?"

"Your brother told you. About your father pleading for your life? "It was like he was begging and crying for someone not there to help you", remember?"

I slowly nodded, "Yeah, I do now."

"That was me, Misuzu Shimizu. It's finally good to see you, little one."

"See me?"

She blinked, then nervously chuckled, "I mean, I couldn't meet you and say "hi" back then. You were dying and needed immediate attention."

"I don't understand. What did I say or do to meet you now? Out of all the things that's happened, why are you appearing just now? You hold the key to so many answers, and I'm only just now meeting you?! Do you know how much I've suffered?!"

This isn't good. I was beginning to get upset with her, and I hadn't fully communicated with her for 10 minutes. This isn't how I wanted our first meeting to go...

"I understand how you feel, Kamilah."

"Understand how I feel?" I huffed. "How could you understand how I feel? You're dead! The dead can't feel!"

"...I'm not fully dead...a part of me still lives on."

"Yeah, through a Quirk that just so happens to take a toll on my mental."

Misuzu shook her head, "I don't expect you to understand right now. Listen, Kamilah, I know you're upset...and I'm upset with myself, too. I'm sorry I couldn't do more...but the reason why is that you needed to let go of something holding you back."

"Let go of something holding me back"? What do you mean?"

"You let go of your hatred for Shoto Todoroki," she admitted softly.

"..."

"You know Shoto had nothing to do with how and what happened with Toya Todoroki. You've accepted that. You felt remorse for hating Shoto all this time and you've felt pity for yourself because you couldn't accept the fact that Toya is gone."

"..."

"There's so much I want to tell you, but I feel that it may either make you absolutely lose it or...do something much worse...so with what little time we have left for now because you're running on your Quirk, you need to know this."

"...Shoot."

"One: Jameela is dangerous to you. When she comes back from overseas, stay with your brother. Two: Zurui is not the bad guy, she is. Three: Talk to Yuiko alone ASAP. Four: you have 2 Quirks, I've been fighting the 2nd since I saved you. Five: you can trust Joon-Woo...but don't get too close to him."

My brain felt overloaded, so overloaded I didn't know what to do with it. The left weight of the balance is lowered while the right weight is lifted. I noticed there was something on both scales, but couldn't make out what they are because it was a bit far.

"Good, you've made progress. And lastly, don't trust Shiroya and be wary of Kuroya."

"Kuroya?"

She nodded, "I don't think it's the antipsychotics. It could be an imposter."

I opened my eyes, coming face-to-face with Kendo. Her sudden being in front of me made me nearly smack her, but I stopped the impulse beforehand so it only appeared that I jolted out of surprise.

"Sorry that I scared you. You looked like you were in a daze...Are you alright, Shimizu?"

I looked around, grasping my surroundings and noticing my classmates walking ahead with Mr. Kan making a fuss in front. I looked up at the trees to see that dawn is breaking.

"It's morning, already?"

She scrunched her eyebrows, "Yeah...? Something wrong?"

'Does time move differently in that place? If so...that could be a problem if I suddenly get sucked in there during a dire situation. I was just talking to Komori...and for some reason, I don't remember anything after that. I'll assume everything went fine and I went to sleep afterward. Well...I can't be sure how many days have passed though...'

I mustered a sleepy smile, "No, sorry...I'm kinda not fully awake, that's why I asked," I snickered.

Her face relaxed and she smiled, "Oh, okay. Didn't get any sleep, huh?"

"I honestly didn't have any problems...not that I can remember."

"Well, be on your toes today. We've got something to do today. I don't know if you heard since you've been kinda out of it, but-"

I zoned out.

I didn't intend to zone out, it just happened.

What made it happen...?

Whatever the hell is in the corner of my eye.

Though dawn is still breaking, I could see a figure far into the distance. I don't know how it...or they were not blending in with the darkness when they should because of the darkness of their clothes.

It's a speck of white...accompanied by a pair of turquoise. The figure kept standing there as if they were watching me. It almost made me nervous and uneasy if I hadn't encountered Misuzu yesterday...or start having these flashbacks a couple of weeks ago, not to mention the hallucinations of Toya.

This isn't any different, right? But...why is he showing up more now than ever? It's worrying even though I know it shouldn't be because my mind is deteriorating...

The figure blinked at me, immediately letting me know the turquoise were eyes.

"Okay, I'm tripping hard."

"What? Oh, Shimizu, zoning out again? I didn't realize how far behind I left you-"

"Kendo, come here for a sec."

"Huh? What?" she asked as she approached me, "What's wrong?"

I looked at her, "You see that?"

She looked in the direction I was looking in not too long ago...observing the darkness of the forest. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion for a split second until a gasp left her.

"Oh...oh, I do see that. We need to run, Shimizu."

My eyes widened, "So I'm not tripping, right?!"

She looked back at me, laughing, "I'm just kidding! Whatever you see out there, I clearly don't. I think you should just rest today rather than train if you're this out of it. I'll go tell Mister Kan."

"Huh?!" I looked back into the forest to see that the figure was gone. "Wait a damn minute! I wasn't tripping! I know I wasn't!" I looked back to Kendo to see she was already gone and so was the rest of the class.

The silence suddenly hit me, becoming deafening despite the cicadas in the area.

'Should I wait for her to come back or follow her? If Mr. Kan sees me, I suppose he'll think I'm fine and let me train, but...I'll be bothered by this all day if I'm left alone. I'm exhausted and can barely use my Quirk, but I guess I can train with Komori today and try to forget this-'

A twig snapped somewhere around me.

"Hell no," I simply said and scrunched what energy I had to teleport into my lodge room. I flopped on the bed, "I'm sick, damn it."

I fluttered my eyes open, noticing it was dark outside already.

Slowly, I sat up in bed, groaning and stretching my limbs to the point I shook. I let out a huff and pat my bonnet to get rid of the itchiness, then closed my eyes again to rest them until I found the energy to get up.

'I slept that long...? What time is it?'

Peeking one eye open, I reached for my phone on the nightstand...

'8 o'clock...? So I've been sleeping for...15 hours?! Damn, the whole day went by! I need to...well, if nobody's come for me, then I can take my time. I'm feeling a lot better though...'

I gasped, "Am I like Nezuko? That's cool if it works like that!" I cheered to myself. "But so much time can pass by and I might miss a lot..."

Shrugging, I tugged my bonnet off, got up, and went to go to the hot springs after collecting clothes to change into later.

When I opened my door, my gaze was already set on the floor...thankfully so because I didn't want to knock over a bowl covered with a plastic lid.

Furrowing my eyes in confusion, I twisted the lid and was greeted with a nice spicy smell, observing the contents inside.

"..." I smiled, "A rare sighting of a kind pomeranian."

After getting dressed in a white crop top to fight the summer heat, not caring that my pudgy stomach showed, black leggings that hugged my hips just right along with my chain belt, slid on black and white Nike high tops, I brushed my coily hair into a tied poof on top of my head, taming the stray curls. Then, I ate the curry that was left at my door.

Walking into the lobby, I looked around for a while, not seeing or hearing anyone. It was quiet...a little too quiet.

"Where'd everyone go?" I cut through the silence as I made my way toward the entrance.

I wasn't greeted by anyone outside either, it was a little unsettling just hearing the cicadas outside. "Maybe they're still training?"

Convincing myself that was the case despite how uncanny it was, I headed in the direction where everyone normally trained in the daytime.

As soon as I entered the woods, something in the air felt off. There was a tiny voice telling me to stop and turn around, and head back to the building. I was very tempted to do so, but I didn't want to stick back and be alone in the deafening silence so I marched on with my guard up.

'This is probably a bad idea...but I'm not gonna wait like a damsel in distress. Not my style.'

"It's not safe for a little lady to be walking in the forest alone."

I stopped, glancing around for the source of the voice.

"..."

"You could get hurt, Miss...or worse, lost."

'Directly behind me.'

"I'm pretty confident in my abilities to not get hurt or lost, kind sir. Thank you for your concern though."

"I see, a tough young lady. Your parents must've taught you well...Miss Shimizu."

'Adult male.'

"They did...they also taught me not to talk to strange men in a forest at night time either."

"But I'm not a strange man, Miss Shimizu. You're mistaken, I'm here to aid you, be a helping hand if you will."

'Muffled voice...must be wearing a mask to hide his face.'

"A helping hand? In what way?"

"Your Quirk, your goals. You see, I work with an organization that wants to help people like you and join our cause to create a new world order."

"Sorry, not interested, I'm good."

"I think you would be interested in this, Miss Shimizu. A friend of mine thinks you would be, too. Your Quirk holds so much potential, you shouldn't let it be wasted at the school you attend. There's so much more to explore out in the field than to sit at a desk all day."

I lifted a brow at that, "Hm...whatcha selling?"

"Freedom and control of your own decisions."

"How much do you know about me?"

"Enough to convince you."

"Your sources?"

"Zurui Shimizu."

My head raised a little at hearing the name and my eye widened while my lips parted a little, letting a choked exhale out.

"That...He is a convincing source. How do you know my father?"

"I don't know him personally, but I have a feeling my friend of a friend does. He wants to help you not only with your Quirk and goals but to free your father of his imprisonment."

I took in a deep breath before softly exhaling and turning around to finally take notes of the suspicious man. His get-up was quite...out there, but tame, almost like a magician or something.

"I'm not really one for breaking the law or anything-"

"How ironic. Don't you have a job at a cafe? I believe the working age is 15, but you've been working there since the age of 13. As for the modeling agency in America, they haven't a clue about your age. While Japan may be careless of it, you, your dealer, and that company could face charges. I don't know who your hacker is, but they've done a nice job to let you slip under the system."

I only gave a sly smile, "Enough to convince you", huh? Yeah, yeah, I've committed a few crimes, but at least it isn't murder."

"With what's to come in the future, you'll surely know that feeling, Miss Shimizu."

'So he doesn't know about Toya? Nor the details of my dad being imprisoned. Some higher-up must want to keep this under wraps even towards their own subordinate. He honestly doesn't know that there's 2 people I want dead more than anyone else...'

I smirked, "Oh, you don't say?" I lent forward with my hands on hips, "Tell me, Mr...?"

"Mr. Compress."

"Tell me, Mr. Compress...you and your...friends won't harm anyone at this camp if I join, will you?"

"We will not."

My lips twitched, "Is it only me you have come for?"

"Yes, Miss Shimizu."

"You mean to tell me...out of all these high potential students to choose from, your friends set their sights only on me and you didn't come to hurt anyone even if they or myself retaliated?"

"That's right. You're a special case, Miss Shimizu. No one would understand the circumstances you've been placed under so I don't think any other student would agree with our terms."

I lent up, covering my face with my hands as I laughed.

"I know it sounds unbelievable, Miss Shimizu, but what I'm telling you is true."

"That's not what I'm laughing at, Mr. Compress..." I opened a sliver of space between my left middle and ring finger, "What I'm laughing at is that you're a bad influencer. I know a lie when I see and hear one. I grew up in a house of lies."

"..."

"I'm also laughing at the fact that there is another student that might've been interested if you took a closer look at our relationship...your friends hadn't informed you well enough that he could've been a potential candidate, too."

"..."

"It's funny..." I frowned, "How I can smell the difference between my friend's smoldering fire...and someone else's."

As soon as the last words rolled off my tongue, Mr. Compress was forced off his feet further into the woods by my Quirk and roaring flames lit up the trees behind me.

The blue glow behind me made me feel completely numb.

The panic of someone slowly approaching, the adrenaline coursing through me telling me to move, the anger...

The anger that I've been lied to.

This whole time.

He lied.

Feeling scarred hands on my shoulders, I refused to move my fingers from my face as my head fell towards the ground. I wanted to grasp all of this...but it was all too overwhelming.

I felt like I was being swallowed by cold and dark despite the apparent blue light and warmth emitting behind me, making my poofy bun flow with the flame's roars.

"I'm sorry, Kami. I couldn't let you know."

That's what he says to me after all this? "I'm sorry"? That lame-ass excuse for an apology? How dare he... Lie to me. Manipulate me. Toy with me. Soothe me... Comfort me... Love me...Love me. Love me?

Love me! Love me?!

As long as marriage isn't anything like the lie Mama has built with Uncle Rio...then I don't mind being married.

'That isn't love! Who does that?! Who goes this far to mess up someone's mentality?! What little peace they have with the crunched time they have left on this earth?!'

"Kami, Doll-"

I swat his hands off of me, "Don't "Doll" me, you sick piece of shit."

"..."

My hands dropped to my sides as I turned my head a little to glance at Toya Todoroki...the boy who I thought was just a figment of imagination, a coping mechanism for my mind, and a physical incantation from my Quirk...

"Aetaqadt 'anak tuhibuni..."

"I do-"

"Iidha faealt dhalik, falimadha 'asheur bial'alam alan? Limadha 'ubki hah?!" I grit my teeth and turned around, swatting his hand away again when he reached it out.

An explosion and crushing of rocks caught my attention, a nearby ledge on a mountain. I could make out a large form and remnants of green static.

I glared at the man, "My friend just saved your ass."

I formed my rokushaku bo and sprung off in the direction of the rumbling ground and tumbling rocks.

I scaled my way up the uneven ledges, trying not to get hurt in the process so I can fight at 100 percent if need be. Who am I kidding? There's a raid going on, no reason why it was so unusually quiet.

I put the thought of Toya outside my mind for now and swung to the ledge, swinging my body upward and catching my weight with my bo.

The first person I caught sight of was Kota standing not far off, crying and shivering on the ground. I quickly made my way over to him, sliding down to his level.

"What happened, Kota?" I asked, making him jump at my close presence.

The poor boy was so shaken up he couldn't form words so he just pointed forward, making me follow in his direction.

"Izuku?!"

"Get Kota out of here, Milah!"

Izuku wasn't in the best shape, bloody and bruised, but still kicking and determined as ever. I'd never seen this before, it was an uneasy sight to take in. For a split moment, I felt useless...like I didn't have to help or protect him anymore.

I shook that feeling away, "I...But I'm not leaving you here!"

It was only until the large form I noticed from earlier was about to lunge at Izuku, who prepared for the pounce, but he flew right passed him.

"So this is the other one?!"

I pulled Kota close to me, tugging at my chain and quickly flinging it around the man's neck, yanking it down so he'd come crashing down into the gravel.

Picking up Kota in one arm, I jumped over the sliding mass heading toward us, hoping he'd fall off the ledge and we'd be done with him.

I ran over to Izuku, setting the boy down behind us, grabbed my chain to wrap around my waist again, and looked over his wounds.

"You need first aid, quick."

"I know that, but I need to make sure he stays down," he told me, not sparing me a glance as he looked at the growling man getting back up on his feet.

"Mind telling me what's with this guy?"

"Member of the League, murdered Kota's parents, the League's here to kidnap you and Kacchan."

I looked down at Kota behind us, seeing him in a shocked state and looking up at us. My eyes furrowed in guilt and pity... That's why he is the way he is.

"I see..." I stretched my hand out toward him, and a wobbly cornflower blue box formed around him. I hadn't perfected this technique yet, but it's better to have a simple scratch on him rather than have him tossed off the cliff to his death.

I stood by Izuku's side, turning toward the man with a fighting stance.

"What are you doing?"

"Fighting with you. I told you "I'm not leaving you here", didn't I?"

"I'm not used to my Quirk yet, Milah-chan. You might get hurt because of me."

"You managed to fight this long without hurting Kota so I trust in your abilities, Izuku. He looks like he's on his last legs. I don't expect you to go full strength, but I think we can knock him out with one punch."

"Quit the lovey-dovey exchange. Once I'm done with you, I'll be on my way with the girl." He grinned at me, "You're the type to use your hands, too, huh? This'll be double the fun."

I lifted a brow, "Let's finish this. I don't got all night, I got a body to go catch."

I felt Izuku's eyes on me, filled with curiosity and worry, but he didn't voice it. I'm sure he would later on.

"Dr. Chinen? It's been so long. How have you-"

"Cut the semantics, Warden. Let me in."

He sighed, "I don't understand why you came back, Doctor. The man hasn't spoken since his sentence to Tartarus."

I glared at him, "..."

"But proceed as you usually do, Doctor."

The door slid open for me and I took a step in, not leaving enough space to let the guards in.

"I want to be alone with him."

"Doctor Chinen, now you know, as protocol, we can't let visitors be alone with our patients...especially ones of his power."

"I'll be fine. Despite him not saying anything for years, I know he's the same man as he was the last time we talked."

There was a few moments of silence before the door slid shut behind me. I took the steps needed to reach the chair facing toward my detained cousin, tightly squeezed by the white straitjacket with chains and leather belts alike, wires connected to his vital areas to monitor his health and condition.

His deep purple hair grew so much longer, it's sprawled out on the floor, covering his shoes and some wires. The last time I saw him was when Kamilah was her transference from Aldera to Coursan.

I didn't tell him that...I didn't tell him anything that transpired since after he was sentenced. Outside information isn't supposed to be shared with any prisoner in Tartarus. The most I can say is that "Kamilah is doing well"...

But I hope that my avoidance of saying that to him since CPS taking her back to Jameela gave him a hint.

I smiled at him, settling my suitcase down beside me. I couldn't gauge his expression because of his overgrown hair and beard.

"It's been a while, Zurui."

"..."

"You've probably been wondering where I've been, huh?"

"..."

"I'm sure you already know, studying, therapy, making sure my niece and nephew are alright."

"..."

"Hakim...Hakim achieved his dream."

"..."

"Kamilah is following in his footsteps, too...albeit in her own way."

"..."

"She still wants to become a therapist, too. She mentioned it to me, like a hero therapist; she thinks there are not enough "heroic therapists"," I chuckled.

"..."

"Anyway...Norio is...he's managing. I try to be a shoulder he can lean on when he gets overwhelmed."

"..."

"Rui?"

"..."

"I'm afraid."

"..."

"Kamilah and Hakim...they know about Misuzu. What should I do?"

"..."

"I've tried communicating with her, but it's as if she's left me. I don't know what to do or how to go about this. I want to talk to Kamilah and Hakim about this, but I feel that I'd be starting something-"

"Misu...Misuzu pro...protect Kami...fr...from...A...All-...For-One..."

I looked up from my clasped hands, eyes widening and filling with tears at hearing his voice for the first time in 12 years.

I straightened my body, "What...?"

"...Kami...dying...Midoriya...is strength...Misu can't do...it alone. Disease...will take over...Todoroki...is threat...Bakugo balance..."

"I-I don't understand! What do you mean, Zurui?"

He lifted his head, giving me the same look he gave me when he told me to protect Kamilah the night he and Jameela fought.

"Get to her!"

The abrupt sound of heavy thunder followed after everything went dark and short-circuited.

I jumped out of the chair, grabbed my suitcase, and slammed the unlocked door open, making a run out into the darkness.

"Dr. Chinen! Stop right there! We need to know what happened?! What's going on?! What did Shimizu te-"

I smacked the Warden with my suitcase, running right by him, "My niece's life is in more danger than its ever been, dimwit!"

I fished my phone out of my coat pocket, dialing as fast and as stably as I could with how hard I was running.

"Tch, these damn heels," I cursed and flung them off, running towards the exit while mass hysteria circled around the prison and guards.

["Hello?"]

"Pick me up at Tartarus, ASAP. We're going to that training camp."

["...On my way."]

A/N:

"I'll take some rain with my sunshine" is a lyric from Jhene Aiko's Summer 2020.

Whenever there's a sunshower in Japan, there might be a fox (kitsune) wedding procession nearby, referred to as "Kitsune-no-yomeiri", meaning "Fox's Wedding". Sometimes at night, mysterious ghost lights might accompany this procession.

Kamilah's hair is similar to American actress, Zendaya, at the 2014 American Music Awards.

"Nado saranghae, aegiya" means "I love you too, baby".

"Just because I'm plump, doesn't mean I'm not a fox." The way Kamilah phrased this was that she was still quick and mischievous despite her plump build.

"Aetaqadt 'anak tuhibuni" means, "I thought you loved me" in Arabic.

"Iidha faealt dhalik, falimadha 'asheur bial'alam alan? Limadha 'ubki hah?!" translates to "If you did, why am I hurting right now? Why am I crying, huh?!"