White Wings

Prologue I

Aiya Tanji adorned her best outfit. A white, button-up shirt that was ironed to a crisp edge and a lint-free black pencil skirt that hugged her growing form. She wore her nicest converse and panty-hoes, as well as a green cardigan. Her golden, shoulder-length locks were brushed to a shine and her black framed glasses were clean. In the floor length mirror, she smiled subtly. How long had it been since she had a reason to dress up?

Outside her apartment complex, in the dying sun, was her best friend Nevan. He was smoking a cigarette across the street. She walked out of the building entrance and over to him.

"You know, you really don't have to come, right?" She said as she approached him.

"Please," He dropped his cigarette butt, smashing it with his black boot. "Like I'd let you roam these evening streets alone."

Nevan was going to be a third year this year at UA, making him two years older than Aiya. Lucia, Nevan's mother, had been good friends with Aiya's mother before she died. The two friends had subsequently known each other their whole lives.

They took a train to UA. They could have walked, but they wanted to get their before they closed the school for the night. The whole train ride, Aiya felt familiar feelings swirling inside her. Feelings of guilt, remorse, self-hatred, anxiety. She didn't deserve to even set foot inside UA, let alone try to convince Principal Nezu to allow her to attend the school. As she watched the scenes pass her by, she clenched her sweaty hands together and sighed.

Nevan eyed her. He was surprised when she told him she wanted to do this, but he was proud all the same. It had taken awhile for the girl he knew to come back to him after the incident. He was going to make sure she stayed.

"Aiya, what is it?" He asked. His hand reached for her own on her lap.

"What if..." She let out a shaky exhale. "What if Principal Nezu hates me? What if he tells my father that I came to him? This was all a big mistake. What am I doing?"

"Hey," He said sharply, making her look into his brown eyes. "Calm down. If he rejects you then it is what it is, alright? All you can do is shoot your shot. No matter what happens I am here."

Aiya looked at him, worry still plaguing her. She has not been able to look at him for too long ever since the incident three years ago when she killed his father, when she killed her own mother...

But she forced herself to look at Nevan now. She saw all the similarities between his face and his father's. Same eyes, same cheekbones. She reminded herself of why it was necessary to join UA, to try to redeem herself.

For Nevan and his family, for the families of the four pro-heroes who died in her wake, for her mother and her father, she had to become a hero. She had to make it right somehow. If not for the world, then for herself.

She reached over and hugged him.

"Thanks, Nevan. I suddenly remember why I have to do this." She said, feeling a sweet sort of peace fall over her.

"Glad I could stop you from chickening out," He said with a chuckle as she sat back down in her seat.

"Yeah, me too." She said grinning at him. She had no idea what she had done to deserve Nevan but decided that it was best not to question it. He had forgiven her when no one else would, including herself.

In order to repay his kindness, she had to make this meeting go well.

~

As they entered the UA campus grounds, Aiya compelled herself not to feel daunted by the impressive structure that was before her. She had to focus on her goal.

"Good luck." Nevan said, appropriating a bench just outside the school's entrance. "I'll be waiting for you, right here."

"Wait, but I have no idea where the Principal's office is, Nevan. How am I supposed to find him?" She asked, a bit frantic. The sun had almost set. Her window of time was closing rapidly.

"You think I'm a bad enough student where I know where the Principal's office is?" He asked in mock indignation as he propped his feet up and sprawled on the bench, lighting a cigarette.

"Actually, yeah. I kind of figured you went the Principal's office regularly." She replied, crossing her arms at him.

"Which is why I don't relish the idea of going there during my summer break. Better hurry, toots, if you want to catch him before he leaves. I'll be here when you're done." Nevan said with a sly smile as puffed. 

"Damn you," She grumbled as she marched forward into the doors.

~

Aiya searched the first few floors frantically looking for any sign or indication of the Principal's office.

"Stupid Nevan," She muttered. "Not even a hint?"

She was scrambling now, as the sky was a solid dark blue. Stars had begun to twinkle above.

Feeling a sudden urge to cry, she stood on the overlook the was between the two buildings. Her eyes peered out into the city, trying to find her inner calmness. Maybe if she relaxed for a moment, the answer would become clear to her.

Aizawa Shota was on his way back to his classroom. He left his eye drops in his desk drawer again. Cranky and tired, he made his way back to the 1A classroom when he saw an unusual sight.

A girl was standing, looking out at the Japan skyline. Her blonde hair was disheveled and her skirt just short enough to where he noticed the pleasing shape of her body. She looked melancholy, like a modern take on an old European painting. When her turquoise eyes met his own, he held back a blush.

"You're not supposed to be here. Office hours ended hours ago." He announced, his voice devoid of any indication that he found her attractive.

"I-I know." She said, approaching him. "I'm truly sorry. It's just that, I'm looking for Principal Nezu's office. I need to speak with him."

When she got closer to him, he noticed that she was even more beautiful up close. Her hair was silky and ended in slight curl at the ends. Behind her large glasses, her eyes were a magnificent, bright sea blue color. Pure and almost illuminate. Although she was young, she had the body of someone older, with a perky hourglass figure. The buttons were strained on her bright white shirt where her swollen breasts were. She smelled of mandarins and vanilla.

Staring down at her without any emotion or hint of what he was really thinking, he refocused.

"Why do you need to see Principal Nezu?" He asked plainly.

Aiya found that she liked the stranger's voice. Against her will, she blushed. Her eyes darted to the ground to hide it.

"Excuse me, sir, but that is business I would only like to discuss with him. Please forgive me." She said obediently.

Well-mannered, Aizawa observed.

He used his index finger to gently move her face up again. Something about her was very, very familiar. He couldn't place it just yet.

Startled by this gesture, Aiya blushed deeper. Her face now a brilliant shade of cherry red.

Aizawa smirked beneath his scarf so that she would not see.

"Follow me. I think he is filling out some paperwork still. You're in luck."