Silver and Gold // BNHA OC

Six

Ichika woke up, gasping for air and clutching her throat. She cried out in fear, tears filling her eyes.

The reality of what had happened finally settled in.

Her entire body ached and her eyes closed as she lay amidst the clean white sheets. She sobbed, unable to hold it back any longer.

She had been so scared—scared she wouldn't return home, that she wouldn't see Annya again. She couldn't imagine what it would have done to her older sister if she had— If she had...

God! I was so close! Ichika thought in horror.

She could still feel his cold fingers wrapped around her throat, the sheer violence that wafted off of him. It still lingered within her, despite Shigaraki being nowhere near.

It had made adrenaline rush through her veins, and her body shook with terror. Being that close to someone so violent... it almost made her feel as though the thoughts were her own.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching and her sister appeared in the doorway.

"Kanaria? What's wrong? What happened?" she quickly scanned the room from corner to corner. Ichika thought that she must be searching for intruders.

"Nothing," she pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I just felt your distant panic," Annya said, walking over to sit at her bedside. She paused, looking down. "Were you... dreaming about it?"

Ichika didn't meet her eyes but nodded softly.

In this moment, she was thankful for Annya's skill in reading people even beyond their emotions. She didn't think she could talk about it, but she wanted Annya to know.

Annya climbed into the bed next to her and wrapped her arms around her, laying her cheek against her head.

They sat like that for a while, Annya stroking Ichika's hair and humming, before Annya suddenly pulled away and moved to stand by the bed.

Ichika looked at her funny, then heard a soft knocking on the open door, and in walked three figures.

She realized that Annya had felt her friends approaching and moved away so she wouldn't embarrass her.

Despite how she felt, that made her smile.

She sniffled, wiping away tears.

"Ichika! Are you okay?!" Uraraka ran to her bedside, grabbing one of Ichika's hands and holding it in both of hers. "Are you in pain? Do we need to call the nurse?"

"No, no, no, I'm alright," Ichika grabbed her hand, which was hovering over the call button.

Todoroki walked over to sit in the chair next to her bed, not saying a word. He felt as if this were his fault, for not stopping her from trying to help All Might.

He should have stayed with her, held onto her better. He knew she was reckless from the moment he fought her. He should have known.

"You don't have to talk about it, it's okay," Midoriya sat on the bed opposite Uraraka, smiling at her. "We still won in the end, right?"

"Y-Yeah, we did," Ichika managed a smile. "But if the pros hadn't shown up..." she clutched at her throat.

She felt an unnaturally warm hand take hold of her own, and glanced up. She thought it may have been Midoriya, to comfort her, but Todoroki was now standing next to her bed.

"I'm sorry, this is my fault," he murmured, his right hand holding onto her much smaller one.

"Todoroki, this is in no way your fault," Ichika sighed, "I was being an idiot. I shouldn't have run in like that."