~~~
Five Years Ago
It was all over the news. Light Bringer had mercilessly and brutally fatally injured the villains. The same ones that murdered her father.
When it occurred on the news that a store had been robbed, Light Bringer didn't even hesitate in seeking out the suspects and when she found out who indeed was the murdered victim... she couldn't contain her anger.
It was all caught on camera, live on the news. Other heroes had to arrive on the scene and restrain her.
It's said that the villains will never wake up.
That's obviously part of the reason why she left in the first place.
~
Present Day
The only time she's seen anger nearly as close as that as when she saw Bakugou and Midoriya battle. Bakugou left his position to seek out Midoriya for his own personal vendetta. That's what cost him the match. Letting his own anger and grudges get in the way.
Everyone keeps their distance from Bakugou once he enters the monitoring room, terrified that anything at all could provoke the beast. He nearly killed Midoriya in his revenge. Is he even suitable to be a hero?
Kira isn't the one to judge. After all, ever since her father died, her mother's been distant, even before she left. She was reserved, yet snappy. Full of anger... and sadness. Their training had stopped shortly afterwards... Perhaps Bakugou has something going on in his personal life that is reflecting too badly on his school life.
One after another, the battles commence, until it's Kira's turn. A hand on her shoulder snaps her from her daze and she follows Kirishima and Sero to their battle zone. They're going up against Tokoyami and Asui. From what she knows, both of their Quirks are terribly unique. Asui is that of a frog, she's able to mimic most of their skills and properties. As for Tokoyami, Kira's only been able to spot his Quirk briefly at the physical exams. It's something menacing.
"Got a plan?" Kirishima asks once they've located themselves by the 'bomb.'
They're acting as the villains in this scenario.
"Me?" Kira squeaks, pointing a finger at herself.
"Yeah." He shrugs. "You were quick to think on your feet at the entrance exam. If it weren't for you... I don't know where Bakugou would be right now."
Kira stares down at her elbow again, still confused on how to excel her Quirk to its full extent.
"Kiriya?"
"Yeah." She sighs. "Okay. Sero?" He nods. "Tape up the area, all over the place." She uses her arms to demonstrate jagged angles. "Covering the whole area, so they can't get through. Then you stay right next to it. Don't move away from the bomb, even if we're in trouble."
"Right." He nods, already projecting tape from his elbows. "And you two?"
"We'll play the offensive," Kira decides, frowning slightly. "When they get nearby, we'll ambush them. I don't know much about Tokoyami's Quirk, but for Asui... she's bound to have quick reflexes. Make sure to focus on her first, seeing as we know more about her right now."
"I saw Tokoyami's Quirk up close," Sero yells from over by the bomb. "It's... big and scary."
That doesn't bode well. Kira puts a finger to her lips, silencing them instantly. She hears a faint patter that sounds similarly to how Asui leaps, like a frog. She closes her eyes and listens for Tokoyami, his deep voice splitting through the silence.
Kira nods, pointing for Kirishima to hide behind a nearby pillar and he hardens his body, ready to pounce.
"Oh look, you found me!" Sero exclaims dramatically, letting the others know that they're now in the room.
Kira slides around the pillar and sneaks a peek out. Tokoyami already has his Quirk visible and it's enormous. It looks powerful too. How are they supposed to compete against that? Kira meets Kirishima's eyes on the other side of the room and waits patiently.
"Where are the others?" Tokoyami speaks up.
"Went looking for you, of course," Sero replies, stalling for time but also distracting them. "They took a page out of Bakugou's book. Figured it would be a surprise."
The 'heroes' keep silent as if waiting for the attack. They're going to expect the ambush. They're on edge. This plan is never going to work. Kira looks over to Kirishima as he eyes the opponents. She can't let them down. So, she'll wait for the very last moment, make them truly think that they're alone with just Sero.
"So, it's just you then," Asui says, glancing around the room.
"'Fraid so." He sighs, prepping himself into a fighting stance.
Tokoyami's Quirk enlarges, advancing on Sero like a stormy cloud. Asui leaps onto the side wall, so she can propel herself onto the bomb. She's nimble and small enough to slip through Sero's tape.
Wait for it.
Kira counts down on her fingers and Kirishima readies himself, a grin spreading.
Wait for it.
As soon as Asui's fingers leave the wall, that's the moment Kirishima needs to go.
Wait for it.
Now!
Kira nods with a tight fist, and Kirishima bursts out of cover, slamming his body into Asui. In his hardened state, that would have been a tough hit.
As for herself, Kira launches at Tokoyami, her light glaring from her palms. His Quirk roars in what seems like anguish as twin beams shoot out at the shadowy figure. Tokoyami retreats backwards, having been so close to touching the bomb, he momentarily forgot about potential attackers. His victory was so near, that his vision became clouded.
She fires again, her hands glowing brightly. His shadow seems startled by the light, either by surprise or something else. It shrinks back into his cloak and he backs off, his beak twisted in frustration.
Asui is back on her feet, her reflexes quick and her body agile. Kirishima hardens his body further, blocking the bomb from her sight. Sero restocks the area with tape, some of it having been exposed during the brawl.
"Two minutes left!" All Might's voice echoes around the building.
"Already, huh?" She hears Sero mutter behind her.
"Go help Kirishima," Kira says to him, without taking her eyes off Tokoyami. "I've got this."
Sero doesn't even argue. Behind her, she hears his steps retreating to the other side of the room.
"You sure that was a smart move?" Tokoyami wonders, his shadow rustling under his cloak.
"I think so," she whispers. "Because I think I've already figured it out."
"Oh yeah?" He raises his head in curiosity. "What's that?"
"Your weakness," she says plainly, allowing her Quirk to glow in her palms.
He scoffs at her response. "You willing to bet the battle on that?"
His Quirk reveals itself from its hiding place once again, soaring above their heads. She wonders if letting that touch the bomb will count too? Nevertheless, she has to keep in account where Tokoyami is and where his Quirk is. She's about ninety percent positive about this, but it's better than nothing.
Tokoyami allows his Quirk to fly overhead, hoping to get her full attention on it, so that he can possibly slip by and touch the bomb himself. Kira smirks at the move, before aiming both her hands into an arc like she did at the entrance exam. Instead, however, she aims them vertically. Her light sears out her palms, bursting through the shadow and into the ceiling, where the debris falls onto Tokoyami. It was a risky move, but now he's focused on having to save himself rather than go for the bomb.
He dives out of the way, his Quirk retreating quickly enough to help protect him too. The debris falls nearby, spreading dust all over the room. She can hear Kirishima battling it out with Asui still. Where's Sero? She rubs her eyes, dust collecting in her lungs.
"Sero?" She wheezes.
"Over here!" She follows the sound of his voice, noticing Tokoyami having been tied up by Sero's tape.
Kirishima and Asui are still fighting somewhere on the other side of the room.
"Go." Sero jerks his head towards the sound of the ruckus. "I've got him."
Kira nods determinedly, rushing over to where the bomb should be, nearly tripping over Sero's elaborate tape trap. The sound of struggle grows louder as Kira approaches a certain corner of the room. She can even spot silhouettes fighting in the falling dust.
Akira hesitates before calling out to her comrade, not wanting to alert Asui that he's got backup. She steps around a pillar just as Asui uses her amazingly long tongue to lift Kirishima off the ground and toss him to the side. Did she calculate it? Did she know Kira was coming? Because at that very moment, Kirishima's hardened body collides straight into her, knocking the wind out of her. They roll momentarily, before coming to a stop, with Kirishima on top of her.
"Ow," she says, her eyes closed.
Kirishima instantly cancels his Quirk power and when Kira finally opens her eyes, she finds herself staring up at his sheepish grin.
Then she gasps suddenly, remembering where she is. "The bomb!"
They both turn their heads to the side, just in time to see Asui leap for the bomb. However, just milliseconds before her fingers touch, All Might announces the time officially up.
"Phew." They both sigh simultaneously.
Kira allows herself to relax, only just remembering a certain someone still on top of her with his hands on either side of her head.
"Kirishima," Kira whispers.
"Hmm?"
"Get off," she says blankly.
He nods and scratches the back of his head, his face turning as bright as his hair. He offers her a hand up which she gratefully accepts.
"That was a close one, eh?" Sero comments, unwrapping the tape from around Tokoyami.
"Sure was," Kira replies, kicking a small stone away.
Tokoyami brushes off his cloak and looks up to see Kira's extended hand.
"No hard feelings?" She offers a smile.
"Of course not," he says quietly. "You won fairly and strategically."
They all left the building to a very chaotic scene. The other students all slap each other on the back for their efforts, whether they won or not.
"You were amazing, Akira!" Ochaco beams.
"Your leadership in there was unexpected," Yaoyorozu adds.
Kaminari offers a thumbs up but behind him, the smaller student known as Mineta seems to have lost his cool about something and is repeatedly hitting Kirishima.
"What a perfect example of teamwork!" All Might howls, presenting himself in front of Kira, Kirishima and Sero. "If this were a test, you'd get full marks! Young Kiriya: what powerful leadership qualities you possess. Young Kirishima: excellent fighting techniques. And young Sero: remarkable quick responses, and the ability to listen to your teammates!"
Getting praise from the number one hero is enough to get anybody hyped, but Akira's just hoping that her mother knows of her efforts.
~
Five Years Ago
He couldn't tell them. He couldn't tell anyone. Nobody knew about it. Not even when he was in school. The only people that knew were his parents, but they were gone now... thank God. What would she say? How would she look at him? He loved her... more than anything. But this... it's unforgivable. Lying about it... It's killing him inside.
It was quiet. Weirdly quiet. He stared at the item, his tired eyes drooping to a close. His thoughts have been haunting him for far too long, robbing him of his sleep, of his appetite. But this wasn't for him. It was for her.
He didn't even blink, he didn't even breathe before the bullet pierced his lung and then again when another struck his leg. The pain was intense, but that wasn't why he started tearing up. This was his out. This was the only way.
This was for her.
~~~