~~~
Light Bringer wasn't there when Kira returned home that day, nor was she when she woke up the next day. In fact, she was alone. Normally, Light Bringer's sidekick would be here to ensure that Kira would get ahead with her training. But, as Kira tip toed down the stairs in the morning, she was in fact, utterly alone.
And she's never been so relieved.
Perhaps they were patrolling together. Or maybe there was a complicated villain that Light Bringer needed assistance with. Whatever the issue, Kira made sure to slip out the house as soon as possible, in case they returned.
Kira locked the front door behind her, shrugging her rucksack onto her back. The sun was out and the sky was blue without a cloud in sight, as Kira made her way to the shopping centre they all discussed to meet up at. Kira couldn't hide it - she was excited to meet her friends outside of school. She was glad that both Kirishima and Mina talked her into it.
Kira strolled through a park, struggling to remember if this was a shortcut or not. She passed families sitting on the grass, picnicking and chatting amongst themselves. Dogs chased sticks and children ran round in circles. A few people stared, courtesy of her appearance during the Sports Festival, but most didn't dare come close to the one who practically became a ticking time bomb.
Keeping her head down, Kira picked up the pace, as she continued down the path, before turning a few corners, trying to block out the whispers. She shouldn't have come outside. She should have made an effort to hide her face.
Before she knew it, she was approaching the grand shopping centre. It was in fact, ridiculously big, towering above her and stretching further than she can see. She made good time, arriving just ten minutes before they all planned. This gave her time to browse on her own, as she snooped past each shop, peeking through the windows when she noticed something that interested her. What was she here for again? Outdoor stuff? Kira felt her loose change in her pocket, grimacing at the fact that despite her rich mother, she didn't have a lot of money.
She sighed, wondering if coming here was a good idea after all. Kira's only ever known her classmates from school, but all them gathered together socially, it might change her view of them... Or them of her.
Before she has a chance to consider leaving, Kira hears Mina and Kirishima faintly through the crowd calling her name - she's sure of it. She spins on the ball of her feet, gripping the straps of her bag, just as Mina wraps her arms around her tightly.
"You came!" She squeezes Kira so tight she can't breathe.
"Yep," she wheezes. "Mina - can't breathe."
She releases her hold and Kirishima grins at her. "I gotta admit, I didn't think you were gonna come."
"Had to sneak out," she says quietly, as if her mother might be listening somehow.
Kira left out the part that her mother and others were actually absent this morning - no need to complicate things.
"Where's everyone else?" Kira wonders.
Kirishima leads her to where all the others have gathered, aweing at their surroundings. Of course, Bakugou and Todoroki didn't turn up.
"This place is huge!" Ochaco spins around on the spot.
"Hey! Are those kids from the Sports Festival!?" Someone yells, pointing at them.
"Yeah!" Another replies.
"You guys were awesome!"
"You guys kicked ass!"
Kira turns away from the cheering bystanders - she's sure they're not cheering for her... no one has yet.
"So, where to first?" Kira sighs, gazing at the stores.
"Don't know about you guys, but I need some 'outdoorsy' shoes," Kirishima tells them.
"Ooh me too!" Hagakure jumps on the spot.
"Let's go together, Kira," Mina says, already dragging her away from the group.
Before she knows it, her and the other girls are all huddled together in a bouncy, excited group.
"We need swimsuits!" Hagakure announces.
"Yeah!" Mina squeals.
They all approach a store that seems to sell all types of beach/pool equipment and Kira browses over each item, glaring at the price of everything. She comes across a one-piece green swimsuit that catches her eye.
"Whatcha think?" She holds it up to her own body.
"It's cute!" Mina sticks both her thumbs up.
"In the basket then," she mutters.
The store itself is huge, filled with pool toys, clothes, sunscreen and so much more. It's actually overwhelming.
"Look at these sandals!" Hagakure holds them up for everyone to see.
They all remark their opinions at the pair, but Kira keeps silent, rummaging though a line of clothing that displays beach wear.
What are they even going to be doing at the Training Camp? She doubts that they'll even have any time to relax, so buying all this stuff is probably going to be a waste. Kira doesn't plan on much leisure time - her Quirk needs to be controlled.
Kira ends up just paying for the green swimsuit, before the girls drag her to another store that appears to be selling snacks. Of course, they're going to need something while they browse this ginormous shopping centre.
"Pst."
Kira frowns, turning on the spot, curious who made the sound.
"Pst."
Again. She peeks out of the store window, spotting Kirishima. She relaxes slightly when she sees it's only him.
"You okay?" She questions, meeting him outside the shop.
"Yeah." He keeps his voice low. "I just lost Kaminari and Mineta so..."
"Ah." She nods. "Why?"
He pauses for a moment. "I came to save you."
"What?" She laughs.
"I figured the last thing you wanted was to be crowded by all the girls," he explains. "I saw how you reacted to those randos earlier when they recognised us from the Sports Festival."
Kira keeps silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "All I've gotten since then is fearful looks," she admits quietly. "Because of what happened during my fight with Bakugou."
"They're judging you off one little mishap on the television," Kirishima scoffs. "But they don't know you, do they? They don't know what an amazing person you are."
Kira raises an eyebrow as Kirishima grins slowly. He raises his hand for her to take and Kira struggles to hide her own grin forming.
"So, what? Just us two together?"
"Come on." He jerks his head towards the stores. "It'll be fun."
Sighing, she takes his hand and allows him to lead her to every shop. They don't even go in most of them, but instead point and display their opinions on certain clothes.
As they make their way to the upper level, Kirishima leading her up the steps, Kira finds her eyes locked onto their hands still clasped together. What is she doing? She questions herself. She told herself she wasn't going to get close to Kirishima until she mastered her Quirk. What if something happens right now - while their hands are together? She could burn right through him.
"Hey, you know what?" Kirishima announces, and Kira tears her eyes away from their hands as they make it to the top. "We could count this as our date."
"What?" She tries to stop herself from laughing out loud in case he's serious.
He shrugs with one shoulder. "You're having a good time, aren't you?"
Kira glances over the barrier at the hundreds of people below, carrying bags, chatting with friends, or simply browsing.
"I'm more of a movie and dinner kind of person," she retorts.
"I can do that," he replies quickly.
Kira turns back to him, her elbows propped on the barrier. "What the hell did I do to get your attention?" She says curiously.
Kirishima frowns slightly, his jokey demeanour vanishing slightly. "We make a good team, for starters," he answers honestly.
"Uh huh," she hums in response.
"I'm serious." Kirishima steps closer. "As soon as we met back at the entrance exam, I knew you'd be an awesome partner."
Kira stares into his eyes, no trace of the class clown that he and Kaminari seem to be during school hours. Only sincerity seems to be evident now and Kira feels her heart skip a beat.
She clears her throat and turns away from Kirishima, sudden tears springing to her eyes. She gazes at the crowds below, spotting Mina and the other girls coming out from another store with a dozen or so bags. She laughs at the sight of her friends, but it drops suddenly when she spots Midoriya on one of the benches in the centre with a hooded figure with their arm around him.
Something's wrong.
"Kirishima," she mutters, gripping onto his shirt and pointing down at the green-haired boy.
"What is it?" He follows her gaze below.
"I don't know," she mumbles, already moving for the stairs, dragging Kirishima along with her.
Kira battles through the crowd, stopping only when she spots Ochaco faced off against Midoriya and the stranger. Even with his hood, he looks oddly familiar.
"Nothing's happening here!" Midoriya yells at them, his eyes darting to the civilians around them.
The hooded figure glances up slowly, and Kira spots blue hair trickling over his face. Shigaraki? She tilts her head at the villain. What is he doing here? His hand is latched around Midoriya's neck and he doesn't seem to be moving.
"What a pickle," she hears his raspy voice. "No one do anything rash, or everyone will start to blame the heroes for the rash amount of deaths that suddenly occurred here."
Slowly, Shigaraki releases Midoriya, but the boy doesn't move from the spot until he steps back. The villain slowly but surely vanishes into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
"Midoriya?" Kira rushes up to him. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? What did he say?"
Midoriya explains everything that Shigaraki said to him as the police arrive, Kira having called them as soon as possible. She curses herself for not having gone after the villain - she could have him apprehended right now.
Thinking about it, Bakugou would have got him.
Kira and the others spent hours with the detective explaining each of their stories. By the time they finished, it was pitch black outside, with nothing but the street lights to show the way.
Kira stepped out of the police station, when they offered her a ride. She declined - she didn't live far and besides, she had a lot to think about. A chilling walk in the dark is just what she needs to clear her mind.
She stops however, when Kirishima waits outside for her, leaning against the building. She really wanted to be alone at this moment, but having someone wait for her was a great comfort all on its own.
Sighing, Kira approaches the red-head, as he pushes himself off the wall.
"Have I ever mentioned what I was like before UA?" He says suddenly, causing Kira to frown.
Kira shakes her head slowly, as Kirishima turns on the spot, beckoning her to walk beside him.
"I'll tell you all about it as I walk you home," he says quietly, his voice oddly loud in the silent night.
She doesn't know what to say so she just listens as he tells her all about his encounter with school bullies, and then a villain who threatened some people in his class. She was shocked to hear that he panicked and couldn't save them and instead Mina jumped in to rescue them. The Kirishima from his previous school sounds like an entirely different person to who he is now. She stares up at him as they walk, the street lights reflecting in his eyes. Kira's never experienced someone being this honest with her before - Kirishima decided to include the fact that he went home that day and cried to himself about his failure.
"So, that explains the hair change?" She nods up at him and Kirishima looks up as if he could see his own hair himself.
"In honour of my favourite pro hero: Crimson Riot!"
Kirishima hardens his arms and poses weirdly and Kira can't help but try to stifle her humour. Turns out he can still be the class clown out of school hours.
"In all seriousness," he adds, cancelling his Quirk. "Sometimes a change can be a good thing."
"If you're suggesting maybe reconsidering my answer from that day..."
Kirishima shrugs innocently. "Look, I doubt your mother knows how hard you've been working. You deserve a break, don't you think? Besides, over working only results in the opposite effect."
Kira pauses midstep, observing her classmate. "When the hell did you get so smart?"
"Hey!" He frowns. "I'm plenty smart."
"Yeah, okay."
They must have been walking for maybe an hour as the moon rests high in the sky, big and full. The stars are already out, twinkling so bright that Kira can see their reflection in Kirishima's red eyes.
"Well, this is me." Kira throws a lazy arm up at her house.
"I- I'll see you tomorrow, Akira."
He turns to leave, but something stops him, and Kira glances down at his arm to see her own hand there.
"Okay," she says quietly. "Okay."
Kirishima lights up at her simple, yet sincere words, turning to face her fully.
"But, I can't promise that you'll be my priority," she adds, finally removing her hand. "Learning to control my power comes first. It has to."
"I know," he replies, without turning to her. "And I'm willing to wait."
~
He watched the red head lead her around the centre. He contemplated following her, to make sure she was safe but decided against it. He's witnessed her power already - she can handle herself.
He took a seat on the ground floor and subtly watched her genuinely enjoying herself - whoever this boy was, he made her happy.
He recognised another boy from the Sports Festival - Izuku Midoriya. He was practically opposite him. The only thing seperating them was the crowd. Something wasn't right however, as what appeared to be a fan was sat beside the boy, their hand to their throat.
With no way to contact the authorities, all he could do was watch as this madman threatened the fifteen year old boy. Above, Akira had noticed the threat and immediately sought it out. He watched her push through the crowds with such determination to confront the danger.
He had to disappear before the authorities came, so with a heavy heart, he stood up from the bench and went to leave. But he miscalculated. Akira had been dragging her friend along with her so, when he turned to leave, one of the bystanders stumbled backwards from Akira's advances, jabbing their elbow into his punctured lung and he had to force himself not to double over. But he felt the blood under his shirt.
He wished he could watch the event unfold - he was beyond curious to see how Akira handled herself in a dangerous situation. How much of the training really stuck? Regardless, he had to get back to his home and recover from his wounds.
~~~