~~~
The next few days went by quickly - too quickly. Kira was falling behind, in more ways than one. Her studies were lacking still, she was isolating herself from her classmates, nearly drowning in the issues that dawned on her everyday. Her main concern right now was Kirishima and Kirishima only. With the way he's been acting lately... it frightened her.
But now, Kira had been training with Midoriya for nearly an hour now - the sun is still moderately high in the sky but fails to produce any heat in the October air. They'd been sparring without rest and Kira had just been knocked on her ass by Izuku Midoriya. Again.
"Ow," she grumbles, rubbing her lower back.
Midoriya doesn't bother asking if she's okay, he's been doing it the entire evening. He instead offers her a hand back to her feet, his eyes still expressing concern. Not over her being flung back by his punches every few seconds - he's kept the same look on her ever since they left the staff room. After Aizawa confessed a few truths to the both of them about Toga and her Quirk.
"Would you stop?" Kira mumbles, brushing her backside off of any wet grass. "I can't focus with you staring at me like that the whole time."
"I'm staring because you're not acting like yourself," he argues. "I'm never able to get this many wins in a row. Something's going on with you."
"You mean besides the potentially crappy news I got on Monday?" Kira bites back. "Yeah, it's been on my mind."
"Well, did you want to stop and talk about it?"
Kira shakes her head. "No, I wanna learn how to control this damn Quirk of mine." She looks around quickly. "And my other one."
Midoriya nods at her response, readying himself for another assault. He launches feet first and Kira steps to the side. He notices this movement and swings his other leg around whilst twisting his body in midair. Such mobility he has now that Kira is genuinely startled as she has to duck under his harsh boot.
Green sparks erupt from his body and Kira flashes quickly, light exploding from her left palm to blind her opponent. Midoriya was ready for that specific attack as he had draped his forearm over his eyes. Kira decides to attempt a brisk, sudden punch, her knuckles swinging under and connecting with Midoriya's strong gut. The bones in her hand complain about the sudden impact but she grits her teeth and sends Midoriya rocketing back into a tree trunk.
He cries out from the assault and Kira instantly feels guilty, dropping her arms and rushing over to crumpled boy.
"God, that was too hard," she winces. "I'm sorry, Midoriya."
He shakes his head quickly, as he gets to his feet, clutching his stomach. "No," he wheezes. "I was waiting for you to wake up."
"Wake up?" Kira scoffs.
"Yeah." He nods, rubbing some dirt from his shoulder. "You look like you've been in a dream-state the whole time we've been sparring. It's not like you."
Kira stares off at a pale patch of grass, wondering how much she should share with her empathetic classmate, so she merely shrugs.
Midoriya straightens at her response, or lack thereof. "You wanna talk about it?" He asks, his voice quiet and tender. "Does it... have anything to do with Kirishima?" He adds, gingerly.
Her eyes widen ever so slightly at the mention of her partner. Midoriya's neither blind nor oblivious - she's just surprised he didn't bring him up sooner. After all, her attitude changed after she met him again.
"No." She shakes her head, looking her classmate in the eye. "It's not him. It's... everything else. I've learnt quite a few things recently that have made me... worry?"
"What things?" He urges, stepping away from the tree. "About the League of Villains?"
Kira nods slowly, hating just thinking about the ruthless group. "Mainly."
"Mainly?" Midoriya's brows raise ever so slightly.
Kira shouldn't say anything else. She shouldn't mention her father's dying body, Kirishima's dying soul. These things she needs to keep hidden, keep them safe.
"That's all, really," Kira brushes off his urges. "I haven't been sleeping much and I've gotten left behind in my studies."
"Oh," Midoriya says. "I can help you with that too if you want."
"No," Kira replies with a soft chuckle, getting back into her fighting stance to spar again. "You've got enough on your plate with that wacky Quirk of yours."
Midoriya mocks offence, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're one to talk."
Kira scoffs at the retort, standing up straight again. "Y'know, ever since your little fight with Bakugou, you've gotten some nerve..."
"Nerve?" He laughs. "I don't know what you're talking about." He shrugs with his arms in the air. "I'm merely standing up for myself."
"That's one way of putting it." Kira shakes her head briskly. "Are we gonna keep bantering all day or are we gonna keep fighting?"
Midoriya looks over at the sun, shielded by a thick cloud. "It's actually getting late already."
"We've only been at this an hour." Kira frowns at his answer.
"True," he sighs. "But, it's been a long weekend for you. You should get some rest."
Kira rolls her eyes at his observation.
"Besides," Midoriya adds. "I'm sure Yaoyorozu and Ashido are dying to go over the plans for Kirishima's birthday tomorrow."
Kira falters at his words. "Tomorrow?"
Midoriya looks confused, a very slow frown appearing amongst his brow.
"Right! Tomorrow!" Kira laughs nervously, whacking herself on the forehead. "I knew that! You're right, I'm really tired - it's been a long weekend... and a long couple of days."
With that, Kira leaves a very bewildered Midoriya in the grass and turns swiftly back inside the dormitories. She'd completely blanked on how soon it was already. Kira knew what gift she was going to get for her partner, but had completely forgotten to actually get it!
She doesn't care how late it is - she's going to go out right now and grab it. She still had money from her mother left behind. Of course, the pro hero had intended for her subordinates to handle the money side of things. However, with Akira now staying at the dormitories and no longer being in touch with Light Bringer's patient and loyal followers, she decided it best to help herself to her mother's leftovers. A while back, she had raided her mother's private drawers for where she stashed her bank cards and lo and behold, she's got several of them.
Kira raced through the livingroom, ignoring the astonished gasps from her classmates as they tried to call her over. Besides Bakugou and Kaminari, Kira was closest to Kirishima on a more... intimate level. It's only logical that she would know Kirishima the best. Mina must have wanted Kira's opinion on everything.
As Kira jammed the button for the lift, she promised to herself that she would discuss the plans with Mina when she returned. Momo had graciously accepted to supply the decorations for the celebration, claiming that she would most be honoured. Kyoka felt bad about using Momo's Quirk for this use, though Momo was the one who offered to begin with.
Akira scrambled through her drawers for the cards that had been carelessly thrown in amongst the random mess and exclaimed in success, holding a few cards up high when she finally found them.
With no time to waste, Kira flew out of her room, the door slamming behind her and she basically lunged into the lift. She didn't know when the stores closed and it was quite a walk down to the closest shop for the item that she wanted to buy. It had come up quite a few times over the past few days - Kirishima's roots have been showing and he's run out of hair dye. Because of his current wellbeing, he hasn't been outside of the dorms besides classes, so Kira's taken it upon herself to assist her partner with this endeavour.
The lift dinged at the ground floor, where Kaminari and Sero were distracting Kirishima fairly well, clambering all over him to prevent him from listening in on the others as they planned his party.
"Kira!" Mina hollered, waving her over.
She had no choice but to go to them - she had to tell them she was heading out anyway.
"What's got you running around?" Kyoka asks, looking back at the lift quickly.
"Nothing," Kira tells them, a little out of breath from her sudden rush. "I just... I need to head out somewhere. I won't be long! I promise! Then we can talk about" - she looks over at the distracted Kirishima - "the plans."
"But-"
Akira didn't have time to argue, as she grabbed her coat that was hanging on the rack and hopped into her shoes without bothering to tie the laces.
"Please don't let them be closed..." Kira muttered to herself as she raced down the hill.
UA stood like a fortress at the top of the hill, the sun's low reflection shining in the billions of windows. Kira had her mother's credit card tight in her palm - she didn't even grab her belongings with her. No bag, no phone...
It was cloudy today, the sun being blocked by the misty sky every few seconds. Enough to allow Kira her sight back in the setting sun. Akira could potentially get a train to some nearby stores, but she didn't have her phone on her, so she couldn't allocate the next train and... it was just too much hassle. At least she could trust her feet to take her there.
"I can't believe I forgot," she mutters, slowly running out of stamina. "I can believe I forgot to buy his present."
Kira forces herself onwards, her lungs screaming and her legs aching for rest, her whole body trembling in search of a slither of adrenaline. Kira could taste blood on her tongue and down her throat - that metallic feeling always felt wrong and unnerved her.
"Gotta keep going."
Kira shakes off her weakened state and finds a hidden burst of willpower, surging herself down the final part of the hill. By the time she got to the town, the sun was scraping the hillside, the first stars making themselves known with their usual shyness.
A few cars were still moping about, stragglers going home from their late jobs. People yawned as they dragged their tired bodies down the streets. Someone was walking their dog, stopping every couple of seconds to allow their pup a sniff here or there. A couple argued in the street, something unknown to Kira but it was heated, the female was throwing her arms up in her fury and the male was pleading with her, his face contorted in worry and desperation.
Kira waited for the green light to allow her access across the road and she stepped out onto the road, her untied shoe trudging onto the white markings on the concrete. Despite the light ushering her across the road, Kira heard a yell and then a frantic honking of a car and she barely had time to turn her head when a car came barrelling down the road, way too fast to be legal. The honking didn't even come from that car, but the one across the road waiting for Kira to cross - it was trying to alert her of the crazed driver.
Kira's instincts had vanished from her completely, having exhausted her efforts just minutes prior trying to get down here. Someone yanked onto the collar of her coat and pulled her to safety as the out of control car flew up onto the curb before spinning around the corner. She could hear the screeching of burning tires as the car flew off without looking back.
"Are you okay?"
It was a voice she'd never heard before - a stranger. The person who saved her. She turned to him but his face was hidden, clad in black clothes and a black cap. She could see dark hair sticking out around it, fairly long and covering his ears. He wore a long, black coat too, left undone just to reveal a plain black shirt underneath. It was all very mysterious. She didn't know this man, yet part of her felt a certain familiarity with him.
Perhaps the long coat merely reminded her of her father.
"Oh my goodness, sweetie!" An older woman rushed over, her bag hanging down by her elbow in her worries. "Are you okay? He didn't get you, did he?"
Kira looks at the woman, a panicked expression across her features, eyes wide, mouth open.
"No," Kira says, her mouth dry for some reason. "I'm fine."
Besides, even if she was struck by the vehicle, she's certain her healing Quirk would save her from her wounds, though it was slow working.
When Kira looked back again, the mysterious man dressed in dark clothing had suddenly vanished, not a trace of him left behind, no footsteps, nothing. Kira spun on the spot, as if she might spot him disappearing round a corner, but there was no sign.
She shook off the feeling, remembering her mother's card still clutched tightly in her palm. Looking down at her hand, she's surprised she didn't break the card in her grip.
"I'm okay," Kira assures the woman, before taking off towards the store she intended in the first place.
It was a beauty store - lined with makeup products, hair products, various baby equipment, medicines and finally hair dye. Now, Kira wasn't certain what shade Kirishima normally bought but, the colours weren't all that different from one another - if she just bought the one that looked the most like his colour, she should be fine.
Kira hesitated over two similar boxes, her hand moving from one to the other. She had to get this right.
"Screw it," she whispers.
She grabs the brighter one and approaches the counter, where she promptly payed for the dye, staring at the box the entire time. Luckily, the card worked too. With Light Bringer having been away for some time, Kira was a tiny bit worried that her payments may have been blocked. As the young man handed her the receipt, she was proven wrong.
She thanked the cashier and looked at the back of the box while she left, the bell ringing, signalling her departure.
"I hope this is the right one, Kirishima," she mumbles as she looks into the darkening sky.
The sun had disappeared now, the streetlights starting to turn on one by one. The streets were getting quieter, as evening approached. A few cars trundled past and someone yawned as they walked past her.
She was exhausted herself, having ran all way here. In fact - Kira turned around back to the store - she didn't need to rush at all as the shop was open until late into the evening. Kira curses her panicked self, pocketing the hair dye and Light Bringer's, well, her bank card into her coat pocket.
She made sure it was secure, patting it slightly, when she heard a yell. It was the cashier from the beauty shop she was just in. Kira spun instinctively to the distress and the ringing from the door jangled loudly. A young woman burst out of the store, a few products in their arms - way too much for them to really carry. She looks left and right as the store clerk bellows again, clambering over his counter from inside.
Is this a robbery? No, it's merely a thief. The young shoplifter looks panicked, like they've never experienced something like this before. The mask had been poorly placed over their mouth, but had now slipped so it was barely supporting their chin. Their eyes were wide and frantic, searching desperately for answers.
Akira readied herself to apprehend this thief, her palms heating up, when she paused. She can't stop this criminal. It's literally illegal for her to do so. However, as Kira quickly glanced around, there were no heroes around to stop this person from getting away, only the astonished civilians.
The criminal dashed off to the right, dropping a few items as they ran. They were quick too, taking off down the street faster than Kira could call for help. She knew she shouldn't get included, but a part of her just couldn't let the thief go. The hero inside of her screamed into action. So she obeyed.
However, Kira was determined to apprehend the criminal without using her Quirk. That way she, hopefully, shouldn't get into too much trouble.
She gave chase, her legs immediately begging for resistance. Kira simply ignored her bodies pleads and allowed her determination to urge her onwards. Nothing could trump her resolve. The thief took a left round a corner, and Kira nearly lost sight of her, but was able to pick up the trail by the discarded items left behind in her escape.
She had crossed the road and darted around a right corner. As Kira followed behind, she was astonished to see how much distance they had made in so little time. Kira needed speed, or perhaps a shortcut. She waited, wondering which way the thief will turn next. If she decides to take another left...
Yes! Kira lunges into a desperate sprint, racing down a side alley that should put her on the next street with the criminal. If she's fast enough, that is. Kira curses and uses her Quirk to bolster her speed, transporting her forward a few steps infront. Hopefully, in the alley, no one will see her. No one will know about her use of her Quirk.
Kira springs out of the dark alley and immediately locates the thief, their desperation like a dank stench. Kira locks onto her, her eyes never leaving as she plummets across the open road. The timing couldn't be more perfect as the criminal sneaks a peek back, making sure she's lost her tail. Little did she know, that Kira took a shortcut.
Kira's about to grab the girl, her hand outstretched when something slams into her side and she rolls across tarmac, her head smacking the ground, her arms shredded and her legs scraped.
Her ears are ringing, as she scrambles to her hands and knees, staring at the dark ground as she gets her bearings. Her mind is swimming, like the world is suddenly going round and round at a million miles an hour. Her back- her back is killing her, sending an icy shiver down to her ankles.
Blood drips down onto the road before her and Kira frowns, before licking her lips and tasting the iron. She tries to stand, one hand immediately going to her head when it starts to pound its fury.
"Where..?" She starts, though her tone slurs. She swallows some blood and tries again. "Where is she?"
Her words don't even sound audible to her, a sea of pain surrounding her and Kira forces her head up only to see three or more faces looking down at her. They're all shouting on top of eachother, issuing commands that Kira's never heard before.
Kira wobbles on her feet as she swipes a random arm out to clear the swarm of faces staring at her, judging her. They all back away at her loose hand and Kira spots the familiar thief. Through a blurred vision, the criminal stands - they too were struck down it seems. Beauty products litter the road, crumpled and broken. The young woman curses before tugging herself free from the civilian's grip. Kira couldn't be sure, not with the state she's currently in, but it seems as though the criminal had quite a bizarre Quirk. It looked like their skin was really stretched out, or their limbs were made of elastic. That's how they were able to escape so quickly, by elongating their legs to take greater steps.
"Please, don't move," someone says in her ear, as Kira starts to make sense of reality.
"The police are on their way," another announces.
Kira stands up straight suddenly, her head no longer pounding and her legs no longer trembling. She pats her coat, feeling the box tight in the pocket.
"Oh, please, please, please," she repeats, removing the box. "Oh thank God," she sighs, once she sees it's still intact.
As Kira gets her bearings, she notices the vehicle that struck her. The front is completely crumpled, with a broken windshield. The front of the car is also missing, the bumper a few feet back. Droplets of blood scatter the road, along with the thief's items.
Kira tries to breathe, when a sudden pain prevents her from doing so. She clutches her side when she receives an intense stabbing pain - probably a broken rib of some sort. Her healing Quirk will make short work of it... whenever it decides to activate of course.
The sound of sirens awakens her senses and she looks around for the source, when she has to take a second and realise that she is the problem. She scoffs, sending another electrocuting pain in her side for her troubles.
"Oh for..." She trails off.
Kira's been ignoring the civilian's pleading the whole time, as they just make her headache even worse with their constant bickering. So, she decides to lean up against the broken vehicle, actually, quite a large pickup truck.
"That damned thief got away," she mutters, looking at the ground as she pities herself.
An ambulance pulls up, followed by a police car and the emergency services immediately get to work. Two of them rush up to Akira: one man and one woman, asking her a series of questions and shining a light in her eyes. Kira raises her hand to block the piercing light, muttering that she's 'fine' over and over again.
"I've got a concussion," the woman says quickly. "Potential internal bleeding. Two broken ribs."
"Two?" Kira gawkes.
The woman ignores her and Kira watches some officers urge people away from the scene, creating a barrier with cones and tape. They work quickly when they want to.
"I don't have internal bleeding," Kira tells the paramedic before her and she pauses if only for a millisecond. "Trust me."
"Why?" Is all she says.
"Because my Quirk won't allow it."
It was a weird way to phrase it but, Kira didn't want them to whisk her away to a hospital when she needs to get back to Kirishima so badly. Either way, she's part of a crime scene now - she's probably going to be stuck here a while.
"Is that so?" The woman raises a brow as she gathers some more equipment.
"It's true," Kira insists. "And these broken ribs of mine? They'll be healed up by tomorrow."
She stops fiddling with her belongings and finally looks Kira in the eye. "What's your name?"
"Does it matter?" She shrugs, causing a slither of pain in her ribs. "Let me get out of your hair now. I'm sure whoever was in the car needs tending to more than me."
"The driver is being seen to by my colleague," she says, nodding to the side. "Don't worry about him."
"I'm not worried." She frowns. "Not about him."
The paramedic sighs heavily. "You're in shock," she mutters suddenly and Kira groans.
A police officer finally approaches to discuss the scene. The paramedic fills them in on what they know already and Kira feels her impatience growing.
"Name?" The officer asks and the paramedic can't offer an answer. The officer faces Kira, repeating his question. "You wanna tell me your name?"
Kira sighs heavily. The quicker she complies, the quicker she can get back to the dorms. "Akira Kiriya."
"Next of kin?"
"Shouldn't you have that on record?"
The officer doesn't reply. His expression doesn't even change as he awaits an answer.
Kira opens her mouth to mention her mother, but they won't be able to contact her and no one knows about her father. "None."
"What was that?"
"None," Kira repeats.
The officer shares an uncertain look with the paramedic.
"You'll have to contact UA High," she tells them. "Mr Aizawa is my homeroom teacher. Other than that, I have no family."
The officer nods before repeating the information into his radio perched on his collarbone.
A few minutes pass before the radio crackles again. "Very well," the officer says. "The school has been notified and someone will be here shortly to collect you."
"Collect?" Kira's brows raise in surprise. "I'm not going to the hospital?"
The officer looks reluctant to share any information. "The heroes and teachers at UA were... adamant about your return."
"I really think that she should be going to the hospital!" The paramedic argues. "She has two broken ribs! A concussion! She's in shock."
"It's out of my hands," the officer says coolly. "You'll have to take it up with UA."
The officer stalks away as his radio starts to go berserk. Kira didn't even realise how much power UA and its teachers have on the outside world and not to mention how quickly they responded.
Merely five minutes after the officer left her, a car screeched its arrival, a plain black vehicle. Her homeroom teacher stepped out, looking severely annoyed at the interruption to what she's sure was a lovely evening.
"Kiriya," Aizawa says sternly. His voice was calm, yet laced with irritation. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Nothing, sir," she says, standing a little straighter in his presence. He has his hair tied back in a messy bun as if he was about to turn in for the night. "I would have made it back in time for curfew if it weren't for-"
"You're Aizawa?" The paramedic introduces herself. "I'd strongly advise that your student be taken to a hospital. She has two broken ribs, a concussion..."
"She's exaggerating," Kira says before she can stop herself.
Aizawa turns his head to her slowly, looking down at her as if she were the biggest idiot on the planet. "Exaggerating?" He repeats. "They're a paramedic, Kiriya." He pauses, narrowing his eyes at her. "How hard did you hit your head?"
"Please, I implore you," the paramedic adds. "She-"
"Thank you for your assistance tonight," Aizawa says briskly. "But we have capabilities at UA that will see to any injuries that its students may face."
"But-"
"Now, if you'll excuse me," he says. "You stay here," he tells Kira before approaching the officer in charge.
Kira watches them exchange words, slowly and tentatively rubbing her side. She didn't even realise it until now, but her left ankle has been stabbing at her. The throbbing has been hidden by the pain in her side, however. Hopefully, it's merely a sprain or a meek twist.
Aizawa and the officer bow solemnly to each other before making his way back to Kira.
"You'll go to the station tomorrow for your statement." It wasn't a request.
Kira just nods as she follows him to the car, delicately limping off her left ankle. She didn't want Aizawa to know about this injury too.
They enter the car and Aizawa sighs heavily. Kira clutches her side, unable to twist to put her seatbelt on. But, she doesn't say a word. She messed up. Again.
"I'm sorry, Mr Aizawa," she whispers, looking down at the gear stick. She can't meet his eyes right now.
"Do you need help with your seatbelt?"
Kira just nods. Aizawa sighs again before getting out of the car to go around to the passenger side. Her door swings open and a cool gush of wind brushes over her face. Aizawa plugs her belt in without further hesitation and goes back round the car to enter the drivers seat.
He needs to know. She needs to earn his trust again. But, what if letting him know makes it worse? Kira doesn't have a choice - she can see it in his expression. Today wasn't necessarily her fault and Aizawa doesn't know the details of what happened, but she's screwed up too many times already.
Aizawa had started up the vehicle, the engine roaring to life as they leave the scene.
"I won't need to see Recovery Girl," Kira says bluntly, keeping her eyes locked on the window but only seeing her bloodied reflection. "I... I haven't been completely honest with you, sir."
"Is that so?" He mumbles, though he doesn't sound surprised. "Go on."
"I won't need to see Recovery Girl because..." She sighs heavily. "Because I have a second Quirk. A healing ability." Aizawa waits for her to explain. "It's from my father. Turns out he's actually alive. Has been all this time. He wasn't killed in a robbery gone wrong. I've been meeting with him some evenings, learning about him. I-I should have said something sooner."
"Yes, you should have."
Kira turns her head to him. "Am I going to be expelled?"
Aizawa hums softly. "It's not up to me." Kira looks away again, her heart hurting most of all. "For now, though" - he takes his eyes off the road to look at her - "rest up."
"But, I just-"
"Kiriya," her homeroom teacher interrupts. "Tomorrow.... we'll see."
~~~