I reluctantly shut off my alarm that woke me up with it's usual annoying tone. I tossed the covers back and sat on the side of my bed as I gathered motivation to go down the stairs and into the bathroom. When I decided that I should get going, I drew a bath instead of taking a shower. I had plenty of time so I knew that I could relax in a warm bath for a while. I tried to alleviate the anxiety of being the new top hero, having to say a speech in front of millions, and just being who I am in general. I took a deep breath in and held it as I slid underwater and stayed there. As I did I could feel the sharp pain in my chest that screamed to me to breathe. I ignored the want and stayed there until my body breathed in without me telling it to. The burn of water filling my lungs was unbearable, but I have tried to drown myself so many times that both my body and I have gotten used to the familiar feeling. Though I should be dead since I was no longer breathing, my body was now able to breath some other way since I have tried this stunt so many times. A wave of panic wasn't the thing that clouded my mind, but rather anxiety still.
I calmly sat up in the tub and punched my chest a few times to try and get the water flowing out of my lungs. Once it got moving after that and coughing, I leaned over the side of the tub upside down. The water then left my lungs completely as if the whole ocean was in there. Once all the water was out of my lungs, they stung cause they were now dry. As I got ready I coughed raspily. At one point my nose started to bleed, which when I drown myself, that is the only time that I ever get a bloody nose, other than when it gets broke. I got ready in my hero costume and walked out of the bathroom to feed Melody before I went up to my art desk to grab my speech. I took the piece of paper and stood in front of the mirror as I practiced it. I had it memorized due to a quirk, but I still held the paper since it gave me a sense of comfort for some reason.
When I saw that I should be heading to the conference, I crumpled up the paper and walked down to the living room where Aizawa and Yamada already were. I walked to the sofa, where they were sitting and said, "I'll be off. It'll take a bit to get there though I should be a little early. See ya."
"We're coming too." Aizawa said as Yamada reached for the remote.
"Yeah, we wouldn't miss something big as this!" Yamada said as he turned the TV off. They both then stood up and went to the door as I followed behind them. As I finished putting on my boots, he asked, "What's that you have in your hand?"
I looked down to the crumpled up paper that I forgot I was clutching to, "Oh, it's just my speech."
"Well you can't read it when it's that wrinkled." Aizawa said as he put his hands in his pockets.
We walked out of the apartment as I said, "It doesn't matter, I have it memorized."
"Wow, you're fast at memorizing stuff!" Yamada exclaimed.
"I actually used a quirk." I replied.
"Still, it's cool." he said as we got in the car.
On our way to the place where the conference was being held, I used a quirk that temporarily took away my anxiety and stress. I wanted to sleep it off and pretend I was one with death, but I knew that it wouldn't happen until the day was over; so instead of sleeping, I ran over my speech over and over again in my head. When we arrived at the headquarters at around ten, I opened my door to get out, but noticed that the two in the front didn't bother to get out.
"Aren't you guys going to get out too?" I asked with one foot out the door.
"It's too early for us to go to the conference room, so we'll wait here in the car for an hour or so before going in." Aizawa said as he leaned the seat back and got comfy.
I got out as I said, "Alright, see you guys later then."
"Good luck!" Yamada yelled before I shut the car door.
As I walked in, my stomach started to turn with nerves even though I used a quirk to help suppress them, but it mustn't have worked that well. As soon as I walked through the automatic doors, I stood there in both fear and confusion since I didn't know where to go. I then noticed the front desk and figured that it'd be a better idea to go there and ask for directions.
"Hello, how may I help you?" the receptionist asked with a friendly smile.
I too tried to smile, "Hi, I was wondering where I should go for the press conference?"
"Hero name?" She asked as she looked to her computer and readied her hands on her keyboard as if she was to type something.
"Blank." I responded.
She typed a few things in before looking back to me with the same friendly smile, "You'll go to the elevator and ride it to the 12th floor. Once you arrive, take a right and walk to the end of the hallway, which you will then take a left and you'll meet everyone else in a smaller conference room for the time being. Further instructions will be waiting there for you."
"Thank you." I said before walking off.
"No problem; and congratulations on becoming the number one hero." She said as I took a step, but then stopped upon hearing her talk some more.
"Thank you, again." I said as I turned to her, then started towards the elevator again.
Once I got on the elevator I pressed the button for the 12th floor and rode it to my destined floor. On the way there, it stopped at a few floors before my stop. When it got to my floor, I got out and went to the room that I was told to go to. When I arrived, many other heroes, along with All Might and Endeavor, were there. I stood by the door for a few seconds as I debated where I should go, but then All Might motioned for me to sit next to him. I then attempted to walk over with confidence in my stride. Once I took a seat, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Nervous?" asked All Might.
I nodded my head, "Yeah, very." I said quietly, hoping that no one would hear me other than the one who I was talking to.
"You're supposed to be the new top hero," Endeavor remarked in a sour tone and with his arms crossed, "speak with confidence or else those around you will think that you're weak and villains will cause more destruction upon the city."
"Sorry." I said.
"Don't ever say sorry, it shows you have emotions that villains and other criminals can use against you." he said.
All Might sighed, "She's trying to be nice; you're just mad you didn't win."
"I am not." Endeavor grumped.
I looked down and tried to hide, but it didn't work since I was stuck between the two that were bickering. After the top ten heroes and plus some were accounted for, the head chief came in and explained a few things.
"Now that everyone is here, I'd like to clarify a few things. I normally wouldn't care what order you all sit in, but since this is primarily about the new number one hero, she will sit in the center of the table with All Might and I, sitting next to her. Endeavor, you'll be on the other side of me, while for the rest of you, you can sit in whatever order your heart desires." the chief explained before looking at his watch and saying, "Alright, it's time that we all head to the conference room."
People then started leaving, which I was confused for a split second cause I had no idea where the fuck I was going. I just followed everyone else. When we made it to the door of the conference, the head chief went in first, so then I followed behind him and took a seat. The room was as quiet as ever as we all walked in and took our seats. I was scared. I truly was. The room was full of reporters, cameras, citizens, and other heroes. It was very large compared to the other rooms that I have been in for this sort of event. As I looked around, I casually looked for anyone that I would have known. I found Aizawa and Yamada standing in the back of the room. Aizawa was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed while Yamada was moving about to try and get a better view. Once everyone was settled, the nerve wracking part began.
The head chief stood up and began, "Hello everyone, I'd like to welcome you all to the press conference for the new hero who will be taking the number one hero position. We have tallied up all of the votes that you, the people, have cast. The hero who has won the voting...is Blank, the world's youngest hero." There was then an applause. I began to feel my face get hot upon hearing it and I oddly got chills. Once the noise subsided, he began speaking again, "Though the ranks of heroes has gotten out of order in the slightest, nothing has changed otherwise." He paused momentarily before giving a cue, "Now, a word from All Might." The chief then took a seat as All Might stood up.
He gave a smile as he said, "Thank you all for supporting me while I was the number one hero. Some have asked me if I am saddened to see the title be passed onto someone else, but rather I'm happy to see what the next generation will hold in store for us. I'm glad to see that it has been passed to someone who has such talent and skills; not to mention that she's so young so she can do more than what I could ever do. Though I won't be able to help that much anymore, I'll still be able to root on from the side lines and help in any way that I can. So, in the end, I have all my trust in Blank that she will keep the city safe. I'm more than one hundred percent positive that she'll go plus ultra on those villains and other criminals. Though I'm not going to be out there much, Blank will now be here in my place, protecting you all."
Those in the room went wild with their applause as they clapped for All Might. He turned towards me and put his hand out, which I then stood up and shook his hand. As we did, I was blinded by all of the camera flashes. Once the room quieted down, I then took the hint that it was now my turn to talk. My heart began to race and I began to shake. I tried to activate the quirk that hid the anxiety again, which this time it helped more than what it did before.
I tried to use a presentable smile as I spoke, "First, I would like to thank you all who have voted for helping me get to where I am now. I wish I was able to show each and everyone of you how much I appreciate what you all have done for me, but I guess that I will by protecting you all. I know that I may be smaller, and younger, and more likely less experienced as those before me," I then gave a persevered look as I rose my hand and balled it into a fist in front of me, "but I have the same amount of bite, if not more, than those who came before me." I then relaxed my face back to a smile and put my fist at ease to my side. "In the end, I'll give it my all and I won't disappoint. So, as a warning to those who are doing bad, you better watch out, cause I'm coming for you." I paused to bring a little bigger smile to my face. "Well, anyways, thank you all again." I said as I finished with a brisk bow.
Once I stood up straight, the crowd clapped and showed their appreciation. I then sat down and once I did, a wave of relief came over me. It was so nice that I could have melted right there. When the crowd quieted down, the chief said, "We will now begin the question portion. Anyone who has questions, please raise your hand."
Some went by that rule while others began to shout to gain our attention. The questioning went on for an hour or two, but once it was over and those of us who were sitting on a low-rise stage left to go in the hallway. I couldn't help but smile as I let out a sigh of relief. Everyone was dismissed while I was instructed to go to the chief's office to sign papers. I then went to the bathroom to change into my normal clothes so then no one would see me dressed as Blank leave the building and see me get in the car with Aizawa and Yamada. The last thing that I needed was people finding out my true identity and where I lived. I waited in the waiting room portion of the first floor as I waited for them to meet up with me, so I took a seat and messed around on my phone until they caught up to me.