The Wind Beneath Her Wings

Chapter 6:

The Ring

"Asuka, I have something for you."

Looking up from a homework assignment that was definitely not being done at the last second, Asuka saw her mother standing in her bedroom's doorway. The older woman looked pensive, bark brown eyes a sullen sunless sky as her gaze drifted off somewhere to the side, dazed and distant. It was as if she was somewhere else. Her head, perhaps? Or maybe a whole different world.

Shaking herself from her stupor, Asuka inclined her head. "Come on in, mom."

With her came a stifling air of melancholy that instantly put Asuka on edge. She dropped her pencil carelessly, scooting back in her seat without a second thought as she stood next to her desk. The winged teen watched as her usually calm and collected mother stood awkwardly, looking like a teenager waiting for their date to show up. As if remembering why she was there in the first place, Hisoka shoved her hand deep into her pants pocket, lips thinning into a straight line as she procured a necklace with a silver ring looped through it.

Hisoka held the necklace in the palm of her hand, a look of great fondness seeping into her eyes as her thumb gently stroked the ring, confessing, "This belonged to your father."

Turquoise eyes rolled down to the jewelry, her heartbeat picking up in surprise from the revelation. In all of Asuka's fifteen years of living she had never — not even once — seen anything remotely related to her father. This was the first time she was looking at something that actually belonged to the man, because it was an unspeakable truth that at the Kamiya residence, Hideki Kamiya simply didn't exist. Asuka had a creeping suspicion that her mother had purged their apartment shortly after his death, the thought of him most likely too painful for the poor woman to bear. But it was no secret that during her youth, Asuka's father had always been a frequent thought in the back of her mind. Their huge blowout fight had stoked the flames of her unbridled curiosity, leaving it like a wild fire—blazing and rampant.

The teen assumed this admission was a product of Hisoka's numerous therapy sessions. Although Asuka would never pry, because she respected her mother's privacy, that didn't stop the curiosity that clawed at her insides. All she knew was that this was a huge leap of faith for her mother—a gigantic step in the right direction to mend their fragile relationship.

Asuka reached for it, plucking it gently out of her mother's grasp as if it were a grape from a vine. The ring was stainless steel in color, wider and thicker than anything that would ever fit on her. Upon closer inspection Asuka noticed an inscription on the inside of the ring, which read a date and a single word written in English: Forever.

A wedding ring?

"Why are you giving me this?" Asuka cringed at the words that left her lips. Shame heated her ears once she realized how callous that must've sounded, and quickly corrected, "N-Not that I don't appreciate it! I'm just surprised, is all! I know how much this means to you."

A despondent smile graced her mother's features. "My therapist told me it's time to share your father's memory. And that begins with you." Hisoka produced another ring, this time it was her own. "Although, I'm not quite ready to give this one up."

They were a matching set, both pristine and extremely well kept. Although both were inscribed with the same date, Hisoka's wedding ring had a different word written in Kanji. "What does your say?"

"Always."

Asuka's heart clenched.

Forever Always.

"Can you help me put it on?" she asked, a pang of sympathy rocketing around in her chest.

Hisoka nodded, pocketing hers once more as Asuka held up her long obsidian locks, waiting with bated breath as her mother clipped the necklace into place. Once finished, she released her hair, the pads of her fingers shooting up to toy with it. Asuka gently rotated the ring back and forth along the necklace, wondering what her father would think if he were here.

Stuffing it inside her uniform's shirt, she turned to her mother. Asuka slowly encircled her arms around the woman, squeezing to silently show her thanks.

Tears gathered in her mother's eyes, rolling softly down her cheeks until they eventually fell, absorbing into the shoulder of Asuka's blazer. Her voice was airy, barely above a whisper as if it would drift away. "Your father would be so proud of you."

That pesky voice in the back of her head wondered if her mother was proud of her too.

Asuka had expected to be the first one to class, but as she passed through 1-A's monstrous doorway she was greeted by the sight of her three classmates. They all sat towards the back of the room, off in their own little worlds as Yaoyorozu's nose was buried deep in a pictured encyclopedia, the boy with dual-colored hair sitting next to her had his head tilted back, sleeping, while the broad shouldered boy — whom she couldn't for the life of her remember his real name — was fiddling with a pencil, sharp eyebrows drawn together as he debated which location on his desk it fit best.

Asuka quietly stepped over to her desk, sliding her backpack off her shoulder as she unzipped it, trying to hunt down her adventure novel from the mess of items that filled her bag. When she finally found it, she gently placed it on the wooden surface of her desk, fully intent on reading it until homeroom started. It was the latest installment in an ongoing series, about a daring girl named Ami who'd—

"Excuse me, Kamiya-san..."

Yaoyorozu stood before her, hands clasped behind her back and an almost tentative look on the studious girl's face. Asuka blinked in surprise, yesterday's events flooding back to her like a tsunami as the refined, elegant girl's words poked at her self-esteem. She quickly banished those thoughts and turned her attention towards the spiky-haired teen, a cordial smile pulling on her lips. "Good morning Yaoyorozu-san, can I help you?"

"I, well, I'd like you to forgive me for my presumptuous observations," Yaoyorozu started, fidgeting slightly and Asuka instantly regretted any ill-will she'd harbored against the girl. Looking at her now, Asuka knew she'd wrongfully pegged this girl in so many ways, because the earnest look on her face and the shift of her shoulders promised nothing but good intentions and kind eyes. "Yesterday's unforeseen events put me in a rather precarious situation..."

Yaoyorozu trailed off as her already stiff posture became stiffer — something Asuka didn't think was possible — before the black haired girl looked the barest hint of uncertain, but there was a hopeful and almost eager look on her face. "You see, when Aizawa-sensei called on me, I didn't want to defame your character. But what I said was true—"

Asuka was painfully aware.

"—I believe the key to your success lies within hard work and dedication. If you devote yourself wholeheartedly, you'll have control over your wondrous Quirk in no time!"

Asuka froze, not expecting that finish. She stared at her with round eyes, gaze sweeping over the taller girl to detect the barest hint of a lie. But Asuka found none. The only thing she saw was an overwhelmingly earnest expression and obsidian eyes that practically sparkled.

The girl's statement held no underlying tone, no double meaning to her words, not even an ounce of derision—nothing. Yaoyorozu's sentiment had been pure and truthful. Asuka's chest filled with warmth, finding the girl's encouragement invigorating and inspiring. Unbeknownst to the creation Quirk-user, her words struck a chord within Asuka, because not only did the genuine encouragement fill her with a sense of pride, but for the first time ever it was coming from someone other than Davis — because let's face it, she was her teacher and had to provide positive praise — and it made her feel... light-hearted.

"P-Please don't worry about it, Yaoyorozu-san!" Asuka fumbled, her emotions all over the place as she began waving a hand dismissively. "I understand how awkward it must've been for you with Aizawa-sensei putting you on the spot like that! Besides, you handled the situation perfectly. I definitely wouldn't have been able to have put it so eloquently."

"I'm so glad you understand!" Yaoyorozu's smile was radiant and proper, as she pressed an elegant hand to her chest and inclined her head delicately. "I spent all night fretting about it. I was worried I'd sullied my own imagine, even though I'd never put down one of my own classmates."

The warmth that had previously taken up residence in her chest spread out, expanding until it reached from head to toe—leaving Asuka extremely touched by the genuine concern her classmate felt for her. This girl is so fucking nice—I almost want to cry!

Oceanic eyes sparkled in slight awe, wondering what she must've done right for the universe to have graced her with this wonderful girl's presence. "Yaoyorozu, you're so sweet."

A subtle pink streaked across her cheeks as she brought a hand to her lips. "Nonsense, Kamiya-san. I assure you, anyone else would've done the same had they been in my position."

Asuka flashed her a bright grin, nodding even though she knew that wasn't true. "Just Kamiya's fine. No need for honorifics, we're classmates after all."

"Kamiya then!" Yaoyorozu brightened and she stepped forward, looking surprisingly bubbly despite her normally calm and capable disposition. "By the way, is that novel on your desk the second installment of the Skyfire Cycle?"

Asuka focused on the book laying innocently on the desk, her gaze rolling back towards the slender teen as her grin widened. "Yeah, it's one of my favorite books of all time. There's talk in the community about the next installment coming out soon, so I thought I'd re-read it to keep the details fresh and everything. Are you a fan, Yaoyorozu?"

Yaoyorozu's lips formed into a tiny 'o' before another lovely blush pinkened her cheeks. "Yes! My mother chides me for indulging in them when I could be spending my time reading more informative texts, but they're a guilty pleasure! And I hadn't heard any rumors about a new book coming out soon... but hopefully they're true! I need to know what happens to Ami-chan!" A metaphorical lightbulb appeared over the spiky-haired girl, that twinkle from before returning to her eyes. "Would you like to have lunch together? My mother packed me biscuits she brought back from her recent trip to France, they're simply divine! They pair nicely with tea, although I don't have any on me... perhaps next time though! I'd love to discuss the book with you, because you simply must tell me your thoughts on, well, everything! I'd especially love to learn more about your feelings towards—"

Asuka seemed to short circuit, her brain officially shutting down as the girl in front of her excitedly spewed her theories for how the protagonist would make it out of her current situation.

Asuka had always figured that U.A. was going to be rather different—it was a given, considering the school's prestigious standing. The school surpassed anything she could've expected, with the open utilization and acceptance of Quirks, along with an environment that thrived off of diversity. It was intense, with rigorous courses that pitted classmates against each other, but also taught the importance of coming together in threatening situations.

But at the end of the day, U.A. was still a high school.

Several of the students around her looked unimpressed but attentive as the slender man from the entrance exams, Pro Hero Present Mic, rattled off the complex differences of word order in the English language. Asuka found that while the courses were a higher quality than what Aldera had to offer, the English lessons were still by far the easiest for her. Asuka attributed that to having maintained the language. But that didn't mean Asuka was proficient in every subject, in fact, the one subject that not only kicked her ass, but absolutely wiped the floor with it, was math. When it came to mathematics she didn't know her ass from her elbow, no matter how hard she studied. The subject had never clicked or given her a satisfying "aha!" moment, instead it left her feeling grossly inadequate and extremely frustrated. The mere thought of the accursed subject made her want to rip her hair out. It was like reading ancient hieroglyphics designed by cracked out aliens. Her attempts at math were so pitiful that if someone were to put a pencil and a piece of paper in front of her, while holding a gun to her head, with the only way to survive being to solve an equation, she'd beg them to just end her life right then and there.

The teen mentally snorted, thinking, Okay, that's an extreme comparison, but still, fuck math. Whoever invented it should honestly go suck a big, fat—

"Achoo!"

A thunderous sneeze disrupted her musings, along with Present Mic's humdrum monologue. Everyone shifted in their seats, heads turning to silently judge the offender—Kaminari. Butterscotch eyebrows raised at the attention, as if saying, What?

Thinking nothing of it, Aduka wordlessly reached into the front of her backpack, rifling around until she felt what she was looking for—travel pack tissues and hand sanitizer. She reached out, her short stature making her strain to reach the sunny blonde. To her left Sero watched with unconcealed amusement, his laughs hiding behind a fake cough that made her want to smack him. Asuka's wings gave a quick shutter—her butt leaving the seat as she leaned against her desk, silently nudging her hand against the boy's shoulder.

Kaminari turned, honey gold eyes widening as realization struck him like lightning. "Thanks mom," he joked, his lips broadening into a grin as he took the tissue and hand sanitizer. "Ooh, watermelon flavor!"

Asuka nodded, praying that nickname wouldn't stick as she offered with a shrug, "I also have pumpkin, but fair warning, it's glittery and smells like a cupcake had a baby with a—"

Present Mic's sharp octave cut in. "I'm all about turning the volume waaaaay up, but I prefer my lessons silent. Be more respectful!"

The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The only distinguishable sound was the shifting of her classmates, their eyes now settling on her form. Asuka stiffened in horror, falling back into her seat — her ass nearly slipping off the chair — as her face erupted in red. Her embarrassment was palpable, practically rolling off of her in waves. To make matters worse, an uncomfortable influx of heat poured down her back like melted wax, making her bury her face behind her hands. She internally cursed the universe for continuously putting her in such cliché situations! Because for once could it not be so cruel?

The room remained uncomfortably quiet, except for the snicker that was undeniably coming from Bakugou, which only served to embarrass her further.

Kaminari inclined his head ever so slightly to avoid Present Mic's detection, slowly muttering out of the corner of his mouth. "Man, you sure have a knack for getting on teacher's bad sides."

The admittance did very little to put her at ease.

To add insult to injury, Present Mic's sharp octave picked up once more, his penetrating gaze peering at her from beneath his shades. "Why don't you direct your soundwaves towards something productive? Which of the sentence structures on the board is correct?"

Asuka didn't even bother looking up from her hands as she uttered, "The fourth one down, Present Mic-sensei."

After a few beats of more uncomfortable silence, Asuka finally tore her hands from her face, her cheeks evening out as she gazed upwards.

She mistook Present Mic's shocked silence for disapproval.

"It's correct because it says," Asuka paused, unsure how to proceed with her explanation. She racked her brain for a way to properly convey the translation in Japanese, but eventually decided that reverting back to her mother tongue was the easiest way for her to explain it as she translated. "I am a student at U.A."

Her words were crisp, clear and concise with no underlying accent. She switched back to Japanese, finishing, "The fourth sentence goes against the usual structure of subject, object and verb that we follow."

Present-Mic imperceptibly inhaled a bit too sharply, expression a pinch miffed at not catching the distracted teen off-guard.

Despite the anxious thoughts now swarming her mind, along with the heat on her back that intensified the longer the students around her that kept staring, she could swear she heard Bakugou mutter under his breath, "You've gotta be fucking kidding me."

The sunny blonde sitting in front of her cupped a hand around his mouth, silently mocking their surprised English teacher. "Oooh, in your face."

Asuka's embarrassment tripled, her hands immediately shooting up to tighten the scrunchie imprisoning her hair out of habit.

It didn't take long for Present Mic to snap out of his trance, instructing her to keep her distractions to a minimum, before he picked back up with the lesson as if nothing had happened.

Midoriya peered past Sero, his juniper eyes gleaming with curiosity as he whispered to her, "Wow, Kamiya-san! I had no idea you were fluent in English! How long have you been bilingual?"

Asuka stared at him, fixing him with a look that clearly read, Dude, are you serious? I just got my ass chewed out for talking! No way in hell am I responding to that.

But the expectant smile gracing his lips was enough for her to quickly give in as she wordlessly held up four fingers, pleased as he immediately connected the dots.

"Since you were four?" Midoriya quietly muttered to himself, but to her refined sense of hearing it was as clear as day. "That's about the same time Kacchan started reading!"

Unbeknownst to the winged teen, the explosive blonde's shoulders tensed at Midoriya's statement.

Behind her, Kirishima rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I guess it makes that you're bilingual, with your features and all."

Asuka looked affronted, whipping around in her seat to face him. She whispered harshly, "What's that supposed to mean?"

A panicked look settled over the redhead as Sero jumped in, explaining, "I'm sure he means with your facial features, like your eyes and stuff. I noticed it when I first met you, too."

A lascivious grin settled over Kaminari's face, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively. "Hey Kamiya, how about we make East meet West—"

Jirou's earphone jack crept out at a remarkable speed, smacking Kaminari upside the head. The boy hissed in pain as he fixed her with a glare, whisper-shouting, "What the hell was that for!"

The violet-haired girl silently shrugged, returning to her work.

"Who the fuck cares!" Bakugou finally roared. His pencil shot up into the ceiling from the force of his explosion. Asuka stared in mild surprise at the smoking tip of wood now impaled through the ceiling panel. "I'm tired of hearing all this fucking word vomit flying out of your goddamn skulls!"

Present Mic threw his book down on his desk before dramatically throwing his hands up in the air, groaning, "What did I just say about distractions!"

Lunch time was... interesting.

U.A.'s daunting cafeteria offered very little breathing room with its' students rammed to the rafters, swarming around in every direction like bees. Everyone collectively gathered in a single place, abuzz with excitement as they chatted amicably with their friends over the refined cuisine U.A. offered. The cacophony of different conversations mashing together all at once was a bit jarring, but it pleased Asuka to see others so content.

As she moved towards the never-ending lunch line, she was taken aback by the copious menus brandished proudly before the students. The blown up pictures advertising infinite combos and deals reminded her of a mall's food court. The further she moved down the line, the more Asuka's mouth watered at the plethora of enticing smells assaulting her nostrils. She groaned. I'm gonna gain so much weight here. Her stomach rumbled at the thought, solidifying the sentiment.

Asuka glanced longingly at the rows of food that were being pushed forward by Pro Hero Lunch-Rush, his voice cheerful as he urged students to grab it while it was still hot. She bit her bottom lip, brows furrowing slightly. There were so many options to choose from, should she go with the foil-wrapped salmon with the side of rice or the juicy hamburger steak served with a side of grilled vegetables?

"Excuse me," his voice was low, cool and crisp, like the air atop Mount Everest. It instantly snatched her attention away as Asuka's eyes shot a little upwards, meeting a breathtaking set of gray and blue. "You're in my way."

Holy hell, why is this kid so damn pretty? It was a thought she hadn't seen coming, but it painfully true and extremely unfair how genetically blessed the boy standing in front of her was. He had to have been sculpted by the Gods, you couldn't convince her otherwise. He was several inches taller than her with an athletic build, his peppermint hair split evenly down the middle—his right side a gorgeous snow white, and his left a blazing crimson. Speaking of his left side, Asuka couldn't help but notice the scar that marred her classmate's skin, reaching from his hairline to the halfway point of his cheek. His reserved eyes regarded her mutely, his turquoise iris strikingly similar to her own.

Realization slapped her sideways as Asuka mentally cursed herself for staring, and hurriedly apologized, "Oh, sorry about that! There's just so many choices and I guess I got a bit distracted." Thinking nothing of it, Asuka offered her hand. "I'm Kamiya Asuka, it's nice to—"

"I know," Todoroki eyed her for a moment longer than necessary, an undercurrent of ire in his otherwise flat gaze as Asuka's eyes reminded him of someone he knew. "Todoroki Shouto."

A firm hand enclosed around hers and she froze, her eyebrows scrunching slightly in confusion.

"You're the one the teachers keep calling on."

It wasn't by any means said with any ill intent—merely painfully honest.

Asuka ignored how hot her ears felt and delicately retracted her hand. "R-Right."

Asuka didn't know which was worse, being known as the class's troublemaker or the class mom.

It didn't take long for Todoroki to pull away, inclining his head in a silent goodbye as he proceeded to walk past her and collect a tray of cold soba noodles. Asuka looked down at her hand, the boy's cold touch still lingering.

A painful growl emerged from her stomach, causing a handful of nearby students to look at her. She flashed them a wobbly smile, rubbing the back of her head as she thought, I don't even care what I eat at this point, just as long as I get some food in me already!

Her eyes settled on the enclosed container with hamburger steak.

Two hands reached outwards at the same time to grab the container and she halted. Asuka's eyes trailed upwards and promptly met with fierce crimson. She froze.

If it had been anyone else she would've immediately apologized and offered to take something else instead, refusing to take no for an answer. But because it was Bakugou, she fixed him with a glare, daring him to take it from her as she hoped her eyes properly conveyed, I'll fucking kill you for this.

Bakugou swiftly retracted his hand, as if burned, before spitefully choosing the vegetarian option next to it. Asuka's head tilted to the side in thought, knowing that the blonde had always been less than impressed by vegetables.

"Get out my way," he snapped, shoulder bumping roughly against hers as he pushed past. "And wipe that stupid look from your face."

Annoyance bloomed behind her ribcage, her tongue poised and ready to shoot a curse his way. But she decided against it, knowing it would cause an unnecessary scene. Instead, she watched his retreating form, his shoulders hunching and stiff, before reaching for the container once more.

The cafeteria only had one exit. And right now Asuka was staring at it, ignoring how dangerous it would be if a fire ever broke out, and instead focused on the way the double doors beckoned to her. To any sane person it would simply be a means of leaving an area, but to Asuka they promised refuge—a way out of her current predicament. As the exit continued to whisper sweetly, more than willing to offer her the opportunity to sneak past undetected, her mind conjured up an image. It was of a spiky-haired girl sitting primly with a pile of untouched biscuits — the ones she hadn't touched because she was waiting to share them with her — it made Asuka's stomach turn sickly.

"If you don't make these connections now, you'll lose them forever."

Was she okay with losing them?

The grip on her lunch's container tightened, already knowing the answer but refusing to believe it.

Finding Yaoyorozu had been easier than she thought it would be. That spiky head of hair was easily distinguishable amongst the sea of students, but weaving through the crowd was proving to be more difficult. Asuka was mindful of the tables and their close proximity, her wings as close to her body as humanly possible as she silently stepped past a particularly rowdy table full of girls, nearly dropping her lunch as she dodged a slimy green tentacle that shot out as one teen re-enacted a certain scene in her story.

The winged teen was almost to her targeted table when a rich, cheery voice called out to her. "Kamiya! Come sit with us!"

Asuka quickly turned, her obsidian locks swishing to the side from the force of the action. Turquoise hues immediately anchored her attention on soft, ruby red. The corners of her lips rose at the sight of Kirishima, her course shifting as her legs took her to his table—which was currently being occupied by not only himself, but Kaminari, Sero, Mineta and strangely enough, Bakugou. Although, the explosive blonde sat a bit off to the side, not far enough that he was excluded but certainly not close enough to be considered cordial.

She watched Kirishima lightly smack the side of Kaminari's shoulder, disrupting the story he was telling Sero as the redhead pointed towards her.

A megawatt smile graced the blonde's features, his tone as smooth as honey. "C'mon Kamiya, we could totally use a girl over here! It's a total sausage fest—no offense fellas."

Sero's shoulders lifted nonchalantly, "None taken."

Asuka's eyes flickered past the redhead to settled on Bakugou, watching as his eyebrows pinched together, lips tugging down into a sneer as he ruthlessly stabbed a baby carrot. A look of unease crossed her features before it quickly smoothed out as she turned to face Kirishima, an insecure smile playing at her lips. "I don't think that's such a good idea. Besides, I promised Yaoyorozu I'd sit with her."

Promised? More like 'forced' into sitting with her. You need to keep your dista—

"Eh? Well next time if you're looking for somewhere to eat you can always sit with us!" Kirishima jutted a thumb toward himself as Kaminari bobbed his head next to him.

"There's plenty of room," Sero grinned well naturedly, arm gesturing to the available chairs with a flourish.

"Plus, lunch time is always more fun with friends!" Kaminari added, casually popping back the lid of a soda can as he finished, "So make sure to eat with us next time, alright?"

Asuka nodded absently, her insides twisting at the casual mention of 'friends'.

"Besides," her gaze flickered toward a pair of glazed soot, balking at the smile that curled on Mineta's lips as shadows cast over his countenance. "You can always sit on my—"

Mineta didn't have the chance to finish his depraved comment because Sero had swiftly rolled up his sleeve, shooting tape over the boy's mouth as a look of shock crossed his features. "Come on, dude."

Kirishima's hand shot out to smack the back of his head, an undertone of disgust in his words, "Have some respect for women."

"There's a fine line to being a pervert, Mineta. And you sir, toe it." Kaminari said, humming in agreement.

Taking this as the perfect time to slip away, Asuka turned to leave, a tight frown touching her lips as she walked away.

The pesky voice in her head reminded her that getting too close wasn't a viable option. But that didn't stop her heart from weeping.

The way Yaoyorozu provided insight on her favorite book of all time was delightful. Finding another person that shared the same interests was simultaneously freeing and foreign to Asuka, but the taller girl was incredibly knowledgeable, picking apart details that had flown right over her head. The majority of the conversation was held by the creation Quirk-user, with Asuka politely listening to the girl's passionate monologue, nodding along at certain parts.

It wasn't until Uraraka joined their table that Asuka's focus shifted, her hawkish gaze landing on the brunette's meager meal of two side dishes. Inky brows knitted in confusion until realization dawned on her. She wiped away any look that would give her away as oceanic eyes swept back to her own lunch. She'd already eaten half of it but the ever present rumbling of her stomach was insatiable—begging her to scarf it down and go back for seconds.

But sometimes even the right decision was the hardest to make.

"Oh man," Asuka griped to the bubbly girl beside her, "I didn't expect U.A.'s portions to be so big." The winged teen turned to fully face Uraraka, playing the part. "Uraraka? Would you mind finishing this for me? It'd be such a waste to throw it out."

Uraraka turned to her with wide eyes, a brick-colored blush painting the apples of her cheeks. "O-Oh, um—"

Asuka watched as the girl tucked a hair behind her ear, embarrassed. She flashed the brunette a reassuring smile. "You'd actually be doing me a huge favor. Because between me and you," Asuka leaned in close, whispering, "I'm trying to watch my figure."

Uraraka's shoulders relaxed, nodding in understanding as she took the untouched meal. Asuka beamed, "Besides, if we're going to be Pro Heroes it's best we eat like one, right?"

Yaoyorozu delicately reached for a biscuit, breaking it apart as she agreed, "A body is only as strong as its mind."

Asuka purposely shifted the attention off of Uraraka by talking to Yaoyorozu about the book once more.

It wasn't until Yaoyorozu said something that shocked Asuka to her core, making her disrupt the gentle atmosphere. "What!" The spiky-haired girl jumped at her sudden outburst. "You like Ami and Kyro... together? Are you insane?"

Yaoyorozu's startled expression smoothed out, a gentle hand cradling the side of her face as she opened her mouth to explain—

Only to be cut off by the tray that slammed down on the table.

"Oh man, I can't wait to dig in! My tumblies has had the rumblies all morning." Ashido moaned, patting her stomach as she whispered to it, promising it would be fed soon. She looked up, taking in the scene she'd disrupted, "Oh hey, what're you guys talkin' about?"

Asuka was the first to answer. "It's this series called the Skyfire Cycle."

Ashido looked to Jirou, who translated, "It's a book they've been geeking out over for the past ten minutes."

Ashido made a face, sticking her tongue out in distaste. "Yeah, no thanks. Books aren't really my thing."

Asuka shrugged, "It's actually pretty cool. It's about these two neighboring kingdoms that've been fighting a war for centuries, but things take a turn when one of the kings is assassinated. That king's daughter—"

"—The protagonist, Ami-chan," Yaoyorozu supplied helpfully.

Asuka nodded, thankful for the seamless interruption as she continued, "—has to find out who killed her father, because she's being framed for his murder and her own people are turning against her—"

"—So who's this Kyro guy?" Ashido asked, swirling a french fry through a glob ketchup as she slowly became enraptured in the plot.

Asuka's lips thinned as she thought about his character but quickly explained before Yaoyorozu could jump in, "He's the prince from the opposing kingdom. But he's such a bad influence—" Asuka raised a hand, ticking off each personality trait that rubbed her the wrong way. "He's broody, unpredictable, has an overinflated ego and he's just plain mean."

Silence followed her statement until Uraraka spluttered, breathy laughter escaping her lips, "A-Asuka-chan! You sound just like a disappointed mom!"

Ashen wings jolted in embarrassment, her cheeks staining pink as Kaminari's earlier comment pushed to the forefront of her mind. The girls around her snickered in agreement—even Yaoyorozu was having trouble holding back the laughter she was trying to hide behind a hand.

When it finally died down Ashido asked, "So what's wrong with this Ami chick liking the bad boy?"

Asuka looked at her as if that was the stupidest question she'd ever heard. "Because Ami's so nice! She obviously belongs with someone who's as caring as she is, like her royal guard, Nouren."

Yaoyorozu gave a good-natured scoff. "It's only logical that Ami and Kyro end up together. After all, their kingdoms are at war with each other—they could potentially use a marriage as a peace treaty and conjoin their kingdoms."

In that moment, Asuka hated how logical and level-headed the girl was. Team Nouren for the win!

"And," she added, "A majority of the fan base believe Nouren to be the traitor."

Asuka groaned, refusing to believe such slander.

Chestnut eyes turned to her, Uraraka's small frame still shaking with mirth as she said, "Sorry Asuka-chan, but I think I'm with Yaoyorozu on this one. Ami and Kyro sound like they'd be so cute together!"

An unruly mass of bubblegum curls bobbed up and down as Ashido practically sang, "You know what they say about opposites attracting~"

A noise of disgust lodged in the back of Asuka's throat. "But it's such an overdone trope."

"Nuh-uh!" Uraraka quickly intercepted, "There's nothing more romantic than the bad boy with a secret heart of gold falling for the nice, gentle girl!"

Turquoise eyes rolled so hard they nearly fell out of her face. "This isn't an anime."

A cheeky smile landed on Ashido's face. "I gotta agree with Uraraka, but maybe it's 'cause I'm a hopeless romantic. But who doesn't love a little sugar and spice!"

"I think you're misinterpreting that meaning." Yayorozu supplied, taking a bite out of another biscuit.

Asuka looked at the final member of their table, hoping she'd agree with her, but Jirou shrugged disinterestedly before taking a sip of her drink.

She groaned once more.

"Everyone, please sit down!" Iida gestured wildly at the front of the class. "Class is about to begin and the teacher will be here any second!"

"Who put you in charge?" Bakugo spat from his seat, and Iida's head whipped around in shock.

"Nobody put me—"

"It's me!" The door to the classroom swung open with a flourish, a loud voice instantly booming across the class, followed by a bright laugh. "Coming through the door like normal!"

Asuka's focus instantly snapped toward the front of the room. Her eyes went round as excitement saturated the atmosphere, everyone around her eagerly leaned forward in their desks. Holy shit—it's actually All Might!

Sunflower blonde locks were styled and slicked back atop his head, the two signature strands jutting upwards to defy the very concept of gravity. His primary-colored costume was pulled taut against the muscles rippling across his body, his navy cape swinging out fully behind him as he strutted into the classroom. He turned to face all of them with a wide, shining grin.

All Might.

Even with her sheltered childhood, it was impossible not to know about the famed hero himself. But unlike her classmates, Asuka was not besotted by the sheer magnitude of hero standing before them—because like she'd told that man in the convenience store, he was still a person.

"Foundational Hero Studies!" All Might struck a very superhero-esque pose, hands tightening into fists as they lay on his hips. "In this course you'll learn the basics of being a hero, so get ready to pack a punch! Because for today's lesson we'll be doing—"

He whipped around, brandishing a card for all of them to see and Asuka blinked, reading the word 'battle.'

"—Combat training!"

Combat training? Asuka tapped her fingers like morse code along the desk. If it's hand-to-hand combat, I got this. But if it's something more...

"And to go with your training... We've received the costumes based on your Quirk registrations!"

Several slots along the wall slid outwards, rumbling as they brandished numbers in sleek metal cases in response to everyone's numbers.

"Our battle gear!"

"This is so awesome!"

"We're gonna be just like the Pros!"

"Everyone, change quickly! Then gather at Ground Beta!" All Might waved his arm, cape fluttering behind him as he exited.

Asuka would love to say that everyone got up in a peaceful, orderly fashion to receive their cases according to their assigned numbers. But that simply wasn't the case. All at once everyone shot up from their seats, ruthlessly charging over to the wall like a pack of wild animals. Asuka calmly remained behind, watching as everyone eagerly grabbed their costumes, opening the cases to sneak a peek. They looked like children on Christmas—eyes alit with pure delight, excited gasps leaving their lips as they fell hopelessly in love. When the crowd finally thinned out, Asuka left her desk and made her way over. Hers was the third one down from the top, a bold neon '13' on the case's front. She reached for it, heart leaping into her throat as excitement filtered into her bloodstream—

Her fingertips barely scraped the bottom of the case. Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me. Asuka cursed her inferior genetics, standing on her tippy toes as she strained to reach her costume. Thank god nobody is here to see this.

A firm hand reached out, narrowly missing the side of her head as it grabbed the case. Asuka chomped down on her tongue, holding back a scream as she whipped around. Robin's shell blue honed in on gunmetal blue, the bespeckled boy gently holding her case out for her. She regarded him softly, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Thank you."

The right side of his mouth quirked up into a grin, happy to have been of use. "It's no problem at all, Kamiya-san!"

"Please, call me Kamiya." The winged teen waved off the honorific, extending her hand towards him.

Sharp, intellectual eyes rolled down to her hand, immediately taking it within his strong one. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Please feel free to call me Iida. While I have you here, I'd like to extend a proper congratulations to you on receiving first place in yesterday's tests. Your speed is remarkable!"

The praise made heat rise to her cheeks. "You're not too bad yourself."

Iida nodded. "Come now, Kamiya. We should join the others."

"I wish I'd been more specific on my request form, my suit's so tight—it's kind of embarrassing."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Asuka's eyes found Uraraka's as she pinched the material at her chest. "I didn't expect mine to be this tight, either."

When Asuka had submitted her costume request form she had approached it like most things in life—at the last minute. Davis had pressed her for weeks, stressing the importance of making a statement — Asuka had absolutely gagged at the word 'debut' — until one day she got fed up with Asuka's procrastination, sat her down and forced her to make one. They had spit balled ideas off each other for hours, with Davis shooting down every suggestion made—especially the one about a cape. Davis had smacked her upside the head with a rolled up magazine, explaining how they got snagged on everything and how impractical they'd be with her wings.

It wasn't until much later they'd both come to a compromise.

A catsuit.

Asuka's costume consisted of a black form-fitting catsuit, made from a leather-like material that was specially modified with two large slits over her shoulder blades, allowing her wings to easily protrude. It was extremely lightweight and breathable, with an additional feature that would help regulate her body temperature for when she was high up in the atmosphere. Secured snugly around her waist was a utility belt that paired beautifully with her suit, first-aid equipment inside the pouches attached to the outsides of the belt. Splayed out across her chest was a symbol of a bird, it's wings drawn out in a powerful display—the entire thing colored the exact shade of her eyes. Donning her feet were knee-high combat boots. And finally, on her face she wore a shaped, blue-tinted visor to protect her eyes.

The three people closest to her — Kaminari, Ashido and Kirishima — faltered in their step as they glanced between the duo, then to each other as if to confirm they'd all heard the same claim. Kaminari's grin widened. He looked skyward and mouthed a silent 'thank you' to whatever universal forces had brought his and Asuka's paths to cross.

"Well, I think your costume looks super badass! If I was a villain and you were beatin' the hell outta me, I'd thank you." Ashido grinned toothily, throwing out fists in front of her while making 'bam, bam, bam!' sounds.

"Thanks, Ashido." She glanced at the mutant girl, taking in the costume that was as vibrant as she was. The obvious contrast between their outfits lit a spark of amusement in her chest. "Your costume is super cool too—I love all the colors!"

Pink lips grinned from ear to ear as the girl leaned close to whisper, "When I was filling out the form, I had to bust out my best colored pencils for it."

The winged teen snickered, a response on the tip of her tongue when All Might emerged.

The barrel-chested blonde's smile was blinding as he boomed, "Alright young heroes, I hope you all got enough sleep last night because today's training is not for the weak-willed!"

All Might's comment was met with pure silence, the collection of teens unsure how to respond. Kaminari raised a hand, forcing everyone's attention to him as he spoke, "Sometimes my eyes close when I sneeze."

Cricketing silence ensued, disrupted only by Asuka's pitiful attempts at muffling her chortles. God, he was such a dork.

Jirou turned to Kaminari, her tone as flat as her expression. "You're pretty dumb, aren't you?"

"Thank you." Kaminari said, a genuine smile gracing his features.

"Why're you thanking me? I just insulted you."

"All I heard was 'you're pretty,' and I'm focusing on the positives in life."

Jirou looked like she was about to facepalm.

"—Anyways!" All Might cut in, "For today's training you'll be split into two teams and face off in two-on-two indoor battles!"

Which means practical experience and... Quirk usage.

Asuka swore softly.

"Don't fucking curse in front of All Might, Feathers." Bakugou appeared out of nowhere, his much larger, broader shoulder smacking into hers with enough force to bowl her over. If not for Ashido's hand shooting out to catch her, her face would've been greeting the floor.

Asuka's incredulous eyes followed his form, watching as he made his way to the front. She ignored his statement, her mouth wordlessly mouthing the insult. Feathers?

The thought was fleeting as All Might quickly assigned the class into pairs, with the exception of one group having three to accommodate the odd number. Asuka had been paired up with Kirishima, the familiar face instantly easing her nerves. The redhead had been ecstatic, pumping a fist in the air as he gave a whooping cheer. They watched their assigned ball be drawn, set to face off against the hero team represented by Ashido and Aoyama.

"Let's do our best!" Kirishima grinned eagerly, clacking his knuckles together like marbles.

"Right!" Asuka replied, the redhead's enthusiasm easily rubbing off on her. He's depending on you, Asuka. Don't mess this up!

They'd been brought to an underground viewing room to watch the first battle — Bakugou and Iida vs. Midoriya and Uraraka.

Staring up at the gigantic monitor, watching as his lips moved wordlessly to strategize with Uraraka, Asuka couldn't help but feel strangely connected to the boy. Midoriya and her were in a similar boat, with them both not knowing the full extent of their Quirks.

Asuka always had a soft spot for Midoriya, but the kinship they shared had deepened it. But even now, as she stared up at his slimmed down face, and the defined muscles outlined beneath his costume, Asuka found it hard to dissociate the image she still had of him growing up—the meek, warm-hearted boy with radiant smiles that could cure just about anything. The thought of being pitted against someone like Bakugou sent Asuka's heart thudding a beat too fast, anxious for the smaller boy. But the rational side of her brain halted that thought, reminding her that Midoriya was no longer the boy from their middle school days. He was now strong and extremely capable. And this fight was needed for Midoriya to grow both as a hero and a person, because it was more than just a fight—it was a test of will against someone he still considered a friend.

He's going to be just fine.

The battle kicked off with a surprise attack from Bakugou. Turquoise hues hardened as she watched the blonde's palm explode, devastation laying in its wake as Midoriya threw a protective arm around Uraraka, throwing them to the side to avoid the blast. That's it! Nice dodge, Midoriya! Now use that big beautiful brain to kick his ass!

To her left Kirishima was shaking his head in disappointment, crimson locks swaying with the action. "What a low blow! I know he's the villain in this situation, but a sneak attack like that is so uncool."

"Yeah, but Midori sure can dodge!" Ashido said, a glint in her eyes as she jumped, almost gleefully.

Their eyes flickered back to the screen, awe welling up in all of their chests as they watched Midoriya grab Bakugou's right arm, pivoting on his heel as he slammed the blonde to the ground in one fluid motion.

Asuka winced as a collective gasp filled the air.

Her gaze locked on Midoriya's huffing body, a feeling of delight swelling in her chest. Asuka idly wondered if this is how parents felt watching their children take their first steps. Because she was damn near tears.

"What's happening now?" Ashido asked, confusion coloring her features as she peered up at the screen. "Are they... loudly declaring their feelings?"

Asuka muttered, "Looks like it."

Bright yellow eyes rolled, a playful smirk on her lips. "They're such drama queens."

Kirishima scoffed despite the sharp teeth peeking from a grin. "I prefer the term passionate."

The lightheartedness of their conversation shifted as the scene above them did.

Asuka watched as Bakugou corned the smaller boy, his back to the wall with absolutely nowhere to go. Her face fell, replacing itself with a look of unease as her stomach turned violently. A sickening smirk curled at the blonde's lips as he raised a gauntlet.

Her heart dropped.

Ashen wings reflexively shot out, nearly smacking Kirishima and Ashido across the face as she turned to their teacher, screaming, "All Might, you need to stop them! He's going to kill Midoriya!"

Startled by the young girl's admittance, the hero grabbed the receiver, rumbling, "Bakugou, that's enough, kid!"

She watched helplessly as Bakugou said something back to All Might, causing a dark shadow to cast over their teacher's face as an index finger curled around the pin. A fiery blast the size of a boxcar consumed the entire hallway, blowing out the entire side of the practice building as Midoriya flew back several feet.

Midoriya lay amongst the rubble, motionless. And there was absolutely nothing she could do to save him.

Bakugou's hulking figure emerged from the billowing smoke, half distorted as the plumes covered him—a deranged look on his face. She watched as he leaned forward, shoulders hunched and muscles pulled taut as he began shouting something at the boy.

Emerald eyes slowly drifted open, startled as they took in his current predicament.

Asuka's hand flew to her heart in a weak reassurance. He's okay.

"Sensei, shouldn't you stop them? That kid's crazy—he's looking to kill!" Kirishima asked, looking as worried as she felt.

But All Might allowed the fight to continue, using the receiver only to warn Bakugou against the use of his gauntlets.

As the battle raged on her classmates conversed in hushed tones, observing the explosive blonde's intricate fighting style. As they critiqued and analyzed not only his moves, but him, something dark settled into the pit of her stomach. It was unsettling, cold, and twisted her intestines harder than spicy foods.

Bakugou Katsuki was the boy she'd also grown up with, so of course she'd always known him to be aggressive. But this was... different. This was a whole new ferocity she'd never seen before, because the boy had always been all bark and no bite. But right now, with his teeth bared to the world like a dog set to attack, she watched as his blood red eyes hardened—blinded by nothing but unbridled rage and a hunger for destruction.

As she continued watching him, she realized what that feeling was.

Fear.

A rough, yet gentle hand reached out for hers, squeezing softly to pull her attention away from the screen. She turned, watching as Kirishima dropped her hand.

"It's our turn."

She absently nodded, pulling herself together. He's okay, he's alive... Recovery Girl's going to fix him up no problem. Just focus on your match!

As appointed villains, All Might had given them a head start to devise a plan and get into position, but the time they should've been spending strategizing was spent solemnly, a thick silence clinging to the air as they walked along the narrow hallway.

"You grew up with him, didn't you?"

Turquoise eyes swept over to ruby red, startled by the sudden sound. She nodded. "Yeah. He's always bullied Midoriya, but that was..."

Asuka didn't know what to call it.

"Excessive?"

Her head bobbed once more, supplying, "I think 'horrifying' is more accurate."

They continued in silence, trekking up a flight of stairs before entering the concrete-lined room, a catwalk of pillars directing towards the center where the fake weapon was located.

Kirishima glanced back at her, mouth drawn into a serious line as his eyes hardened with determination. "I was thinking you take Aoyama and I'll take Ashido. I went to middle school with her, so I've seen some of her fights."

She nodded, midnight locks bouncing from the action. "You've got it."

As she thought of the task that lay ahead, her stomach backflipped. You've been through this a thousand times, what's one more? With a deep inhale, Asuka squared her shoulders, mirroring the readying stance Kirishima had.

She pressed her palm to the cool pouch on her belt, patting to double-check that the bundle of capture tape was still there. There's nothing to be nervous over, you can do this! The snarky voice in her head casually disagreed, but Asuka swatted it back, focusing on the pounding of her heart as she counted the seconds in silence.

They burst through the door like confetti. Asuka fought against the glare of glitter emanating off of Aoyama as Ashido threw up a fist, shouting, "Get ready for an ass whoopin'!"

When Kirishima made no motion to act first or move from his blocker position, Asuka took the initiative.

I need to get a gauge of his Quirk.

Asuka set off in a sprint, circling around a pillar, watching from her peripheral as Ashido shot past, intent on charging Kirishima head on. Aoyama's head tilted in intrigue as he casually moved himself to the right, hands on his hips as a blast of arctic blue light shot from his belt.

Asuka's eyes widened. She rolled to dodge his blazing beam. Aoyama's hit shattered the pillar behind her with a chilling crack. Her jaw tightened. I can't let him hit me. The difference between Aoyama and Davis' fighting styles was blindingly clear. Whilst the pinkette favored invasive, in-your-face short range attacks, the blonde preferred mid to long range to gauge his opponent. Getting close to him was going to be hard, but if she timed it just right and utilized her speed, she knew she could encapture him in the tape. Asuka tried to spy gaps in his style to capitalize on, intent on going in for an attack that would render him unable to blast her to bits.

"Sorry about this, mon cheri~" A smirk pulled at Aoyama's lips, bright indigo eyes twinkling as he gave her a wink. He threw his arms behind his head, pelvis thrusting outward as a laser beam shot towards her—bigger and brighter than before.

Asuka jumped into the air and in a rapid twist of precision, jumped over the blast like a pole vaulter. She landed like a cat, rolling to a stop she did a quick glance-over, thanking her lucky stars that she hadn't been hit.

His blasts have range!

The blonde's face scrunched up, twisting in what looked like pain. Asuka raised an eyebrow, watching as he suppressed a groan. Why is he reaching towards his stomach like that? The cogs of her brain were set into motion as she focused.

There was a pause in between his attacks, where it appeared he had to recharge. Almost as if there was a recoil to his Quirk—

Bingo.

Asuka took the opening and dropped low. She darted around the other pillar, using her minute size and agility to her advantage. Her open palm swung up in arc. Just like before Aoyama leaned away, dodging the impending hit. Asuka's eyes widened when at the last second Aoyama charged up for another attack. I'm screwed!

In a last ditch effort she ignited her wings, intent on shielding herself when she squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the hit.

But it never came.

Popping open her eyes, she lowered the curtain of feathers, the light of her wings dying out with the action.

Aoyama blinked, startled at the sudden inability to move. A halo of dagger-like feathers embedded into the cemented walls behind him, outlining the blonde like chalk at a crime scene.

Wide eyed shock bloomed across all four of the heroes in training.

Ashido was the first to shake off the trance as she asked incredulously, "Did you just move your feathers with your mind?"

It was like an instinct.

Aoyama shrieked girlishly, babbling in another language as he slowly removed himself from the wall, careful not to touch any of them. He fisted the royal purple cape, trying to free it, but in the midst of his panicking he gave a deep tug—ripping the fabric as the feather remained unmoved.

Behind her, Kirishima rushed forward, using the distraction as he deployed the capture tape around the pink-toned girl — who whined about how unfair and what a cheap move that was — while Asuka scrambled to help the panicking boy.

She dropped to her knees, hooking a palm around the feather lodged into the sparkly cape. It instantly bit into her skin, cutting across her palm like a hot knife through butter. She hissed, spitting out a curse that made Aoyama blush as thick, crimson blood flowed down her hand, curling around her wrist and onto the cuff of her costume. Okay, that was fucking dumb, Asuka. But seriously—what the hell? She stared at the feather coated in red, her mind turning sardonic. Just when you thought you couldn't get any freakier.

Aoyama wailed above her, flipping between languages as he fretted over not only the rip in his gorgeous cape, but the blood that was about to stain it.

"Kirishima! I'm gonna need you over here when you're done!" she threw over her shoulder, her free hand digging into one of her pouches to extract gauze. Asuka singlehandedly rolled the cotton fabric around her palm, raising the gauze to cut it on the side of the embedded dagger-esque feather — an action that made the sparkly blonde glare in annoyance — before tucking it back into her pouch.

Solid footsteps soon approached her. Asuka watched as the redhead extracted the tape from his pocket, wrapping it around a now indignant Aoyama. Covering our bases...good thinking Kirishima!

He bent down, his flesh turning stony as he pulled the ashen feather out of the wall with some difficulty. Scarlet eyes brimming with concern rounded on her. "You alright, Kamiya?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Good job on capturing these two." Her free hand rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed as she apologized, "Sorry I couldn't have helped more."

The corner of his lips curved up into a grin as he offered her a hand. "What're you talking about? Without that distraction I wouldn't have been able to capture Ashido."

"Damn right!" Ashido called, visibly miffed at the tape ensnared around her torso.

"Nicely done, villains!" All Might's powerful voice boomed through their earpieces. "Come back to the monitor room to discuss your victory."

Kirishima had been lively and active throughout most of the walk back, offering engaging talk and wide grins as he discussed what little of her fight he was able to see.

"It was like watching a different person!" Kirishima beamed and Asuka fiddled with her wrappings, the redhead's earnest nature pinkening her cheeks. "It's almost like someone flipped a switch and sent you into beast mode!"

Ashido huffed behind them. "Don't think this is over! Next time I'm gonna wipe the floor with you guys."

Asuka looked over her shoulder, taking in the arms crossed over her chest and the lips that jutted out, pouting cutely. Ashido's annoyance reminding Asuka of a kitten that'd gotten sprayed for clawing the furniture.

"I look forward to it." Asuka said sincerely, smiling.

Bright yellow eyes widened, her arms uncrossing as a warm smile slowly painted itself on her lips.

When they entered the monitor room, Uraraka immediately flocked over to her.

"Asuka-chan, are you alright?" the brunette asked, scooping Asuka's hand in her own, worry evident on her features.

Asuka smiled softly, gently reclaiming her hand as she answered, "I'm fine, Uraraka. Sorry to have made you worry."

The bubbly girl tilted her head to the side like a puppy, confused. "You don't have to apologize, we're fri—"

"You did well!" Iida praised, appearing out of nowhere as he pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

"Thanks," Asuka said, tucking her hair behind her ear. The amount of attention being focused on her was starting to make her uncomfortable.

"I didn't know you could use your Quirk like that! It was really cool." Uraraka offered cheerfully, patting Asuka's back with an easy going smile.

Neither did I.

As Iida and Uraraka continued to converse, Asuka easily slipped into the background, finding a secluded spot towards the back to watch the other teams.

Spiky, ash blonde hair and slanting blood-red eyes greeted her, a deep scowl etched onto the boy's face. A searing heat spiraled in her chest before it quickly died out, disappearing as fast as it came. She wanted nothing more than to be angry at him, because while she was furious on behalf of Midoriya — who she couldn't help but picture broken and bruised in the nurse's office — there was something about his expression that made her pause.

It was wounded. Like an animal.

Asuka felt something in her chest sink. It was as if she were staring at a stranger.

Bakugou's angry gaze focused on hers, fully expecting her eyes to be holding the usual bitterness she reserved just for him. But instead he was met with that infuriatingly gentle, disgustingly gentle look she always held. Honest eyes pierced through him as if the walls he'd packed around himself for years met nothing. Bakugou's jaw tightened as he scowled reflexively, breaking eye contact before her for once. "Wipe that goddamn look off your face before I blow it off!"

Asuka flinched, instinctively jumping back as her wings subconsciously curled around her. She raised her wounded hand to her heart, willing it to calm down.

A cotton candy hand reached out, tugging on Asuka's arm. Oceanic eyes flickered to bright yellow.

"Come on," Ashido instructed, tearing her away from the explosive blonde. "Best not to tempt the beast."

As they walked away, Asuka looked back at him one last time, a quiet, gentle flicker of emotion whispered through her heart before it slipped past her fingers, leaving her unable to figure out what it was.

It hadn't taken long for All Might to notice her injury. He'd instructed her to go straight to Recovery Girl, despite her protests and reassurances.

The diminutive woman had been extremely displeased at seeing her again, but had still worked dutifully. She'd cleaned away the blood — which had mostly stopped bleeding by the time she'd gotten to her office — and gave it a gentle smooch, warning her that her powers wouldn't be able to wipe away the scar.

Asuka had been startled by that. Hell, she was still surprised her hand had scarred. Her injuries were suppose to heal a smidgen faster than others, right?

The winged teen flexed her healed hand, a frown touching her lips as she traced her newly marred skin. Blue hues stared at the warped shape extending from the top of her palm all the way to the bottom, cutting right into her hand's life line.

She snorted. How ironic.

Asuka's eyes flickered to the vacant desk near the window, the setting sun's rays beamed down on a familiar yellow backpack.

"Uraraka, have you seen Midoriya-kun?" she asked, picking up the bag. She ran a thumb over one of the many enamel superhero pins, smiling softly at the boy's adorable, yet dorky fixation.

"Oh!" the brunette snapped to attention, "Deku left in a hurry. He said he had something to do."

Shit.

Asuka's hands tightened as she quickly stepped back to her own desk, throwing her bag over her shoulder before running out of the classroom.

She ignored the calls coming from Uraraka as she sped down the hallway.

Oh no... Asuka paused, taking in the scene before her.

The two boys stood in the middle of U.A.'s courtyard, a strange, static-like tension building up between them. She had missed whatever Midoriya had just said, but judging from his stiff posture and the fist clenched at his side, it'd been important. Asuka's eyes hurriedly bounced from the duo down to the bag in her hands, then to her immediate left. Suppressing a hefty groan, she threw herself to the side, behind one of the large arches of U.A.'s walkways. She folded her ashen wings, hiding herself from their view. How do I keep getting myself into these situations?

She blamed it on the Universe for being a sadistic prick once again.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" She jumped at Bakugou's furious voice, low and threatening. "'Borrowed power.' What are you trying to do, make me out to be more of a fool than you already have?"

So you told him... Asuka's breath hitched, the muscles beneath her uniform tensing as her back dug into the concrete pillar. Was that the right move to make, Midoriya?

Asuka risked a glance around the archway, stilling when she saw the same expression Bakugou wore earlier, the one that chilled the marrow in her bones.

Bakugou's voice trembled with fury, thin brows furrowing in a heavy glare. "What are you trying to say? Today I lost to you—that's all it was. That's all..."

Turquoise eyes remained rooted to the blonde, unable to look away as rage colored every speck of his features.

"Today when I watched the ice guy I thought 'I can't beat him!'" Bakugou snapped, his voice rising as the frustration in his tone became more clear. "Damn it! I even ended up agreeing with that Ponytail girl!"

Asuka swallowed thickly, willing herself to finally look away as she absentmindedly rubbed at a pin, the look on his face from earlier beginning to make sense.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! But just you wait, Deku!" Bakugou snarled, teeth gnashing together. "I'm just—I'm just getting started! You hear me? I'm going to become number one!"

Heavy footfalls echoed against U.A.'s vast courtyard, a blur of bright colors muddling together as it shot past. She jumped further back, hand flying to her hammering heart. What the hell was that!

"There he is!" An unmistakable loud voice rattled the air around them, dispersing the suffocating static.

As All Might clasped his hands over Bakugou's shoulders, Asuka peeked edgily from behind the archway, wondering when she'd finally be able to emerge because the position she was in was starting to become uncomfortable.

"Let go of me, All Might. I can't walk." Bakugou ground out, stubbornly rubbing at his eyes. All Might paused, looking startled as Bakugo turned to fix him with a fierce glare. "I'll become a hero that surpasses even you!"

"Oh, right," All Might sounded disappointed, but complied as he lifted his hands off of the boy.

Asuka gaped in disbelief. But he...used to love All Might. What happened to him?

Asuka silently stood, dusting off the backside of her skirt as she watched All Might and Midoriya drift off into their own little worlds, both looking after the blonde as he stalked down the sidewalk.

With careful, deliberate steps she moved into the courtyard. "Hey, I was looking for you."

That head of leafy green turned, the mass of curls moving with it. All Might turned too, but Asuka's breath caught in her throat as she focused on her classmate. His visage was very un-Midoriya-like. The sunshiny smile that usually sat on his face had vanished, replaced by a pensive, yet disturbed look.

Asuka's heart clenched as she flashed him a bright, disarming grin. "I was wondering if you wanted to walk home together. It looks like you could use the help."

As if someone had flipped a switch, Midoriya came back to her, freckled cheeks pinkening as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head with his uninjured hand. "T-That's not necessary, Kamiya-san! B-But thank you anyway!"

Asuka snorted softly, her eyes rolling. "You're not even out of your costume, so hush. I'm walking you home, whether you like it or not. Besides, we're neighbors, it's not like it's out of my way."

Although, even if it was she'd still go the distance for him.

"B-But—!"

"I'm not taking no for an answer." she insisted, like a dog with a bone.

Behind Asuka, All Might looked between them pointedly, smile widening as he flashed the verdant-haired boy an approving thumbs up, which sent Midoriya's face running red.

"Are you feeling alright, Midoriya-kun?"

"J-Just fine! Thanks for asking!" He scrambled. "But maybe you're right, my mom's probably worried about me."

Asuka nodded, politely bidding the hulk-like hero a goodbye as she walked alongside Midoriya.

A soothing silence descended on the two teens. The only distinguishable sound to be heard between them was their footsteps slapping against the pavement and the gentle rustling of Midoriya's sling.

"What happened to your hand?"

Robin's shell hues flickered to emerald, his analytical gaze anchored on her injured hand. She flexed her fingers, staring down at it as she thought, Nothing gets past you, Midoriya.

"I cut it during combat training." His eyes settled on her, making her look away as she explained, "It's a part of my Quirk, I think."

Midoriya raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

She gulped, wondering if this was a conversation she really wanted to get into.

No. It was not.

But Midoriya had that same expectant look from earlier, his eyes glittering and earnest.

Asuka sighed, knowing it was over before it had even began. Damn you and that puppy dog look!

Asuka stared ahead of them, stubbornly focusing on everything but this conversation. "I, um—my feathers can sharpen like...daggers?" she said, sounding so unsure of herself. She couldn't help but find her tone akin to a little kid trying to explain what their parent had shoved into their backpack for show-and-tell. "I don't really know how I did it, but Ashido said I moved them with my mind."

Midoriya inhaled sharply, wishing he had his notebook on hand.

The winged teen tucked an errant strand behind her ear, nervous. Her voice was beginning to waver. "I-I know kind of freaky, right? It caught me completely off guard and—"

"—It's not freaky!" he blurted loudly. Asuka's neck nearly snapped from how fast she whipped her head in his direction. He was staring at her with the widest, most kindest eyes. "Every Quirk has something unique to offer! And I think they're gifts that have been given to us, so we shouldn't take them for granted!"

What have I started? she thought, staring at the boy who was now on a roll.

"And while I don't know the full extent of your Quirk, I've noticed a few things about it. With hardening, and the addition of being able to singularly use each individual feather as a projectile, your Quirk offers both offense and defense—although your personality is more suited for defense. But I'm interested in how your psychokinesis works with the regenerative properties of your—"

It was deeply unsettling the way the conversation's topic focused so deeply on her, but the familiar sight of Midorya's finger tapping against his mouth as he muttered like a madman, quelled any uneasiness.

Midoriya's breath caught in his throat as he forced himself to reign in his curious ramblings, a million and one questions on the tip of his tongue. He looked at the girl next to him, decided to be bold as he playfully jutted his hip into hers, surprising her into looking at him once more.

His eyes were deeply earnest, blazing with an unwavering certainty. "Your Quirk is bound to help so many others, Kamiya-san. And one day you'll realize how much it'll help you, too." His tone reminded Asuka more of the hero fighting the sludge villain and less of the boy getting his notebook blown out the window. "I've always admired how fearless you can be, especially when it comes to protecting others. The way you stood up to Kacchan for me...it's something I'll never forget!"

Midoriya continued on, making Asuka envious of how easily he was able to properly communicate his emotions as his smile became impossibly wide, becoming easily swept away in his own speech. "Y-You never questioned my dreams, or made fun of me like everybody else." Midoriya took a moment to pause, his free hand scratching the side of his face as a light pink dusted his freckled cheeks. "When I saw you on the first day of class, I-I was glad to see you there. Y-You've come such a long way since middle school Kamiya-san—"

Midoriya continued on, unaware of the tears welling up in the eyes of the girl next to him. She forced herself to look forward, purposely avoiding his probing gaze. She blinked rapidly, trying to disperse the prickle of stubborn tears threatening to cloud her vision. The person she'd looked up to for the longest time — the boy who was so fiercely resilient, emotionally strong and ambitious — was admiring her.

It took a few moments for her to get herself under control, breathing deeply to force down the last bout of tears—

"I can't wait to work alongside you one day, Kamiya-san." Midoriya spoke, unknowingly bringing up a fresh new round of tears.

Me too, Midoriya...

"Kamiya," she corrected, turning to him. "Please feel free to call me Kamiya."

He nodded, his soft, curly green locks bobbing with the action. "O-Only if you call me Midoriya."

Asuka mimicked his earlier action, bumping her hip into his as she grinned. "Deal."

Looking ahead, turquoise hues squinted, noticing the train station. Asuka idly wondered if the blonde was on the train they were about to board, or if he'd taken the earlier one. She prayed it was the latter, because she wasn't so sure she could handle any more of him today.

"U-Um, Kamiya," Midoriya asked, reverting back to his nervous self. She turned to him, squinting at the more-nervous-than-usual look on his face, hating the way their easygoing atmosphere was dissipating. She watched as a faint pink tinge rose to his cheeks, an awkward chuckle escaping his lips as he dragged his fingers across the back of his neck, massaging at the stiff muscle beneath the skin. "When are you going to ask me about my Quirk?"

Her eyes softened. I don't have to.

She shrugged disinterestedly, hoping it put him at ease. "I'm not going to. When you want to talk about it, I'm all ears. But if you never want to talk about it, that's fine too."

It was Midoriya's turn to stubbornly blink away tears.

They talked. And talked. And talked for what felt like hours—all the way to the train, on the train, off the train and to Midoriya's front door. Asuka couldn't remember the last time she'd been so chatty, because the only other person she was this comfortable with was Davis. But she found talking to Midoriya easy. He was an excellent conversationalist, always ready to reciprocate her enthusiasm regarding certain topics. And his big, beautiful brain never ran out of things to discuss, because once they'd finished one topic, they'd seamlessly flip to the next.

As they stopped in front of the door to his apartment, Midoriya held his hand out, graciously accepting his bag.

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you in?" she asked, a pinch of worry in her tone.

The verdant-haired boy waved her off. "You've already done so much, Kamiya! T-Thank you once again!"

Asuka rolled her eyes good-naturedly, reminding him for the umpteenth time. "It was no problem."

As Midoriya turned to leave, the ring beneath her uniform burned, just like it had the entire walk over—a question she'd been holding in threatening to escape the confines of her mouth.

Come on, Asuka! Stop being a weenie and just ask him.

"Um, Midoriya?"

He turned, one hand on his doorknob, an eyebrow raised in question.

"I, um—" her tongue tripped over itself as a prickly heat rolled down her back. "I just wanted to say—"

She couldn't do it. She couldn't ask him.

Not yet, at least.

"—that I'll see you tomorrow!" she blurted loudly, fingers strangling the fabric of her skirt as she inwardly winced.

But Midoriya — who thank God wasn't looking at her like the idiot she was — merely nodded, cheerfully returning the sentiment before they parted ways.

But as she walked down the street, fiddling with the ring around her neck, Asuka made a silent vow.

One day she would find out more about him.

Next Chapter:

Asuka snaps. Villains. And an unexpected visitor.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I've created a poll on my profile to gauge who Asuka's romantic interest should be, although I think I have an idea. So please make sure to visit it and vote!

For your viewing pleasure, Asuka's hero costume is almost an exact replica of the suit worn by Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, except Asuka wears combat boots because heels are impractical. And the symbol on her chest was inspired by Nightwing from Young Justice. Although the visor is the same exact one Hawks wear. (They might have the same costume designer :)

I'm such a sucker for symbolism, references and foreshadowing, which this chapter is definitely full of! It's important for me to mention that this story will have canon divergence and AU elements packed into it, because a re-telling of the same story is flat out boring. Any romance will be a slow-burn, so you've been warned. And while I'm going to try my best to keep everyone in character, they might get OOC!

I have one more trick up my sleeve, so the final reveal of Asuka's Quirk takes place next chapter!

blahnlahbored: Thank you! Setting the pace for Asuka's Quirk is really important to me, so for right now it's a learning process for her, just like it is for Midoriya. And making her dead-last was to sort of teach her that even though she scored high on the Entrance Exam, she still has a lot to learn. I was going to place her a little higher at 18, but decided against it, because although Mineta has a Quirk that's deemed "lame" he still used it during Aizawa's evaluation.

Signing off,

Sandafairy!