Hello, hello, everyone reading this and welcome!

Uh, as you can see I wrote a fanfiction of My Hero Academia (or Boku no Hero Academia) that was partially on a whim and then this... happened. For those who know me from my last fanfic, Magi: Despair, Hope and Destiny, it's been a while isn't it? Though, I'm sure that fic was already forgotten by some people but I did not. I still have plans for that fic even though I (sort of) forgot about it (and I even thought about abandoning it but I won't fuvkin' give up, geez).

I still haven't read other MHA/BNHA fanfic in here so please tell me your thoughts about this...

Alright, on with the story! Read and enjoy!

Chapter 1: Heroic

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacle."

(Christopher Reeve)

There is a saying... that your present action decides your future.

Whatever you are doing right now, is what decides the future. Your present action can inspire a future event that you never expect.

Then was this part of Hayami Eshima's future?

Being called to the faculty office by her homeroom teacher for lecture how important it is to decide for your future? A future that she is certain that will come true?

"Listen here, young lady. This paper in front of you essential to know what would you like to be in the future… Well, not that too essential… but still you have to—"

...probably.

Hayami stared at the floor, almost in daze while listening to her teacher rambling. The teacher had been on it for a while, saying about a philosophy of how present action can aspire a potential that can develop in an unexpected way.

In the girl's case, she knows what her teacher was trying to do. She just was worried of the well-being of her student. Earlier, there was a gathering event held at the school auditorium, where teachers gave all the junior high students an academic career plan to fill out the form. Since Hayami left her paper with a blank answer, she was called in to the faculty office and was given lecture about her future plan.

"The future, you see, is unpredictable. You can't really expect anything from it. But, this paper vital for you to fill up! The future is unpredictable! That's why you have decide the future that you wanted to be!"

Yes, the girl knows the purpose of the lecture from teacher. But she's getting tired of listening of an almost two hours rant with all the same topic.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Ah, sensei, you should get easy with your student. Their ear will fell off if you keep talking like that."

A teacher entered the faculty room, indirectly interrupting her teacher's rant at the greeting. The girl inwardly sighed in relief of the interruption of the other teacher, slumping to her chair with a wry smile as she greeted him back. Misa-sensei, her teacher, huffed with a frown, crossing her arms as her lips stuck out in a pout.

"Good afternoon to you too, Nii-sensei. If you can see who I am scolding to, I think you'll understand."

Nii-sensei raised his eyebrow in wonder. He started walking towards to her teacher's table, peering down at the seated student before he blinked his eyes in recognition.

"Oh."

"That's right." Misa-sensei nodded.

Hayami sat stiff in her chair at the attention given by the two teachers. Despite not being a popular student of the school, it seems like the teachers are aware of her infamous reputation. The reputation that made the two teachers look at her as if she was a problem child.

"So," Nii-sensei began. "What did she do? This is the first time I see the Hayami Eshima being sent here."

Wordlessly, the female teacher gave him a fill out paper. The other teacher received it to his hands, his eyes wandered to the students' name Hayami Eshima before he looked down at the rest of the blank answers.

"Soo…"the male teacher drawled. "She was sent here she left this blank?"

Misa-sensei nodded. "I was just lecturing her about it."

"But this is not the first time this happened, sensei. I think you should know that."

"Yes but," she let out a growl in frustration, "she should."

Hayami silently watched them both in curiosity. Her eyes flickering back and forth whenever they're speaking in turn in front of her. If only she wasn't the student guilty of the topic they were talking about, she would have found this entertaining just by sitting at the background.

She continued to listen in silence at the side. Both of the teachers talking in a few minutes in a normal conversation before it slowly escalates into some kind of argument about somethings like date or something. She looked everywhere but them in discomfort, as if trying to deny that she had no business sitting with their presence, cringing when their voice started to get louder that echoed in the room.

Having not enough courage to stop both teachers, a whim of bravery came to her as silently slipped away from her chair. With careful movements, she silently sneaked away towards the door with muted footsteps. When she was far enough, she reached the doorknob to open the door but a loud slam froze her at the spot.

"Hayami Eshima, take this form with you and think again." An angered voice called to her. She started sweating heavily and suddenly forgot to breathe as she stiffly looked behind her.

Her teacher, now without the presence of the male teacher, had turned demonic in the matter moments with her glare pinning the poor girl at the spot.

"Think and write this paper once you've decided." Misa-sensei held out the same paper that she gave to Nii-sensei a few moments ago. "It's okay if you're still uncertain yourself. This is only a temporary decision." Her teacher sighed. "Change is natural development for everyone, after all. I guess, that goes the same with the future." She solemnly whispered the part that the girl didn't miss before she gave her a stern look. "You will pass this by tomorrow, no extended deadline, got it?"

The girl stared at her teacher for a moment, wondering about the whispered part of her statement before she sighed in defeat. She knows stubbornness of her teacher. Every word that comes from the teachers' mouth, she'll make sure to make it come true. Being a student under her prove it. Awkwardly, she had no choice but to reach for the paper from her teacher's hand.

"If you are so unsure of yourself, why not write your own dream?" The teacher began with a raised eyebrow as the girl glanced at her. "Do you even have dream?"

A... dream... Hayami looked back to the paper. Her eyes caught the word Academic Career Plan when she scanned it. She stared at those words for a while, as if trying to engrave those words to her mind. Silently, she meekly turned and bowed to her teacher and left the faculty office without a word.

A dream, huh...

She does remember having a dream before when she was a kid. But she can't recall what her dream was. Was it to become a doctor? Engineer? Scientist? Programmer? She doesn't remember at all.

Or was it her becoming a hero?

She stopped in her tracks, blinking at her thoughts. Hero...? She snorted at the thought before she continued walking to her classroom. She can't believe that she thought herself of becoming a hero, a person with a personality of bold, fearlessness and courage who is willing to save the distress.

But... hero does invoke some thoughts in her. She denies this herself, frowning. Her? The Hayami Eshima, the person who is the living embodiment of laziness and the actual cat girl (because of her quirk) saving someone? The laziness that cause her to repeat her third year which is supposed to be a year to mentally prepare for high school which she spent her time sleeping around, saving someone?

She's definitely not a person with a gallant personality. Hell even other people would think so for those who knew her. She would spend her time sleeping, napping and procrastinating whenever there's an opportunity to do it.

She is certainly not a heroic person. Definitely. She would rather save herself if she had the opportunity than sacrifice herself to save someone.

But...

A dream that you wanted to be in the future? Hayami asked herself, remembering the words of her teacher.

Perhaps that dream was already lost... along with her childhood.

While she was walking towards to her classroom, it occurred to her that almost half of her classmates actually chose a 'normal' job. Like a manager or accountant or something like that rather than becoming a hero which – in her opinion – would actually suit well with their quirks.

But when she heard the reason when she eavesdrop... um... listened her classmates (which she did followed around) that it was their parents who picked their career. It was their parents who chose their future because it is safer option rather be in a constant danger that the heroes does in their daily work.

Heroes…

Speaking of heroes; personally, Hayami herself didn't understand why people is so diligent to become a hero. She doesn't know the appeal behind it. After all, there's already people running around saving other people left and right.

Was it because they wanted to become famous? Money? Or maybe a comic dream to be one to save someone?

Or was it because of the Symbol of Peace, All Might himself?

All Might… She caught herself thinking about him. Even though she doesn't want to become a hero, she surprisingly liked All Might. A really funny guy with a large unmissable grin that is always in his face. There's not a single shot of him on TV that shows him with his lips upside down. He always had this smile that kind of intimidates her.

But... despite his unbroken smiling, there's something in All Might that just felt... wrong. Wrong because she's worried of the man who is often smiling. A man smiling for the sake of others. For the lack of better word to describe the feeling, there's something... strange with a man who called himself as the Number One Hero.

Despite all that, she likes him. A pretty good guy who will always smiling for others. It kind of brings her relief that he's part of the hero business. That guy is pretty strong.

The man of inspiration, All Might.

To be quite honest, even when watching him in TV, she doesn't feel... inspired. She just saw All Might as one of the hero celebrities who will be always there with you when you're in a pinch, an image she always saw whenever they (heroes) appeared in TV. Just like those heroes, he promised the same words of protecting the civilians, but his sounded more... genuine, as if he meant every word compared to the others' promise. As if there was a weight behind it that was pretty easy to miss. That was her impression of him.

The embodiment of victory, All Might.

She blinked her eyes when she realized that she dozed off for a while and noticed that everyone in the room has already gone home when she arrived. Hayami spotted her bag and grabbed it as she glanced her wristwatch for the time being and realized that it's still a bit early of her to go home.

Since... it's still early for her, she decided to do some club activities. As one of the student of the prestigious school in nation, there's a strict requirement implemented for the students to have at least ONE extracurricular activities after school. And she choose the club that interested her the most.

Martial Arts Club.

Hayami found herself walking at the sidewalk of the city. When she went to the club earlier, there was some kind of conflict between the president of her club and the president of high school council. There were members of the martial arts gathering around them, watching their argument. They were kicked out by the club president themselves when it started to get crowded. Some members already went home after that scolding they received but others stayed to watch the ongoing argument between the presidents despite they are being already yelled.

Though, Hayami herself didn't know the reason why they were arguing but she'd rather not get involved with their fight. It wasn't her business to butt in anyway.

Boom!

The girl nearly lost her balance when she felt large tremor as she reached out a nearby pole. The people around her also felt the same tremor as some of them lost their balance and fell on their butts. She looked around in confusion, wondering where the tremor came from.

"It seems like a villain is going crazy nearby."

"Yeah, has someone already called the heroes?"

Her cat ears perked up when she heard the conversation a few feet from her. Thanks to her quirk, which gave she her a similar capabilities of a cat like enhanced hearing and eyesight.

Though, her quirk can be a nuisance sometimes. Because she had an eyesight of a cat, it makes her see different colors that a normal people can't see. That's why she had to wear a specialized eyeglasses so that she can have a 'normal' eyesight to lessen her headache. Even a loud boom in the distance can make her jolt in alarm because of her ears.

But thinking about her current situation, right now...

But of course...

What's a hero without a villain?

Hayami started to walked away to go to the train station so that she can go home early. She's not interested witnessing a conflict for today, even if it's involved with heroes. She'd rather do her homework at home and think about her future.

She seriously had no time to watch heroes and villains fighting each other—

Not paying attention to her surroundings, she stumbled to someone and she nearly fell to the ground. But thanks to her quirk, giving her agile reflexes to always land on her feet (sometimes, in all fours) and manage to regain her balance.

"Sorry!" she heard someone shouting an apology as she looked up wondering who said that. She blinked in realization it was someone she just stumbled but he already went ahead to the direction where the ongoing fight ahead, his running figure only just a blur in his speed.

Plat!

She tilted her chin down when she heard something dropped to the ground with the sound of flipping pages. She frowned in confusion, seeing the fallen notebook and grabbed it and skimmed the cover page.

Hero Analysis for the Future.

Hero Analysis...? Hayami put her fingers in her chin in thought. In curiosity, she opened the first page of the notebook as she browsed the handwritten words. And then she turned it to the next page, and the next, and the next... and the next...

Wow. The girl's mind was blown away at the neatly detailed of the heroes that was put in reference in the notebook. From their quirks to fighting style, the way he put the description of them was so impressive of how he was able to analyze every aspect of every hero individually. For someone who is able to evaluate this much detail, he must have been a very intense otaku of heroes…

Ah, that's why he's going where the heroes are fighting... she realized as she snapped her fingers at her assumption but then frowned at her own thought.

Wait, I have to go there...? She groaned at the thought of going to the fight. All she wanted to do is return his notebook to his own hands. Since she is no destroyer of dreams and imagining him losing his notebook in despair is not a thought that she wanted to perceive to herself.

Despite being disgruntled at the thought of going to the chaos, she decided to just return his notebook. By searching him, she will immediately return his notebook then turn around and go home. That was her master plan.

"Oh, it's Death Arms!"

"He carries out justice through his great physical strength - The Punching Hero!"

Um...

"The rescue specialist - Backdraft - is here, too!"

Uhh...

"But man, turning into a monster's an amazing quirk—"

"He stole someone's bag and went out of control—"

"—and he's a bag snatcher—"

"—I don't know what time—"

"Kyaa! You can do it, Kamui!"

Hayami covered her ears from the continuous noises around her. She immediately regretted her decision to come here in this chaotic disaster. From mutters, screams to squealing, she can hear everything around her surroundings. Silently, she curse her life and questioned why she was given of this nuisance quirk of hers in her already despicable life.

Today is totally her bad day.

To ease the noise apart from her surroundings, she used the notebook to cover her cat ears. She continued her search despite the noise around her with a blank face.

Yes, with her unexpressive face.

Hayami Eshima is not the type of person who doesn't expressed her thoughts lightly to a stranger. Nor is she a talkative person. It was her expression to be quiet because she can. It was her choice to be alone because she wanted to. Everything she does was her own because she wanted to be independent.

Yet she struggles to decide her own future.

She was lazy, she admitted that. Until now, she still is but not too much. She already learned her lesson when she repeated a grade in junior high.

But aside from that, she should totally search the owner of the notebook. She desperately wanted to get away from this busybody crowd so that she can finally find peace once she gets out from here.

But goddammit, everyone is so damn tall and it's hindering her search. She blamed her natural genetics for being so short apart from everybody. She struggled to continue her quest for the owner of the analytics notebook for heroes, slipping through the crowds of squeezing bodies with a huff to search for him.

After a few minutes of search, she's beginning to feel lightheaded from the noises, walking around the crowd with the notebook still covering her ears. Aside from the crowd which almost consist of adults, she should be able to see him once if she caught a glance of a school uniform. She noticed during their brief encounter that he seems to be the same age as her.

"Who's currently fighting?"

Her ears perked up at the enthusiastic voice with the subtle sense of familiarity. As if she was carried away from the question that came from that voice, she found herself looking up who's currently fighting the villain.

"Kamui Woods!"

She heard that voice again as if he was the commentator of a fight like an enthusiastic MC.

"The young and talented rising star!"

As if she was struck by an arrow, she recognized his manner of speech. The way he talks as if he just hit a jackpot especially when he talks about heroes—

"Ah—!"

She immediately shut up and covered her mouth when she said it loudly. She whipped her head around her to see if someone noticed her exclaim. Seeing their attention was still at the ongoing fight, she sighed in relief when no one did. She can't really blame them for not hearing her – after all, all of them is in the middle of this havoc.

"Canyon Cannon!"

She grimaced at the sound of the impact of an attack – despite not seeing it altogether. She winced when the victim of the attacker dropped loudly to the ground. Since they are fighting a freaking giant - it's natural that the giant villain to drop so loudly at the ground. The giant hero had caused more property damage to the city than they should have in the price of defeating this villain.

Seriously, sometimes Hayami thought of this from time to time to herself whenever she witnessing similar like this. Whether in TV or real life, she thought that heroes are glorified troublemakers.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

The sound of flashes of the cameras startled her to the bone when lots of cameramen appeared out of nowhere. They captured a picture of the newcomer hero who defeated the huge villain with a single kick of a similarly giant stature of her own.

Though, Hayami was sure that the cameramen was not trying to capture of the valiant action of the hero. But rather, it was the tight fitting outfit that was worn by the female hero who is obviously making a pose to the camera for fan service.

"A pleasure to make your ass-quaintance."

...

I should get out of here, she thought with a deadpan face and turn her back at the scene – not amused by the pun said by the giant hero.

Despite her unimpressive impression of the non-impressive hero, the crowd cheered at the hero who saved the day. Even though she arrived at the last second like those in the comic book heroes, everyone cheered for her like a champion.

As for the poor dude with a wooden mask - Kamui Woods - he was down all fours at the building with his head covered in dark clouds. Mt. Lady was getting the credit of all the hero work that she didn't do herself. She mostly stole the hard work and spotlight from him as he should be the one who deserved the credit for doing most of the heavy work.

Despite Hayami's opinion of heroes being a troublemaker, being a troublemaker does not necessarily a bad thing itself. Leaving traces of the battlefield is the evidence of the battle itself. With this world full of heroes and superpowers, it became a common knowledge that whenever there's a big fight between a hero and a villain, everyone is pretty much expecting a property damage.

And who pays the property damage?

The heroes themselves.

In other words, civilians has nothing to worry about the damages. As long as they can witness a great fight between a hero and villain, it's all good.

The occupation itself – being a hero, has its own ups and downs. It can creates advantages at the every disadvantages or vice versa. It depends on the situation and circumstances that the hero does in their actions.

For the lack of better words, being a hero is a dangerous job.

"Eh? Eh?! My notebook! Where's my notebook?!" she heard a panicked voice at the distance.

She snapped her head at the direction of the source. She started walking towards that direction as the crowd started to disperse away. Thus, making her journey of her quest for searching the owner of the notebook a bit easier.

I guess it's my time to make my own dramatic appearance.

Midoriya Izuku profusely searched for his notebook in his bag. It's gone...! He panicked, his heart skipping fast as if he just went a full run of a marathon. He rummaged his bag once again but his dear notebook was nowhere to be found. He looked around him hoping that his notebook was somewhere around him but there wasn't a single trace.

"Eh? Eh?! My notebook! Where's my notebook?!"

He vocally let out his panicked thoughts as he freaked out at the thought of losing his notebook. He poured his heart and soul creating that notebook ever since his childhood.

It was his own dear notebook with his own memories.

Bam!

"Ow!"

Midoriya felt pain when he was decked in the head by someone. He stumbled at the unexpected attack while he rubbed his head in pain.

"You forgot this." A feminine voice said to him as his own notebook came to his field of vision.

Hero Analysis for the Future.

There it said at the cover.

"You forgot this."

The same voice said to him with a slight change of tone - irritation.

"Ah...! Um... Thank you for finding this!" Midoriya bowed at the person in front of him as he thanked them. He heard them sighed in exasperation.

"You should take good care of your things, umm—"

"Midoriya Izuku." He added, his head still bowed.

"Yeah, Midoriya-san... Uh... Um..." the person in front of him seemed to be embarrassed, based on their sudden change of tone. "You can raise your head now, Midoriya-san. You're kind of making me embarrassed here..."

To please their desire for the person in front of him, he raised his head.

He felt himself stiffened when he saw her.

As if he was caught in nostalgia of his past, the person's appearance in front of him made him gasp in shock.

He knows this person.

Hayami Eshima, a neighbor of his. Living one block away from his house - the Hayami Household.

He definitely knows this person.

Long pink hair with cat ears twitching at the top of her head. Her undeniable blue eyes gazing him looking at him a subtle sign of curiosity under her half-rimmed glasses. This was an appearance of hers that is completely familiar to him. There's no denying in his past that he knew of her – of her past.

Why? Because...

Hayami Eshima was a childhood friend of Midoriya Izuku.

Along with Bakugo Katsuki.

"It's... been a while, Shiichan."

"Shiichan...?"

Hayami Eshima can't help but blurt out at the nickname that Midoriya Izuku called her.

Shiichan.

Completely overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu and nostalgia, she can only looked at Midoriya with her own shocked expression.

"You don't remember...?"

He sounded dejected, as if he was disappointed with her. Of course, she can't remember anything. Even if she would try right now, nothing would came up.

Nothing at all.

"You... must be someone I know. I'm sorry, Midoriya-san." She responded his question, regretting her own actions when she saw him in despair. An expression that she doesn't want to perceive herself.

"I'm sorry if I didn't remember you at all because I got into an accident in the past and lost my memories."

Midoriya Izuku understood her reason.

Finally, he thought to himself. Thank god, he thought once again, a feeling of relief seemed to overtake his senses.

Of course, Shiichan is not that type of person.

Within his own remnant of his past, there was a painful reminder of the evolution of Bakugo Katsuki. From a friend to a bully - a boy who torments him in the past and perhaps until now, was a raw reminiscence in his mind.

Hayami Eshima or Shiichan, now he knows the reason of her own development. Understanding her situation, from a friend - now stranger, that scene will always a painful reminder of how he felt. An utter betrayal and constant ignorance to each other - he finally understood the reason behind it.

It was a single look of her sky blue eyes that he will always caught himself admiring...

A glare that shattered his world as he experienced sentiment of betrayal.

A striking glance of hers that she doesn't even remember when she looked at him.

Nothing at all.

"I see." He responded with a smile. He felt that this sort of simple response felt far more appropriate especially with her circumstances.

He felt like he respect her - a girl's space.

Wait—!

Girl...?

His thought processed like gears in his head, slowly like snail as he tried to make sense what is wrong with the word itself.

Girl...

...

Girl?!

A girl! A girl! He forgot he was talking to a girl!

His head lets out a red alarm of panic and emergency. He was full-on red alert of his surroundings along with his blushing face. Without warning, he sprinted away from the girl he was talking to just moments ago.

Meanwhile, the girl in question was left alone in confusion at her spot. Wondering to herself what happened to his sudden change of behavior.

9:03 AM. The Next Day.

It was a normal school day for Hayami Eshima.

She managed to not arrive late at the school. She was not scolded by her teacher because of her tardiness. She was not lectured by her homeroom teacher who taught her the philosophy of ambition (present and future) yesterday.

Totally normal, just as planned.

With her head still in daze from sleepiness, her encounter with Midoriya Izuku has been bugging her mind ever since she met him yesterday. When he talked with her with a side of déjà vu-ness, she felt nothing but a sense of nostalgia washing over her. It felt like she just had a reunion with a friend whom she had never met for a long time.

"All right, can someone tell me the flaw of this statement?" Her English teacher, unaware of the thinking spree of a certain student, continued her lesson as it is supposed to be.

Suspicious of her own familiarity she had with this boy, she spent her night being awake, trying to make sense the feeling of closeness with him. She racked her brain for memories with a certain keyword.

Midoriya Izuku.

She kept repeating it under her breath like a mantra. Like a prayer, she closed her eyes in case for a vision to come to her, unwillingly nor unexpectedly.

There was nothing.

"Can someone solve this formula in the board?" The familiar male teacher, Nii-sensei, looked at the students expectedly as few hands were raised.

Unfortunately, memories doesn't care about time. Memories can only capture moments. Precious, unforgettable and powerful moments is the only thing can eternally engraved for a strong memory if you want a firm remembrance to remember.

"Very good, Nui-san." The student who solved the formula nodded at the teacher. He walked back to his seat, briefly glancing at his pink-haired seatmate who didn't return his look. He frowned at her when he noticed a glazed look in her eyes.

Hayami felt like time was insulting her the whole time. Remembering back from yesterday's event, she went home early. She met her supposed to be her childhood friend (actually, it's more related to moment). And the time she wasted during that chaotic fight between those heroes and a single villain.

DRIIIIIIIIIIING!

Hayami jumped in surprise at the school bell ring when it rang too loudly for her own ears as she covered it to lessen the noise.

From all that thinking she had right now, she realized that the school bell was the cue for lunch time. Hayami groaned at her table at her predicament and was sure of it that time is definitely making fun of her.

Funny how time is every one's enemy.

Hayami never realized this herself but her legs just started to move on their own. Walking towards to the direction of a certain school that she never thought would go.

Aldera Junior High.

If she can't remember her own memories, she decided to confront the person who already knew her ever since her childhood.

Midoriya Izuku.

Last night, Hayami started to get embarrassed because she sometimes caught herself thinking the green-haired person she just met yesterday. Her, supposed to be childhood friend she forgot, she assumed that maybe they were close in the past with her undeniable feeling she had with this boy.

Ever since the school bell rings earlier, she stopped thinking of what she should do, what she wanted to do and what she does. She grabbed her bag and found herself walking towards the school gates - her school's gate and walked away.

As if operated by autopilot, she walked, walked, and walked until she found herself sitting in a swing set at the familiar playground. As an unknown certain reminiscence came to her, she's definitely sure that she had some memories embarked in this place.

Whether it was just a second of time or a single moment, Hayami is getting a bit desperate of finding out the mystery of her past. Important or non-important - as long as she remember at least a single memory, it would make her at least partially complete.

Like a jigsaw puzzle missing its significant parts to complete.

Thus, this was the moment she decided to visit Aldera Junior High.

With the sun brilliantly shining above her, and white clouds could barely cover the vast blue skies, Hayami found herself looking up at the peaceful heavens above her. Still walking absent-mindedly to her destination, looking up the sky brought her an intense relief of calmness - easing her nerves a bit.

After a whole while of walking, she stopped looking at the sky and halted her tracks. She found herself standing in front of the certain school building.

She immediately went to the side of the school gates - trying to calm her nerves. She saw some students coming out from the school.

Ever since her walk from the playground, her nervousness seems to be progressively skyrocketed while walking to her destination. But thanks to the calmness of the skies above her, it eased her nerves a bit.

With a bit of sense of anxiety still lingers within her, she looked down to the ground, trying to not make eye contact of the students of Aldera High. She does frequently glanced every time a person walks out from the gates.

While it took her forever to wait at the gate to wait for someone, the person that she was looking for finally came out. But for some reason, he was rubbing his eyes and had puffy eyes.

Overcome with worry, Hayami walked towards him and put her hands in his shoulder in comfort. He seems to flinch under her touch.

"It's okay." She said, trying to comfort him with her words.

It's okay.

For some reason, she seemed to have used this phrase many times.

To him.

Despite not using it all the time.

Forest green eyes met the sky blue eyes. Due to Hayami's short stature, her height can only reach on Midoriya's eye level, he was slightly looking down at her face.

The boy smiled at the worried girl. Those words she said was familiar. Even though she doesn't have the memory of him in the past, they were subtle undertones of her actions that she does remember.

"Thank you, Shii - I mean, Hayami-san." He corrected himself, not wanting the girl to get weirded out by him.

"Ah, you can call me Shiichan if you are comfortable with that, and also -"

"But Shii - I mean, Hayami-ch-"

"See? You nearly called me Shiichan right there, and also your Hayami-san turned into Hayami-chan." She sighed. "Like I said, you can me 'Shiichan' if you want and also I'm sure you are not used calling me with another names."

The boy was silent at the statement and permission he just got from the girl. Despite the development that the girl went through, there are some things that doesn't change at all.

Midoriya Izuku was kind of glad that the Hayami Eshima he knew in the past still lingers in her.

Oh wait, that was rather dumb of him. No matter how or what went through to her life, Hayami Eshima is still standing right in front of him. The experiences she went through was her own and hers alone and it would be selfish for him if he wanted her to revert back to the past that he knows so well.

Hayami Eshima was simply changed not replaced.

"... I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? It wasn't your fault."

Seriously, she's about to make him cry from this amount of nostalgia if she keeps talking.

"By the way Shiichan, what kind of accident did you experience that made you lose your memories?"

The girl scratched her head. "Ah, to be honest, I don't know what really happened myself." She said before she put her chin in thought with a hum. "Maybe it's the generic car crash and then hit my head that made me lose my memories?" she answered her question with a light shrug.

Midoriya sweat dropped. You shouldn't take accidents lightly like that, Shiichan.

Hayami and Midoriya continued their casual talk on the road. After she comforted the green-haired supposed to be friend, Hayami insisted to walk with her and frankly told him that she wanted to know the past from his perspective. Midoriya was surprised at her sudden demand since he always walks alone and was also shocked at wanting to know her past from him but agreed to her request nonetheless.

"Then you don't remember?" he asked.

"Probably, probably not." She shrugged. "I don't have any recollection of it so it's really weird to me that I can't even remember the accident." She answered honestly.

Naturally, you are supposed to remember the incident of something that made you suffer in the first place but for Hayami's case, she can't remember at all. Nothing at all. And it's kind of creepy that if she tried to remember...

...

Well...

It wasn't nothing at all.

If she did force herself to remember...

She remembered being in the cold place.

That was all.

Whether if it was a feeling or her instincts kicking in, she'd rather not remember that part of her past - even worse that it was only thing left in her memory box.

Just darkness - a cold and hollow place.

"B-by the way, how did you met me in the past?" Hayami stammered, desperately changed the subject since she doesn't want to talk about it.

"Huh? You? Um..." The boy seemed to be startled at the sudden change of subject before his eyes lit up in remembrance.

"Ah, I remembered! When we first met you, Kacchan and I tried to approach you. But only Kacchan is the only one who had enough courage to invite you in our group while I just watched behind him."

"Eh, I see. Uh, who is this 'Kacchan'?"

"Bakugo Katsuki, he was a friend of ours..." Midoriya trailed off as he looked down in gloom that was gone unnoticed by Hayami.

"Friend, huh?" she let out a dry laugh. "I don't have that much friends in my school."

"Eh, you? I mean, to be honest, I don't have friends too..." he muttered in embarrassed as Hayami chuckled at his confession. All of sudden, this conversation turned into a sharing of relatable situation.

Silence overtook their surroundings after that talk as they mutedly walked each other side by side. Looking for their place of destination as they crossed under the bridge.

"By the way, Midoriya-kun, I mean -san, do you have a dream?" She curiously asked him.

"Dream?" he asked in question.

"Yeah. I wanted to know what you wanted to be." She answered with honest eyes, looking at him in interest.

"I... wanted to become a hero." He answered after a moment of hesitation.

Midoriya's response, of all the expectations she expected, it surprised her. This kid wanted to become a hero, probably the current riskiest job in the world.

"Then, what is your quirk?" She asked the unknown, dreaded question as she unwarily continued. "If you are so determine to become a hero, then your quirk must be suitable for combat, right?"

That's right. Being a hero is a dangerous mindset. Always be in a constant danger, becoming both threat and a victim, depends how the situation calls. If this kid wanted to be a hero, then he must have a suitable quirk –

"I'm Quirkless."

Huh? His response made her thoughts froze in her tracks. Quirkless. Which means – no quirk, no superpowers, nothing.

Just ordinary - normal.

"I have no quirk." He repeated with low voice as he continued his walk despite feeling gloomy all over.

For Hayami, she stopped walking beside him as she halted her steps. His response mortified her greatly – she really felt shameless, foolish to ask such a dumb question to him.

"I-I'm sorry, Midoriya-kun. I shouldn't have ask–"

She stopped.

She suddenly forgot how to breathe. Hair standing up at the malice she felt behind her. She heard something. Something wriggling - a disgusting sound of liquid that she never thought she would hear in her entire life. It felt sickening under her skin that it made her want cringe at the sound that it makes her want to grind her teeth in disgust.

Hayami glanced at Midoriya who also stopped. She silently prayed for him to just go ahead. This... something behind her is surely something they can't handle.

A villain - no doubt.

Unfortunately, he naively turned around. The girl panicked. Shit. She cursed in her mind. Her survival instincts keeps saying to run away from here but the boy will be left alone with the villain and will surely be attacked.

Shit. Shit. Shit. What should I do? What should I do?

She started to sweat profusely, hesitation and dread seem to slowly overtake her thoughts in panic.

Should I call for help? Scream? Should I go run to call for a hero or –!

"A medium-sized invisibility cloak..." the villain croaked when he saw his targets.

Medium-sized invisibility cloak - wait...?!

WHAT AM I THINKING IN A TIME LIKE THIS?!

Dodge.

And so she did as she jumped out of the way from the attack of the sludge villain as her catlike instincts override her mind.

A mistake.

Her aversion from the villain attacked the green-haired boy. Hayami gasped when she saw Midoriya being ravaged by the villain.

No!

Run.

No! She shook her head, trying to ignore her instincts. No. She thought. I have to save him.

But how?

She froze as she watched the person she just walked with being engulfed by the villain. She doesn't know how.

"What is it, brat? Scared?"

Hayami snapped out of her daze when she heard what the villain said.

Scared...?

Once again, instincts took over her as she dodged the attack of the villain. She continued to dodge the relentless attacks while trying to think an offense against the villain for a fleeting plan.

Should she grab the villain? No. It's made of fluid, it's impossible.

Then, should she grab Midoriya instead? Again, impossible. He's currently being imprisoned by the liquidized villain.

Hayami doesn't have a suitable Quirk against this type of villain. Hers is all about agility and physical attacks - nothing more, nothing less. Unsuitable and flawed for this circumstances.

Then, should she run and call for a hero?

Her last option seem sound and possible but it will take time. Probably when she come back here with a hero, Midoriya will be a lost cause.

A risky option.

But her conscience is preventing her to do it. What if he will take a wrong idea? Like leaving him for good?

What if he thinks that she betrayed him?

Ah, geez...! No time to think! I have to do something!

Then, what about run away and save yourself?

That...! Her last thought surprised her that she stopped moving altogether.

That is... She hanged her head, her bangs covering her eyes.

That is...

"THAT IS THE LEAST OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD WANT TO DO!"

BAM!

"Do not worry, young lady."

This voice...! Hayami thought in surprise as she turned around to see—

"Because I am here!" he vigorously announced with his large smile.

The Number One Hero - All Might himself.

She just watched All Might defeating the villain that currently imprisoned Midoriya with just a single action of his punch. Bringing wind pressure with him against the villain who bursts into pieces, freeing Midoriya in his clutches.

Well, that was, according to what she saw – it happened way too fast to follow in her eyes. Before she knew it, Midoriya was already at ground and the sludge villain was scattered around the ground. Hayami wasn't unable to process what actually happened in front of her but she knows they were saved.

By All Might of all people.

She collapsed at the ground and she let out a breath of relief that she never knew that she was holding in. Thank god. She thought. No one was left, no one was wounded, there was no misunderstanding – they were saved.

"Are you okay, young lady?"

All Might's voice startled her thoughts. She looked at him and saw him crouching down rather cutely that the back of her mind cause her to blurt a silent what the heck. He adorably picked the pieces of fragments of the villain and putting it in a plastic bottle in his hand.

His large smile was facing to her kind of scared her as she responded with her own hesitant smile. "I-I'm alright, All Might-san..." she replied with a forced laugh.

Oh my god, I just talked to a hero celebrity.

Despite not being that much of an expressive person, she was inwardly freaking out at the famous hero in front of her. Her nerves screaming at her to be polite to this person's presence.

While All Might continue picking up the littered villain around, Hayami sneakily tip-toed behind him. She silently walk towards Midoriya who seemed to be knocked out from the stress of being ravaged by the villain earlier.

When she reached him, she crouched down to him. She put her hand under his nose, confirming if he's still breathing and then put her fingers in his wrist to check his pulse. She sighed in relief when she realized that he's well - no abnormalities.

Wait, why am I so calm? She thought, a bit surprised to herself. I mean, it was a matter of life-and-death just a moments earlier.

"Is that young man okay, young lady?"

For the second time, Hayami was startled once again by All Might's deep voice. She immediately turned her head to him as she could gather the strength to only answer him with dumb nods.

"By the way, young lady. You did a great job holding against the villain, you have my utmost thanks, young lady. That was quite heroic of you."

"Ah, no, I don't think..." she trailed as she blushed at the compliment that All Might said to her. But...

That wasn't heroic of her.

After all, Midoriya suffered all through it...

"But, young lady..." All Might continue his last statement. "I do understand your hesitation earlier."

Hayami looked up to him in surprise. How...?

"Sometimes, one's indecisiveness can cloud people's action and cause hesitation in mind." All Might patted her head between her cat ears, lightly caressing it. "Do not worry, young cat lady. You're still young. You still have a long way to go."

Hayami subtly leaned against his touch. Whether if it was her catlike instincts or his words affecting her, she was definitely moved by his care of her. Guess he wasn't just a number one hero for nothing.

"Thanks..." she muttered under her breath as All Might laughed.

"Don't mention it. By the way, when is that young man going to wake up?"

"Sooner or later. Perhaps he was shock earlier especially when he saved by his idol hero." Hayami blinked at what she just said.

How did I know that?

"Ah, I see." All Might chuckled. "I get that a lot. I'm surprised that you didn't fawned at me, young lady. Not a fan?"

She nervously laughed, giving him a silent shrugged answer. Not really...

"Hmm? What is this?" All Might asked as he grabbed something in the ground. Hayami was able to see a glimpse of the object he just picked up.

"Ah, that's his notebook... sir."

"Hmm? For what?" All Might opened the first page, then the next, then next, and the next...

"Impressive." All Might mused, clearly impressed at the contents of the notebook.

"Isn't it? I also had the same reaction when I saw that... sir." Wait –

What am I doing?! Having a casual talk with the number one hero?!

"I see, I see." He nodded what seemed to be the contents of the notebook and then out of nowhere, he pulled out a marker. "While I'm busy signing here, why don't you try waking the young man up? I'm in a hurry."

Hayami could only nod in response at him as she turned her head to Midoriya, trying to wake him up.

"Midoriya-kun?" She hesitantly shook him.

"Midoriya-san?" She shook him again using different honorific and then it continues.

"Midoriya-chan?"

"Midoriya-...han?"

"Midoriya."

"Izuku."

"Izuku-kun."

"Izuku-chan!"

"Izuku-tan!"

"... If you don't mind me asking, young lady... but what the heck are you doing?"

Hayami turned to All Might in his question. "Trying to him wake up?" She answered with the 'duh' face.

"From my perspective, I think you're trying to kill him, young lady."

"Ehh? Then how should I do it?"

"Hmm... try slapping him –"

"Wha—?!"

"Slap his cheeks."

Hayami looked at the blonde-haired hero incredulously at his absurd suggestion but nonetheless scooted closer to the unconscious boy. She raised her right hand, readying herself to slap the heck out of him –

...

...

...

Hayami sulked in the corner unable to bring herself to slap the boy. All Might could only sweat drop at her sudden change of mind in the last second, looking at her brooding form in the corner. The hero neared himself to the boy and did the job himself and softly slapped him repeatedly.

As the girl sulked herself in the corner, she could only watch the scene in front of her when the boy woke up. Midoriya freaking out in front of his idol with a flushed face when he was woke up by All Might.

Watching the two of them makes her really think of the future. Both All Might and Midoriya conversing to each other is like two generations crashing to each other for an inevitable future. The old generation of heroes - All Might, and the up and all newer generation - Midoriya Izuku. Inspiration and dreams seems to collide, weaving a new future for everyone's sake.

Dreams, huh? Hayami thought as she glanced at the green-haired boy. It must have been good to have a dream, right?

Wait –

Dream?

Hmm... I feel like I'm forgetting something...

"If you are so unsure of yourself, why not write your own dream?"

Oh.

...

Yup, I'm dead.

She put her palm to her face in realization, completely forgetting about the paper that was given by her teacher yesterday. Academic Career Plan. A plan for a future. A future that she is certain that will come true.

A saying that your present action decides your future.

She completely forgot about it.

"...As for the young cat lady in the corner."

Hayami snapped out of her daze at the mention of description of her by All Might.

"Despite not being a fan of mine, thanks for the great talk!" All Might said as he saluted at her.

Huh? Huh? Eh? Since she wasn't paying attention to him, she wasn't able to know the full context of their conversation.

"Until we meet again, Young Hayami—"

"Eh—?!"

"Well then, I'm counting on your continued support!"

"Huh—wait!"

The girl tried to reach out the hero but All Might had already leapt away to who-knows-where towards the calming blue sky. She could only look at the fading figure of All Might in the sky, disgruntled.

How the heck did he knows my name? A bit chagrined about how he knows her name, Hayami decided to forget about it for now and move on.

"Let's go, Midoriya-kun. We'll be late of the train—"

Ah—

"Hmm?" Hayami looked around her surroundings, trying searching for the boy she walked with.

"Where the heck is he?" She wondered.

Did he run away from seeing his idol or—

She realized with a deadpanned face.

Did he freakin' went with All Might?!

No wonder All Might's figure looks weird when he leap away.

Midoriya-kun, you...! Leaving me here all by myself!

Hayami can't help but pout when she was left alone on her own.

Since Hayami was left alone by her dear friend, she had no choice but to go on her own. It wasn't like she was angry on Midoriya, she was just unhappy that she wasn't able to walk with him and talk about their past together. She sighed, she really can't blame Midoriya. He is, after all, a huge fan boy of All Might so he went with him.

But how? This had been on Hayami's mind. How he was able to go after the number one hero? Did he cling to his leg or something?

And also, how did she know that Midoriya looks up to All Might?

She doesn't know.

Putting all that thoughts aside, she was a bit envious that Midoriya had a dream of his own, even though that dream seems to be impossible for him. Well, what's the use of the dream if dreams had no obstacle and is achieved easily?

But the world they are living, the kind of world that dreams can become reality, contradicts her statement. Gifted with superpowers - also known as Quirks - can make it possible.

But Quirks are not omnipotent device. They are Quirks – quirks unique to every individual not some kind of power-up bullshit like granting wishes from the likes of Holy Grail.

She sighed at her thoughts. Perhaps, she was just cynical of this world. She tends to have this negative and skeptical view on her own that she tends to lower her expectation in almost everything. This world is nowhere near to perfection, making your dreams come true is not a sign of perfection.

Maybe... this is the effect of her lost memories that makes her a pessimistic person. Maybe she lowered her expectation because she learned from something in the past.

And that something can be anything.

Or perhaps, her optimism was drained from her childhood that made her lost sight of future. There can be many possibilities in the mystery of her past that she never remembered. And many questions that was probably already answered in the present that she never knew in the past.

She just doesn't know.

Hayami Eshima walked absent-mindedly in the city. She ignored the people around her as she occupied herself with her thoughts. The thoughts of her lost memories, an old friend and more importantly, her dreams.

When she thought about dreams, the girl opened her bag as she grabbed the object inside. She unruffled the crumpled paper in front of her.

Academic Career Plan.

There it said at the top of the paper.

She attempted to unwrinkled the paper and tried to straighten it up, unaware that she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

For the second time of the week, Hayami bumped into someone – or to be more accurate, someone bumped into her. She accidentally to let go of paper as it flew away from her hands. She tried to reach after it but someone had already caught it mid-air.

She glanced at the person who caught it.

Blood red eyes met the sky blue ones.

"Ah, thank you so much, um..." Hayami tilted her head, kind of expecting an answer from him. She received nothing. But instead of answering to her, he slowly lowered his hand, the hand where he caught the paper. The girl smiled at the gesture as she reach it.

"Thank you—" Just as she was about to touch it, he raised his hand above his head, making it out of her reach.

She could only look in disbelief at the person in front of her, unable to believe what he just did to her.

Is he teasing me of my height? She thought as once again, for the second time of the week, she cursed her existence as a short person.

"Can I have that paper, please?" She asked, slightly annoyed as she said it in a polite approach.

The person in front of her only raised an eyebrow at her as he lowered his hand once again. Hayami narrowed her eyes in suspicion at him and then glance at the paper in his hand then back again to his face.

She slowly reach the paper in his hand while glancing back and forth from his face and to his hand. With a jolt, she attempted to grab the crumpled paper in his hand but unfortunately, he raised it again above his head.

She wanted to scream in frustration.

"You shouldn't tease the girl, Katsuki."

"That's right, Katsuki. Give the paper back to her."

She heard two people laughed behind this person in front of her who seemed to enjoy tormenting her. But her attention was focused on something else.

Katsuki? She thought when she heard the familiar name.

The person in front of her - also known as Bakugo Katsuki, clicked his tongue. "Fine. But on one condition..." Hayami turned her attention to him.

"Apologize."

Oh. She made a small sigh of relief. Oh, thank god it wasn't like that. She thought.

Accepting his condition, Hayami bended her body as she bowed to him. "I'm sorry."

Bakugo was taken back but quickly regained his composure. He never expected that the girl in front of him would easily accept his condition so quickly.

Mildly satisfied with her action, he slammed the paper on the back of her bowing head. He walked away from her along with his friends who apologize for their friend's behavior to her. Hayami never responded to their apology.

After all, it didn't directly came from Bakugo himself.

It wasn't genuine.

Grabbing the paper on the back of her head, she straighten her spine as she looked back after their back. She put the paper inside her bag, turning away her attention from them and continue her walk ahead.

"Back to our conversation earlier, aren't you and Midoriya childhood friends?"

Her cat ears twitch at the mention of the green-haired boy, halting her steps.

"You went a little overboard today." She heard one of Bakugo's friend said.

"It's his fault for getting in my way!" She heard Bakugo say, who seemed to be annoyed.

Giving in to the temptation of curiosity, she changed her step of course and followed after them as they turned into an alleyway. She stayed in the corner, not following them further in the alleyway as she listened to their conversation.

"Don't let it get to you." Bakugo's friend said.

"He's like an idiot dreaming like a kid!" Bakugo exclaimed as his voice echoed in the alleyway followed by a small explosion that made Hayami winced for her ears. "Watching him pisses me off!"

Something clicked in the girl's mind while listening to their conversation. As she connected two and twos together, she finally understand why Midoriya was crying earlier.

Midoriya was bullied by this person called Katsuki.

After that realization, she felt disappointed when she remembered the conversation she had earlier with Midoriya.

"Bakugo Katsuki, he was a friend of ours..."

And I made friends with this kind of person?

Her train of thought stopped when she heard a familiar wriggling noise. Something disgusting that makes her want to grind her teeth because of its level of cringe.

She gasped in recognition as she took a quick peek at the alleyway. She widened her eyes in confirmation as she saw the sludge villain, materializing to its former form while Bakugo standing in front of it, his back turned from it.

How did it get away from All Might?! She could only thought in disbelief as she gets out from her hiding place, sprinting towards the blonde-haired boy.

"Bakugo-san!"

Her warning had already fell deaf to everyone's ears. Bakugo was unable to react in time and was already engulfed by the villain.

Hayami stopped herself when she saw her supposed to be childhood friend being captured by the villain. A certain déjà vu overcome her senses - seeing a familiar scene in front of her when she was unable to do anything to help the boy.

But this time is different. She is more-or-less scared of this villain anymore. The only problem in this situation, is that she doesn't know the countermeasure against this type of Quirk. A Quirk that makes its host turn into a fluid is - in a sense - quite an overpowered power. It is quite a shame that he used it for his villainous acts rather than making good deeds using this quirk.

The perspective of a villain is never wrong.

If heroes are the glorified troublemakers - then the villains are the justified troublemakers.

Because they felt that what they were doing was right in their twisted morals.

Being gifted with unsuitable Quirk against this villain makes her miserable. If only she had an elemental quirk like ice, this would be done in a flash.

She looked around her surrounding to see if there's an appropriate weapon for her to use. Her sharp eyes caught the attention of the metal pipe resting in the corner. She sprinted towards it while she rolled to dodge the attack of the sludge villain.

She grabbed the pipe and positioned it in her hands like a spear. Having a limited knowledge of weapon martial arts, she had no choice but to use her inadequate information against the villain as she combined her experience along with her unprompted plan.

She ran to charge in a stabbing position, a generic attack for a spear as she pushed it forward to attack the villain, carefully not hitting the blonde. As expected, it was stuck from his liquidized body. While it was stuck, she grabbed the collar of Bakugo's uniform who seemed surprise at her action.

"Bakugo-san! Grab my wrist if you want out from there!" She exclaimed to him while struggling to pull the person she wants to save.

She felt a tight grip on her arm. Hayami took this with a positive outlook that he wants to be saved but it wasn't what it seemed to be.

"Let..."

The girl was too distracted to hear Bakugo's words. She started to get panic when her legs was getting entangled by the villain as she struggled against its grasp.

"LET YOUR HANDS GO OF ME!"

As if she was facing the sun, intense brightness overwhelmed her vision followed by a loud explosion that deafened her ears. She was violently thrown back at the wind pressure created by the explosion, hitting herself at the nearby concrete wall. Black smoke clouded her vision as it started to cover her surroundings.

She coughed violently when she accidentally inhaled the dark polluted smoke. She struggled to get up to her feet while trying to shake off the dizziness in her head. She took a glance around her surrounding as she saw the effects of that large explosion. Small fires scattered everywhere, burning from intensity of the explosion earlier.

Hayami staggered as she seek for support at the nearby wall, managing her balance a bit. There's still a loud ring to her ears and white spots still lingers in her vision. She turn her head left and right, struggling to look around for the villain she just fought.

Thanks to the explosion earlier, it seems like she was thankfully saved from being another victim of the sludge villain.

It seemed to be Bakugo-san's quirk... Hayami pondered a bit from what happened earlier since the villain didn't use it against her during the first encounter.

But...

The smoke still didn't dispersed around them as it hinders her search from searching of the villain. Instead of the villain and the captured Bakugo, her eyes caught of the two people that was with Bakugo a moment ago.

"Hey!" She tried to call them. "HEY!" She called once again, a bit louder.

She seem to catch the attention of one of them as he turned to her.

"Get out of here!" She shouted, subtly ordering them. "Get out of here and ask for help!"

Since the girl can't match the villain, all she can do is ask for help.

"But...!" the boy stammered, while still trembling in fear as he pointed at something. The girl quickly turned her attention towards it and dodged the attack at the last second.

But since the girl was still affected from the explosion, a prickling pain was felt all over her body especially on her back. She lost her footing and fell into the ground. She struggled to get up to her feet but her ear twitch at the incoming attack towards her as she forced her body to move forward and barely dodged it.

Hayami is already at her limit. She can no longer move her body. Her stress catching up to her. She may have the toughness because of being in the martial arts club but this experience is way different. Back at the club when it was all fun and giggles but this time is a matter of life-and-death situation. A serious situation.

This should have the time when the hero saves the day.

It wasn't like she had no faith of all heroes. She had no resentment against them. It's just... despite being called a superhero by the society, they are still human. They can save someone if they can reach them but those they can't...

Well...

Like in this kind of situation. But the difference between the comic book superheroes and this world's superheroes is that the people in this world, everyone can be anything. Gifted with superpowers, dreams can become a reality.

No, it's not.

"Girl, are you okay?"

Thus, the saviors had finally arrived.

The hero with wooden mask - Kamui Woods found her lying at the pavement, a girl who was wounded and a damsel in distress in need to be saved. Hayami was relieved when heroes made their arrival at the scene. She sighs in relief when she saw them, doing their duty as a hero.

Finally, they can save my friend.

She blinked at what she thought. Friend?

Kamui Woods gently put her to the side - away from the sludge villain to avoid further casualty. As she was put there, she realized that there was already a gathering crowd of people nearby and knows why the heroes arrived at the scene.

She watched the fight in daze between the heroes and the villain. All she can process in her mind is that they are doing their job to defeat the villain, their duty as a hero. She wasn't closely paying attention to what was happening in front of her but at least she was aware of the situation.

She encountered the sludge villain twice today and coincidentally, two of her supposed to be childhood friend was their target. It makes her laugh at this type of coincidence. As if fate forced them to meet for the unprecedented future. A future she would never expect that inspired from her present action.

Speaking of action, it seems like the heroes had no idea how to defeat this villain. Oh, that's bad. She thought quite distantly to them though feeling a tinge of sympathy for them.

It seems like they changed their tactic from 'defeat the villain' to 'let's buy some time for someone to arrive' when they battled against it. With Bakugo's quirk constantly going off in attempt to get out from the grasp of the villain, the heroes was torn how to save the hostage boy. Because of the boy's quirk, the place turned into a landmine, hindering them.

Hayami watched scene in front of her absent-mindedly as it reminded her of yesterday's incident when Mt. Lady saves the day.

Ah, speaking of the devil. She actually arrived with her gigantic form. Oh hey, she was useless because it needs to be two lanes for her to cross. Inconvenience of a quirk. Can't blame her.

While she was resting in the corner while also acting as a spectator, a certain thought came to her.

If Midoriya-kun wants to be a hero, then what kind of action he would do?

A green flash went past in front of her. As if time was with her side, the green flash in front of her was too familiar for her own good. It kept replaying in her mind and manage the identity of the person who went past to her.

Midoriya Izuku.

As she snapped out of her daze and suddenly gained strength of her body, she stood up. She attempted chased after him but was held back by another hero, caging her in their arms to prevent her from moving forward.

"Are you crazy?! Do you want to die with him?!"

"But my friend—"

There it is again – 'friend'.

My friends… That's right. Midoriya Izuku is her friend. He always is. It goes the same with Bakugo Katsuki. Despite his disparagement. The three of them are friends, despite its dysfunctional nature. No matter the experience they had with each other will always remembered in their hearts. Their childhood, the memories, their nostalgic bonds…

The separation…

She wanted it back. She will get it back. Their friendship to each other that was lost sea of separation that she can't remember.

But…

The girl, for some reason, can't help but wonder…

If she was separated from them in the past, them what kind of friend was she to them?

Hayami panicked as she struggled against the hero. She was confused. She was confused of the action made by her friend when he ran to save Bakugo.

Where did he get that courage to save the person who tormented him? Where did he get it when it was the same villain who attacked him? Where?

Tears started to gather in her eyes. She could only watch the scene in distress, watching her friends being on risk - one trying to save someone and the other trying to save himself. She reach out to them as tears blurred her vision. Why can't she do anything? Why can't she do anything to save them? Why?

Hayami Eshima was weak. Living her life in idleness affected her as a person. She was even punished for it as she repeated a grade for her laziness, always unmotivated. It is her flaw as a person.

But if her teacher is right, then there is a potential to change.

But her greatest flaw was not her laziness, but in fact, it was the refusal to be helped. She'd rather do the things herself than asked for helped even if it was something that she cannot tolerate.

Hayami Eshima is that kind of person. She's a lone wolf. Always reserved and sometimes cold. She'd rather endure the things that was cause by her and resolve it by herself. Absent-minded but idealistic. Can be helpful if she wants to. She's an independent person.

An independent but kind person. If Bakugo Katsuki and Midoriya Izuku are her friends then she will do anything to save them.

"ALL MIGHT!"

The gathering crowd gasp. The heroes turned their attention in shock at the pink-haired girl when she shouted.

"PLEASE SAVE MY FRIENDS!

Hayami Eshima screamed with all her might. This idea of hers was not something she was expecting to do.

Asking for someone.

As if like a whirlwind, All Might appeared to save the day, ultimately saving her friends. The crowd gasp. The heroes dropped their jaws in shock, unable to believe that he appeared out of nowhere as if he was summoned by the call of the girl.

Their greatest protector has arrived.

Just like what happened under the bridge, it was resolved in a flash with a single punch. All Might blew him away with the wind pressure created from his punch but with much power. With only a single punch, it caused an updraft in the sky causing the rain to pour on them.

When everyone saw All Might's gallant action, everyone cheered. The Top Hero has secured his success as he raised his hand in victory. An everyday image for the civilians.

She was impressed. Hayami Eshima was impressed that she never thought he would actually appear from her call even though it was done in a whim. She smiled at his back in gratitude, unable to vocalize her thanks at the roaring crowd of cheers.

Thank you, All Might. I'll be forever in your debt for saving my friends.

Hayami and Midoriya walked silently to their homes, not knowing what to say to each other. The sunset brilliantly shone at the sky in warm orange with their shadows following behind them.

Earlier when the villain was finally captured by the police, the green-haired boy got scolded by the heroes for his reckless action. While Hayami was left alone to her own as doctors tended her wounds.

All in all, it was a happy ending. The hero was praised and the villain was punished, as always.

The two of them was silent, occupied by their own thoughts especially what happened. An event that will left a scar for those who are involved in that incident.

"Deku!"

Deku? She thought in question as both of them turned around behind them.

It was Bakugo Katsuki who seemed to be pissed for some reason.

"I never asked you for help and you didn't help me! Got it?! I was fine by myself. You're a Quirkless failure playing without a full deck! Don't think you can look down on me! Are you trying to make me owe you? Don't look down on me, you damn nerd!"

Hayami was completely overwhelmed by his rant that she never closely listened to him.

"And you—!"

The girl flinched when Bakugo turned his attention to her. The two of them stared each other for a while before he turned around in the opposite direction, grumbling under his breath. Hayami could only sweat drop at his behavior towards her.

I wonder what's wrong with him.

Hayami turned her attention to Midoriya who looked down in gloom. She put her hand to his shoulder as she comforted him.

"Don't let his words affect you, Midoriya-kun." She said with a gentle smile. "What you did back there was quite heroic of you."

The boy blushed at her words as he covered his face in embarrassment. The girl could only look at him in confusion, wondering what is wrong with him.

The two of them continued their walk. Heavy silence occurred between them as the sunset brightened their way. When Hayami was about to break the silence, All Might suddenly appeared in the corner, startling the cat girl.

"All Might?!" Both of them exclaimed in disbelief. "Why are you here? You were surrounded with reporters earlier." Midoriya continued as he looked around, searching if there's someone stalking the hero.

All Might laughed. "Getting away from them was a piece of cake. Why? Because I am All Might—"

Something unexpected happened when All Might transformed into a strange appearance.

"All Might...?" Hayami trailed off, as if she saw something unbelievable while her eyes is still wide in shock.

"Ah—!" Midoriya panicked. "This is, um, you see, Shiichan, er..." Midoriya fumbled around for explanation. Hayami raised her hand to him.

"No, never mind, Midoriya-kun." She said as she tried to calm him down. "I'll... just forget what I saw." The girl is too stressed to take so much for today.

Hayami started to walk ahead for her destination before a tired yet familiar voice called to her.

"Young Hayami."

Hearing the weary voice calling behind her, she turned her head in response, facing the skeleton-like small yet tall form of All Might.

"Until we meet again."

Under the illumination of the sun behind her, she simply raised her eyebrow at his choice of words, nodding to his words in confusion. She turned around to continue her walk, the gentle wind caressing her form, trying not give in to the temptation of her curiosity to listen to their conversation. But she wished against it. She felt like she shouldn't meddle to some personal business of a top hero, even if just for now.

I guess, it's just another day for me, huh?

She smiled to herself, walking ahead from the two people behind her, unaware of their talk as she left them.

Many things happened in that week for Hayami Eshima. An experience that will either left a scar of reminder or washed away like a river. Even if it was a slight of change but that change will surely inspire her greatly as a person. Meeting someone from her past was something she would never expect she'll encounter. Her old friends that slowly changed in the passage of time as one still searching for his joy and one drowned in his arrogance.

Hayami Eshima will change. After all, change is a natural development of every human being. Whether the result of her development is either good or bad, the girl will surely change.

Along with the potential of her missing memories.

Did you like it? Did you, readers, like it? This fanfic of mine?

As you can see (or read), her character has a lot of contradiction, which is my intention to begin with. A hypocrite character, probably. This is my first time writing this type of character so I guess that's about it haha.

Have some thoughts? Please leave a review! Feedback is also appreciated!

Until next chapter!

EDITED (2/24/19)