〚 First Person POV〛

I should've trusted gravity.

Or maybe I should've grabbed a rope, even the sheets or curtains. Literally anything would've been a better idea compared to just deciding you're a parkour professional after one day at the monkey bars and indiscriminately jumping off the window, only to trip half-way down and land on your mother's beloved flower bed.

The poor white carnations met an untimely death, courtesy of my butt. I groaned, rubbing the sore spot and using the only curse word my four-year-old brain can come up with.

"Fudgecake...", I muttered, slowly managing to get off the ground and on my feet. I looked down, my already high-pitched voice creating an even sharper yelp at the sight of Mom's plants. "The prize of liberty is too much... I'm gonna be in so much trouble... Oh well~"

I shrugged, grinning nonchalant. "What's done is done. No point crying over dead bodies...or however that saying goes."

But before I could question how edgy that was, the sudden sound of voices calling my name made me panic. I hurriedly made a run for it, pulling out a pair of double A batteries from my pocket that I snatched from the TV remote and conducting the energy from them. After just a few seconds, I was already dashing through the lawn in breakneck speed and had jumped over the backwall, gracefully landing on the sidewalk on the other side. Behind said concrete, I could already hear the guards pooping their pants.

"Shit! Madam is going to be so angry!"

"You've said it! Her carnations are ruined!"

"I'm talking about her daughter, you idiot!"

I could only chuckle as pairs of feet run around in complete panic. I had jumped up using my quirk and climbed up the nearby tree, overlooking the men getting into their cars and ready to have yet another search party on the "Runaway Heiress" ─ a title I have overheard a group of retainers call me after I broke my record with a total of 18 escapes in the span of two weeks.

Yes, there were days I ran away twice.

Meanwhile, my own ride was already on it's way to pick me up.

"...Bingo.", I grinned like the little devil I am, peaking from behind the leaves and watching the neighborhood ice cream truck drive down its usual lane. Sticking my tongue out, I waited for it to slow down on the hump adjacent to my hiding place before, once again, catapulting myself over an unsafe ledge and onto the top of said truck. My hand barely managed to grab the edge before I slipped off the roof, holding onto the top of the vehicle like my life depended on it.

Well, it kinda did.

The truck continued down the road, the driver completely unaware of his sudden hitchhiker smiling like an idiot on the roof. I could feel the wind against my face, smell the cherry blossoms on the sidewalks, hear the chatter of people in their homes and, unfortunately, tasted a flying bug in my open mouth.

"Ack...!"

For about a solid 5 minutes, my life was on the line until the driver finally bestowed mercy upon me and the ice cream truck skidded to a halt at its favorite destination in town: the playground.

I mean, if you were a portable powerplant of ice and diabetes in search of gullible sweet-tooth-ed munchkins with allowances, where else would you wanna go?

"Sparks! Took you long enough!", an overly familiar voice called from below. I peaked over the edge and looked down, my electric blue irises meeting crimson ones. There stood in front of the truck are four of my classmates / friends. Two stuck out the most. One is a spiky-haired ball of smug who clicked his tongue, pointing an accusing finger at me. "You're 30 seconds late! Means I win and you have to pay for all of us!"

The other one was a curly-haired ball of cuteness, shyly waving at me to which I eagerly waved back with a smile. "Hi, Izu-kun~!"

"G-Good morning, Xan-chan!", the boy meekly but happily smiled back.

Katsuki angrily growled, yelling. "Hey! Don't ignore me!"

"Yeah, yeah. I heard you. Not my fault Shibasa-san is a slow driver!", I yelled right back, dipping my head right when said man opened the truck's large window. The thirty-something-year-old ice cream vendor looked like he had a heart attack at the sight of my mug upside down from the truck's roof. "Right, Shibasa-san?"

"D-Daiya-san! What are you doing up there?!", the poor guy exclaimed in horror to which I just shrugged.

"The question is how I'm gonna get down. The batteries I stole are all dead... OH! I know!", I grinned and looked at the four-year-old blonde, Katsuki looking confused as I stood up. Then, without a single warning, I launched myself off the roof like a demented butterfly and straight down towards him. "Kacchan! CATCH!"

"X-Xan-chan!"

"SPARKS! You idiot!! Don't suddenly──"

Thump.

Too late.

"Geez, Kacchan. You have to work on your reflexes.", I stated matter-of-factly, sitting on the boy's stomach. I was immediately met by a hard bonk on my noggin, Katsuki then harshly pushing me off him and getting off the ground. I glared up at him, offended. "Hey! What was that for?!"

"I should be asking you that, you dumb Sparks! Don't just go jumping off places!", he immediately retaliated, looking way to livid for a kindergartner.

"Aww~ Were you worried for me~?"

"T-The hell I am...!", he stuttered, making me chuckle.

"You don't have to hide it, Kacchan! We both know you have a crush on me since day one~", I continued to tease, making puppy eyes.

As if to support my claim and worsen his predicament, his cheeks flushed red and his mouth started gaping. "I-I...d-... S-p-parks, y-you... AAAHHH! DIE!"

My eyes widened, jumping to my feet and ran for my life when Kacchan suddenly started chasing me. I ducked over and avoided playground facilities, laughing my socks off as the ash blonde followed, his face red in either embarrassment or anger. I wasn't really sure which one but it was worth it.

"Xan-chan! Kacchan! B-Be careful!", Izuku called to us in worry while the other two behind him were laughing.

"Don't worry, Izu-kun! I'll be careful!", I sent him a peace sign, ducking right after to dodge a shoe Kacchan threw. "Mom did say if I broke one more bone, she'll break the rest of them!"

I jumped up and reached for the monkey bars. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the cinnamon roll's eyes widen in panic. "XAN-CHAN! Those bars are broken─"

Crack.

I had no time to register Izuku's words. The moment I grabbed hold of the first metal tube, it instantly broke and for the third time today, I was once again plummeting into the unforgiving Earth. I shut my eyes in instinct, waiting for the impact...which never came.

My eyes shot open, realizing I fell into a pair of small arms which saved me from yet another visit to the X-ray room. I looked up with shining eyes filled with gratitude but recoiled the instant I met a glooming crimson glare.

A mental battle took place within me at that moment. Human ethics told me to thank my savior for the act of kindness, but animal instinct screamed for me to hightail the heck out of here, pack my bags, move to the mountains and change my name to "Larry".

"Uh...", I started, laughing awkwardly and forcing a smile on my face. "Thanks, Kacchan...?"

"You said something about breaking some bones?", he stated in a low feral whisper which is honestly scarier than being yelled at. I swear a saw a murderous glint of red when I dared meet his eyes again. Dear gawd, this kid has too much anger for someone who's yet to be circumcised...

The grip he had on my arm and leg got tighter and that's where I knew: I had to get the heck out of here.

"Uh... Hey look!! Zuko's honor!", I exclaimed, pointing to the sky to which the dumbutt actually fell for.

"Who the hell is Zuk──HMPH!!", I cut the ash blonde off, pushing his face with my hands and using it as leverage to get off his hold and started sprinting away. "You stupid Sparks!!! Come back here so I can murder you!"

"Freedom!!!", I cheered, laughing out loud as me and Bakugo start yet another goose chase. On the sidelines, Izuku sighed exasperated, more or less accepting the fact that there will never be peace and quiet when Kacchan and I are together.

Oddly enough, I'm okay with that, too.

I looked towards my back as I ran, flashing Kacchan a big and genuine grin. The boy was taken aback at the sudden gesture but eventually sent a smirk right back. I would always tease, he would always gets angry, Izuku would always panic ─ but we all knew what it meant to us. This more-aggressive-than-necessary game of tag was one of our odd way of "bonding". Not the most advisable but I don't mind.

Afterall... these two boys are my best friends.

And I wouldn't change them for the world.

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"So... ", Shibasa-san deadpanned, sweatdropping at this neighborhood's rowdy kids and starting to question the parenting skills in this part of town. "...Are you kids going to buy or not?"

〚 Rival Flames Book I :: SPARKS 〛

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