Eria

After us rookies were shaken by the Stain incident, we were admitted into Hosu General Hospital. All of us had bandages over our limbs. We shared the same ward because I refused to be alone in the female's ward.

Despite the incident had ended almost 12 hours ago, none of my nerves relaxed. I couldn't sleep, fearing that when I close my eyes Stain would appear to stab his knife into my neck.

Early in the morning, we had our breakfast and sat on our beds, reminiscing the miracle of us being alive despite Stain's ferocity. The door to our ward gently slided open, and Gran Torino and Iida's supervisor walked in. A tall adult followed behind him, clad in a formal suit and had a dog's head as his head. Not that I was prejudice, but this was probably the first time I saw a human with a dog head. He was large and tall, nearly touching the door frame with his head.

"Good morning, children. I am Hosu's chief of police, Tsuragamae Kenji," the man addressed. Todoroki and Iida stood up in respect and I followed their move. Midoriya was allowed to sit on his bed due to his injured leg.

"You must be the UA students who took down Stain, right?" he asked.

We nodded.

"Regarding the hero killer, he had fairly serious injuries, with broken bones and burns, and is receiving treatment under strict surveillance, woof."

Persistent killer. After all we have gone through and he's still alive. Thank god WE are still alive.

...... and did he just... 'woofed'?

"Since you are UA students, I'm sure you understand the rules and regulations that adhered to the profession of 'pro-heroes'. Even up against the hero killer or any other villains, for the uncertified individuals to cause injury with their quirks without specific instruction from their guardians or their supervisors is a clear violation of the rules."

I didn't like where this conversation was heading. After winning against an impossible killer, we were to be blamed for our actions?

He continued. "The three of you, with Gran Torino, Endeavour and Manual must receive strict punishment."

My heart broke to see our efforts only resulted punishment from the authorities, thanks to some stupid rules.

"Hold up. If Iida didn't do anything, Native would have been killed," an angered Todoroki suddenly interjected. "If Midoriya hadn't come, both of them would have been killed. No one realised Stain has appeared. So we should just follow the rules and watch people getting killed?"

My valiant friend. So brave, hotheaded and defending his friends. I was genuinely touched, even though it wasn't the right moment.

The chief of police held his ground firmly. "Are you saying that as long as it turns out okay, it's okay to bend the rules?"

Flames would have burst through his left side and burn the entire room into ashes. "Isn't it a hero's job to save people?"

I wanted to support Todoroki but saying something would only aggravate the situation.

"That's why you're not a full-fledged hero yet. What have UA and Endeavour been teaching you, woof?"

That sparked off the ticking time bomb within him. Todoroki stormed towards the dog-headed man but stopped when Gran Torino stepped in. "Wait, hear him out, please," said the old man.

The chief continued. "That's the official opinion of the police. And the punishment and such would only happen if this was known to public, woof. If this was made to public, you would be applauded, and you would also be punished. But if this was not made public, the burn scars on Stain would support Endeavour as the savior and it would end there, woof. Thankfully, there were few witnesses so this violation could be crushed here, woof. But it would also mean no one would know of your accomplishments. Which do you prefer? Personally, I don't like to find fault with promising young ones because of one big mistake."

"Either way, us pro-heroes will still be punished for the negligence in our supervisory duties," Manual slightly sobbed.

Guilt-ridden, Iida apologised to his supervisor and Manual forgave him.

Midoriya apologised and so did I, though Todoroki only asked for the case to be taken care of (note: it's hard to translate yoroshiku onegaishimasu. There's no definite word of it in English).

"Due to the unfairness of the adults, you won't get the praise you deserved, but..." The chief bowed down in 90 degrees to show us his gratitude. "Thank you for all you've done."

An embarrassed Todoroki pursed his lips. "Just say that first next time."

"I hope there won't be a next time," I added. The others chuckled, while a tiny smile formed on Todoroki's slightly red face.

***

Due to our severe injuries, the four of us stayed in the hospital for the rest of the internship.

"My mom's going to kill me when she finds out," I said as we laid on our beds, doing nothing.

"My mom would kill herself when she finds out," Midoriya said.

"My mom... I think she would be pissed," agreed Iida.

Silence.

We glanced over at Todoroki, waiting for his comment. Instead, he stayed silent. When he realised our gazes were upon him, he blinked. "Should I have said something as well?" he asked.

So pure and innocent!

I chuckled while Todoroki frowned.

He sighed. "Then... my mom would...be proud that I--"

The door to our ward slided open and the massive figure of a grumpy Endeavour walked through the door frame.

"En-en-en-en.... Endeavour..." Midoriya cringed.

The blood within my veins ran cold when Endeavour looked at me. His cold turquoise-coloured eyes pierced right through my fragile existence. I knew he was mad.

Mad that his prized son was injured.

I braced myself for verbal onslaught when Todoroki stood up, defiant as ever. "It's not her fault. Don't blame her. She saved my life."

Endeavour's face was hard to read. His eyebrow slightly cocked. "Apparently the whole 'tank-and-mage' thing wasn't as effective as I thought it would be."

"We still need some time to practice. We'll do it after we're healed. Though, it's none of your business anyway," retorted his rebellious son.

Iida, who was completely oblivious of the current situation, nudged Midoriya. They spoke in hushed whispers, which I assumed Iida asking the latter about the tension between the father and son. Midoriya shook his head, trying to keep him away from Todoroki's private family matters.

Endeavour scoffed. "I expected more from you," he said. Even though he was not looking at me, I could tell it was directed at me.

Todoroki stepped closer to me, as if he was trying to shield me from a horrifying beast.

"Likewise, pal."

A voice cut through the awkward tension in the room like a hot knife on butter. I could recognise that voice anywhere.

The golden ram horns on her head gleamed like pure gold which contrasted her coal-black hair. Her sharp azure eyes looked around like an eagle. The defiant smirk on her face widened when she saw her ex-colleague, Endeavour.

"Dark Rose," Endeavour scoffed. "What a pleasant surprise."

My mother chuckled. "Not so pleasant for me, you know."

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Visiting my daughter when she got attacked by a villain without any supervision during her internship," my mother burned Endeavour like a roast on a grill.

Endeavour clicked his tongue. "It was not my intention to leave them unguarded."

"I know, I know. Duty calls. But for you to pin that blame on her......" Suddenly, her clear blue eyes turned blood red. "Don't you think you're being unfair?"

Endeavour glared at my mother and she glared back viciously. The murderous tension hung in the air like a heavy blanket. The four of us young kids huddled together, afraid of being collateral damage.

"You want to take this outside, Dark Rose?"

"Don't cry if you lose."

The two strong heroes continued their intense stare-down, neither of them stepping back. Although Endeavour was taller and buff in figure, my mother's presence had emanated a much intense killing aura.

"S-should we stop them?" whispered Midoriya as his voice croaked.

Wide-eyed horror took over my face. "Ya' know, my mom's is hard to be convinced to step down from a fight. She loves fights."

"Maybe we should at least talk some sense in them?" Iida suggested. "They're adults. They should at least be rational."

As we discussed our options, we failed to realise a bi-colour haired boy bravely stood up and frowned at the adults. "Could you stop fighting like children and start acting like adults?"

The two said adults stared at Todoroki Shouto silently.

Us three young kids watched on with our hearts pumping in our throats.

Todoroki, I admire your bravery and savagery but really... isn't this a life-and-death situation?!

"Shouto..." Endeavour murmured.

My mother chuckled. "So this is your son? I see a little rebellious streak in him, just like you."

Todoroki's frown darkened but said nothing to my mother.

"Eria, why didn't you bring this handsome boy home? You talked a lot about him. I always wanted to meet him."

Red blush spread from the base of my neck to my entire face. MOOOOOM! I wanted to scream hysterically.

Todoroki looked at me, fazed. "You talk about me a lot?"

"I talk about Midoriya and Iida and Ochako a lot too!" I retorted, almost screaming.

"Hmm..." my mother tapped her chin. "But--"

"MOM! ARE YOU HERE TO VISIT ME OR WHAT?!"

"Of course I'm here to visit you. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Takasaki Hana, Eria's mother, used to be former pro-hero Dark Rose."

Now I understood how parents embarrass their children in public, especially in front of their friends.

"Dark Rose!" Midoriya gasped. Enthusiasm glinted in his big round eyes. "I've heard of you! And your feats! I've seen you in TV sometimes! Can I have your autograph?"

My mother had the same glint in her eyes. "Why sure! Nice to have a fan nowadays! Where do I sign?"

Midoriya hurriedly pulled out a nearly torn-out notebook from his bag and passed it to my mom. His wide grin remained plastered on his freckled face.

Upon watching this weird turn of events, Endeavour clicked his tongue, prompting a glare from his son. "Shouto, I hope you recover well."

"You don't need to tell me that. I will," spat Todoroki, unpleased.

With a last exchange of glares at my mother, Endeavour left. Instantly, what's left of the previous tension dissipated.

I sighed with relief.

"So, you talk about me a lot at home?"

I flinched.

"Just casual chatter of how my friends are in school, that's all," I croaked. "And you're one of my best friends! Of course I talk about you a lot!"

"Oh. Okay." Todoroki accepted it without any doubts.

I hoped no one realised the frequency of talking about Todoroki stemmed from the weird admiration that I had about him. I didn't even know how and why this admiration even gestated within me.

He is handsome, strong, though pure and innocent and sometimes cold, but that what makes him......

My heart skipped a beat when I found the word.

...... attractive?

Ah crap.

"I talk about you a lot too, to my mother," Todoroki said nonchalantly, as if to return the favour. "And Midoriya, Iida and Uraraka too, I guess."

I believed my heart just stopped pumping.

"...... You all are welcomed to visit my daughter at our home anytime! And we're having a barbeque party soon. Do come and enjoy yourselves!" My mother's voice finally entered my mind.

She glanced at me. "I really want to bring you home, but the doctor said you're not allowed to leave until the weekend." Her soft hands caressed my hair. "I'm glad you and your friends are fine, up against that vicious Stain. You all did great to stop him from harming people."

"You knew?" gasped Iida.

"I have connections around," she replied. "Still, I hope you all learnt a lesson and not challenge a villain head on. I know you are powerful young people but you must be wary against villains. If you're not careful, you could be dead the next second."

I digested my mother's advice carefully. She was right. There were too many opportunities for Stain to kill us. I shuddered at the thought of the cold sharp blade at my neck and my friends felled to the ground into lifeless corpses.

"Anyway," my mom gave me a huge hug. "I'm so proud of you." She kissed my forehead, which made me feel warm and comfortable. Then, she went around hugging my friends, praising them and giving them her support.

"Your moms would be so proud of you," she said, before she left. A smile was on each of our faces because we were glad to be appreciated and supported.

Iida was called to examine his wounded arm by the nurses while Midoriya went out to receive a call. Todoroki and I were alone in the quiet ward, lying on our respective beds. The hectic turn of events lulled me into sleep and I closed my eyes, only to be awakened by a set of footsteps as Midoriya returned to the ward.

Iida had returned from his inspection, with a grim look on his face. I rubbed my eyes and forced myself to be awake. I didn't like the look on his face.

"My left hand might have long-term damage," said Iida calmly. "Both of my arms were pretty beat up, but it looks like the damage to my left arm was more severe."

I couldn't speak anything to comfort my friend. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know what words could help.

"But, it only means I have trouble moving my hand and fingers and experience some numbness. Apparently, there's a possibility that it can be healed through surgery. But I want to leave it that way, so that I'll remember that I should not let myself fall into anger again."

I noticed the determined glint in Iida's eyes. At least, he was picking himself up piece by piece. Relief washed over me. "That's the Iida we know," I muttered with a smile.

Sitting across the ward on his bed, a grim look befallen upon Todoroki's face. He frowned as he looked at his hand. "It seems like whenever I get involved, people ruined their hands."

The three of us stared at our innocent friend with disbelief.

"Is this...... a curse?"

I couldn't contain the laughter that welled within me and exploded.

"Todoroki, you're making a joke?" Midoriya asked, laughing.

"No, I'm not," the boy replied solemnly. "It's like...... I'm the hand crusher."

The three of us erupted into peals of laughter.

Oh, Todoroki, you're so pure. What did we do to deserve you?

***

This is a fairly easy and short chapter. The real one comes next XD 

Thank you for all the love you have given to this story. I have one request tho. I'm going to make a poll because i couldn't decide the future plot. Here goes:

POLL: Should Eria pass the Hero License Exam or should she fail? (Please comment: let her pass or let her fail. I accept all suggestions.)

I have plots for both ideas but I couldn't decide so I leave it to you guys! I hope to get good answers from you guys! Bye :)

One vote from everyone makes Todoroki smile a little :)