It's the Endgame*Avengers music intensifies*

~

"What the- Get off of me you insolent child! I'll make this work..." I gave an 'oof' as I hit the floor rolling, having been shaken roughly off of All For One's leg. I could hear noise and movement all around me, and there was heat coming from all directions. As I finally managed to open my eyes, still streaming from being choked by the unceremonious teleportation method, I felt my blood run cold. We were in an area I recognised as Kamino, an industrial area full of big warehouses. Except, there was no warehouse where All For One stood. Just a flat area with fire and scorched remains covering the dirt and cement ground.

"Hina!" A voice yelled. I pulled my head up off of the ground, groggy, to see that at least a hundred pairs of eyes were on me. The area had been taped off and it was surrounded by a mix of first responders, journalists, and curious members of the public. The fire must have levelled a warehouse and caused the crowd. "Let me through, I'm a hero and that's my girlfriend!" I finally found Kat, who was fighting against the arms of a police officer as he tried to jump the tape to get to me. The rest of the group were surrounding him, watching on with horrified concern. Midoriya's arm was bent at an unnatural angle, swelling and bruised. Another police officer was fussing over him, much to his dismay. I frowned, but before I could respond in any way, a hand gripped the back of my hero costume's collar and I was lifted off the ground like a cub.

"Don't interrupt me." He demanded before dropping me uncaringly. I hissed in pain, the ringing that had just left quickly returning to my ears. Regardless, I slowly stood up on shaky legs as he turned to address the crowd. "Here I have the niece of your 'Symbol of Peace'. If All Might is not here in three minutes, I'll kill her. And for each extra minute I'm kept waiting, I'll kill a member of the-"

"Here I have All For One, the master villain behind the League of Villains." I goaded loudly, throwing my arms out in the same way that All For One just had moments before. He froze, going completely tense. But it didn't stop me. "He collected misfits to carry out his orders so that he could defeat All Might, the only person capable of stopping him, before he could train a successor to take on our ancient evil. Tomura Shigaraki was a pawn, taken from the streets as a child and brainwashed by All For One into becoming a villain. This man steals quirks and hands them off to those he praises as 'worthy', but it's only to hold power over them. I have one of these quirks." A ripple of shock went through the crowd. I found a camera nearby and looked into it as the man holding it focused it on me. "I too was kidnapped and brainwashed in an attempt to use me against my hero family. And I too have one of his quirks. But I am not a villain. I am a student of Yuuei High in class 1-A. My father is my homeroom teacher, my classmates are my rocks. I am Hinami Hata, The Reflection Hero; Ray, and I will be the best pro hero you've ever seen! All For One, you'll be killing nobody! You'll have to get through me first!" I shouted, curling my hands into tight fists.

Silence.

Laughter...

All For One was doubled over with laughter.

"You think that you can take on me?"

"I don't think it. I know it."

"Fine. I feel like stretching my muscles a little anyway." He shot his arm forward, and long blades followed suit, aimed straight at me. My eyes widened and my feet became glued to the ground as though I was a deer in headlights. But when I braced, crossing my arms over my face in an x and closing my eyes, I found that the blade crashed into the mirror on my arm, shattering it and leaving it useless.

"Good." I gulped, trying to keep my voice steeled. "Now it's my turn." The last pair of hand mirrors felt cold in my palm. I wound up and threw one.

"Is that it? You didn't even hit me." The villain mocked me.

"I don't miss." And I disappeared.

"Where did she go?"

"Right here." I whispered, grabbing Kirishima's head. "Just need to grab something quickly."

"Hinami!" Todoroki gasped.

"Sh! I'm going to borrow your quirks. Crap, gotta go!"

"-running away like a coward, just as I-" All For One was part way through mocking my absence when I popped up behind him. Kiri's quirk activated, I punched the man on the back of the head as hard as I could.

He barely flinched...

The blades found me again, but they could do no damage. Kiri's quirk leaving me feeling a familiar heaviness all over my skin, I was safe. With every step backwards from All For One, I stepped forward, the blades hitting rock and breaking.

"Is this the quirk that Hata got from mysterious figure All For One?" A journalist finished her monologue in the crowd.

"You haven't seen anything yet!" I punched my fists together, hardening as much as I could in an ultimate move. "Unbreakable! This is for my parents!" The bladed tentacles were relentless, yet barely made a scratch as I slowly but surely made my way closer and closer. Once I was an arm's length away, I threw myself forward, putting all of my weight onto All For One. We both tumbled to the ground and his quirk retreated. I put myself on top of him, my stone-skin making me a little heavier, and I rained hits onto his face.

Suddenly, I became weightless and floated into the air, my hair picking up around my face. And then, I was on the floor again. My body hit the dirt at the same time as Kirishima's quirk ran out of time, leaving me in a world of pain. My skin was burning. I doubled over, clutching my arms and grimacing. But the crowd was cheering.

"You ungrateful, pathetic excuse for a hero!" All For One fumed, standing up and wiping the blood off of his brow with a handkerchief. There was no shake nor weakness in his actions. Though I was sure that the mask he was wearing over his mouth was cracked. "I have been lenient with you, child! But all of young Tomura's pleading will not keep you safe from my wrath if you continue with this-"

"Sh-shut up, you big bald extra." I wheezed, reaching out for a shard of glass on the floor and pulling myself into the safety of the mirror dimension.

"Are you okay?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Stay here and let the pro heroes take care of this!"

"W-wait!"

"Sorry, gotta run!" I grinned sheepishly at my friend's worried faces. I had caught my breath and borrowed another quirk. That was more than enough time out.

"If you stop this foolish behaviour, I will spare you." All For One offered as soon as I reappeared. I snorted.

"I would rather die."

"So be it." He responded darkly, lifting his arm. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the ground shook.

Spikes made of dirt and rock shot up, trailing out from All For One straight towards me. I stood my ground, putting my hands together and pointing my fingers forward, just like I'd practised.

"Get it, Ray!" Mina yelled proudly from the crowd as I melted them swiftly.

"I can do this all day, Ray." All For One sneered, spitting my hero name out, as if the word was disgusting. "Have you forgotten your limits?"

"Not forgotten them. Just changing them." I panted through the sharp, stinging sensation that was crawling down my red fingers and biting the blisters I had given myself but 20 minutes earlier.

20 minutes... It felt days away.

Something struck my side, digging into my skin and knocking me over.

"Dabi had already told you to keep your attention on your opponent, yet here you are, distracted. Are you getting tired, perhaps?" I coughed up blood in response, putting my hand to the spike and trying to melt it without further injuring myself. "Here, I'll throw you a bone. I may be a villain, but I'm no monster." He drawled, removing the spike from my torso and elegantly dropping his hands to his side. When I stared at him in response, he waved his hands at me in a 'go ahead' motion. I gulped. With one hand glued to my blood-soaked side, I hobbled over the crowd, reaching out.

"Katsuki. I need Katsuki."

"I'm here!" He threw himself forward. "Are you okay? I'll get you out, we can swap places, don't worry. There's an ambu-"

"Kat." I hiccuped, blinking the tears out of my eyes viciously as I put a hand on his arm. "Your quirk."

"No!"

"Kat!"

"I already told you that I don't want you using my quirk! It hurts you!" He hissed. His brow was furrowed angrily, but the concern was evident in his eyes. I sighed.

"They all do. But I don't have a choice."

"What, so you're just going to go on like this? You're bleeding, Hina! He's going easy on you. Stop putting yourself in pain and danger!"

"I'm a hero, Kat. It's what I do." I pushed myself onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips gently against his. "Thank you."

"For what? Hina-"

"You know what?" I turned my back on the crowd and took my place opposite All For One, who was still watching placidly, an amused smile playing on his warped face. I smiled, doing my best to ignore my racing pulse, loud in my ears. "I will admit that you're a very generous villain."

"Why thank you. Manners do cost nothing, after all. Why shouldn't I repay you for all the fun you've brought about?"

"Fun?" I faltered, stopping with my sleeve halfway across my face as I wiped the blood from my chin.

"I discovered that the Hata family bloodline is not over, I was able to kidnap the niece of my arch nemesis, we planted distrust towards Yuuei High School, I witnessed my protege fall in love..." A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"Shigaraki did not love me." I was suddenly feeling very aware of the multitude of eyes - and cameras - watching me. "Thanks to you, he doesn't even know what love is."

"Maybe you're right." His flippant tone suddenly darkened. "But killing you will break his heart regardless. And a broken heart makes for easily broken bones." My heart picked up in my chest.

"Keep your hands off of him. And the rest of the League too. They don't deserve you."

"My, my!" He exclaimed, gesturing to the nearest camera. "Is Ray perhaps a villain sympathiser?"

"I'm an All For One hater, and that's all that matters."

"A little birdie told me that you are a villain sympathiser..." All For One lifted a hand flippantly. I flinched. All that appeared was a hologram.

"Evil isn't inherent. It's something that's learnt. So it should be able to be unlearnt. Villains are people too! Even if the government doesn't care about them as people, think how many villains could turn into heroes! I think some villains would make excellent heroes, especially with how strong their quirks are! Toga and Twice could do stealthy jobs that involve infiltration. Kurogiri could do most things, what situation wouldn't find teleportation useful? Tomura could do rescues by removing debris and obstacles-"

"Th-that's not the whole thing!" I yelled frantically, turning to a nearby camera. "He cut out the most important parts. I stand by what I said. But I stand by the entire speech, not just what All For One has cobbled together for his own use." A squeezing sensation wrapped around my waist, making me send a sharp hiss of air out through my teeth. All For One dragged me over to him with some poor person's stolen quirk. I struggled against the invisible bindings until it gave ever so slightly.

"Is that so?" The imposing figure goaded.

"Eat shit!" I screamed, channelling my inner Katsuki and ripping one arm free to blast All For One a few feet back. I dropped to the ground once again, grunting and holding my bleeding side as tightly as I could. Sweet smelling sweat dripped down my face, muddling with the blood pooled on my chin. My breaths came out as shaky pants and I felt lightheaded. I shook my head, pulling myself to my feet and preparing myself for another attack.

"I have tried my hardest with you Hata. My Tomura begged me not to hurt you too badly. But your brattiness and disgusting, tenacious, heroic attitude has finally paid off." He stood slowly, not a single piece of weakness on him. His voice was low with rage. "I am going to kill you, whether All Might bothers to show his smiling face or not." In a flash, he was standing in front of me, tall and looming. Air caught in my throat, I scrambled away.

"F-fuck-"

"You can't run, child." As I turned, I spotted All For One's arm, swollen with unprecedented muscle, hurtling towards me. In a panic, I threw both my hands out towards him.

The crowd gasped, groaned, and yelled as they turned away.

It was so bright that I had to close my eyes.

My hands hurt.

They hurt so much.

The heat scalded every inch of uncovered skin.

I hoped the crowd was alright.

It hurts.

But I carried on going.

I carried on until the explosion spluttered, fizzling out to nothing but a spark as the power of Katsuki's quirk faded and the sweat on my forehead stopped smelling so familiar.

In my dazed, pain-filled state, I barely even registered the hand grabbing me. I moved on instinct, pulling my fist back. But I was restricted. And when the world around me stopped buzzing, I almost wished I was still in that slow moving sludge.

All For One's face was blistering, red and angry. The hand he had over my face was hot to the touch, and the one encasing my hand felt no better. He lifted me as if I were nothing, my neck clicking with the pressure. I groaned. We were both breathing in sync, long, heavy pants, as we stood in silence, completely still.

"I have been alive for hundreds of years. And you are the first person to successfully make me this... angry!" And finally, a tiny shake of emotion showed in his voice. I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you." My muffled voice was hoarse. My whole body ached, and the wound on my side was on fire, despite the bleeding finally ceasing.

"How cute." He sniffed.

And he crushed my hand.

He squeezed tight, and in less than a second, pain worse than I had ever felt in my entire life shot down my arm. Worse than my hot skin, worse than Kirishima's quirk, worse than everything I've ever felt in my life combined. Streams of blood poured out, a bright red waterfall off of my elbow. Through the numbness of the adrenaline, I could almost feel the shards of bone squishing underneath the pressure. Luckily, the crunching sound was left up to imagination. I couldn't hear it through my screams. My strangled sobs came out loud and broken, my shoulders heaving with every shaking inhale. I could barely even open my eyes through the hurt, and my lungs felt too empty yet much too full.

"Someone needs to help her!"
"I can assure you ma'am, help is on its way."

"Where the fuck is All Might?!"

"You'd think he'd be a bit quicker to save his niece of all people..."

I tried to protest the grumbles and murmurs from the people around me, but they got caught in my throat and the voices turned into a blur of background noise. Until one voice cut through them.

"Master!"

"What do you want?"

"M-master, please don't-" Tomura sounded like he'd just been running.

"Stay out of this."

"P-please, you promised you wouldn't hurt her! You promised me!" He argued stubbornly.

"I don't need to keep my promises to you." All For One spat at his protege. I begged my eyes to open. I wanted to see him. As bizarre as it sounds, I needed to see him.

"You can't kill her! She's just a child!"

"Don't be so dramatic. She is not much younger than you. That's a fine age to die for a cause."

"Well have you considered-" He faltered for a moment, before steeling himself. "That maybe she isn't old enough, but that I'm too young?" A slap ran out in the silence. And I could finally see him. His grey shaggy hair covered his eyes, but I could clearly see the mark on his cheek, red from both the impact and the speckled blood that was splattered on All For One's palm.

"You are an embarrassment to me. Leave, and I'll deal with you later." The man hissed. Shigaraki turned his gaze forward. He stood still for a moment, drinking me in with a crease of concern between his brows. I let out a long breath, feeling my pulse slow. Was this sudden calmness I felt because of him, or the lost blood?

With a resigned look, Shigaraki allowed his master to push him into a portal, likely far away from us, where he couldn't meddle any further.

"Shig-"

"And now for you." All For One seethed, turning himself back to me. "Any last words?" I let out another sigh.

"P-plus... ultra..." A sneer pulled at his lips and, in one last fit of rage before he killed me, he threw me. I rolled as I hit the floor, stopping inches away from the police tape. And I vomited.

I was more surprised that I had anything left to bring up, honestly.

"You need to pull her out! Look at her, she's done enough!" Kat's shrill voice screeched at the police officer who was blocking the path between us.

"We can't risk going in-"

"So you'll risk her life instead?" I looked up with bleary eyes.

"Hinami?"

"Midoriya?" Looking around, I matched the whisper that called to me. When I had the strength to turn my head, I was met with glistening green eyes and a tear-stained face.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He sobbed, reaching his hand slowly under the tape, not wanting to be noticed and pulled back. "It should be me. It should be me fighting him. It shouldn't be you getting hurt on our behalf again."

"Your arm." I winced as I reached to meet him in the middle. "Is it broken?" He nodded. "You can't help an injury. I'm glad you aren't out here worsening it."

"You're injured much worse than me!" He raised his voice just a little too much and the nearby officer frowned, searching for the noise source. "My power was meant for this!"

"You're right. Your power is meant for this..." I took his hand.

"No! No, no, no! You cannot borrow-"

"Please! I need to! I need to do this! Please let me borrow One For All!"

"You'll get- You can't handle it! Your arm will explode!"

"Then I'll make sure that it counts." I hardened my expression. "I can't save people with a smile, Izuku. That's your job. Save your debut for a time where you can smile sincerely." He sniffed and wiped a tear off of his cheek, straining himself into a smile.

"Hinami, I just can't let you do this."

"Then, I'm sorry."

"What-" He followed my gaze down to our touching fingers. "N-no, Hinami, Hinami wait! Hinami!" Ignoring his pleas, I pushed myself off of the ground, standing on shaky legs. I swayed dangerously. My head was spinning.

"All For One!" The villain stared at me with total contempt. Electricity crackled in the air, wrapping around my arm, stopping short at the bloody pulp that was my hand. Static filled the air as every hair on my body raised, my rugged ponytail whipping in the wind. "I said! Plus! Fucking! Ultra!" I ran forward, the power flowing through me like a rushing river. There was no pain anymore, just a weightless energy. To my surprise, All For One stepped backwards.

With all the power I could manage, I punched.

And...

Missed.

The force of the punch threw me backwards. I couldn't keep my aim steady. And so I missed...

The crowd silenced just in time to hear the cracking of my bones.

A scream ripped at my throat as my arm fell limp to my side, my sleeve shredded, showing off my purple bruised skin. I bent forward, sobs choking me. With great power came the most intense pain I had ever experienced, somehow even worse than the breaking of my hand a million times over. Was this how Midoriya felt every time he used his quirk? Someone grabbed my hair and pulled hard until I was looking up with blurry eyes, gulping in air. All For One looked down at me wordlessly. I couldn't make out his expression through my teary eyes, but I knew that he wasn't happy. His free arm became swollen with muscle and power.

"You can do it, Ray!" A small voice from the still-silent crowd pleaded, thick with emotion.

"Y-yeah! Go Ray!"

"We believe in you kid!"

"Plus Ultra, Ray!"

"Ray!"

"Ray!"

I tried to shake my head, baring my teeth in a pained grimace. They were putting all of their faith in me. Why? Didn't they see? Uncle Toshi was nowhere to be found, probably stuck somewhere, lost and alone in a powerless state. I'll never see my family again.

He isn't coming for me.

He isn't-

"Detroit.... SMASH!"

The hand supporting my weight suddenly disappeared, and my knees buckled beneath me. But before I could tumble to the floor, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and I was swept up to a great height. A much gentler voice asked me.

"Are you alright, little one?" I shook my head, unable to talk through the crying. "I'm so... Let's get you to safety." He shook his head, wiping my cheek with one soft swipe of his huge thumb.

"What took you so fucking long?" Kat screamed as I was handed to a kindly stranger in the crowd.

"My niece has done a wonderful job while I was fighting crime elsewhere. I couldn't be prouder of her debut as a hero! But now, I am here!" A cheer swept through the crowd as Uncle ignored the yelling. "And now for you, villain!"

"Come with me." The stranger spoke to Kat, adjusting their grip on me and pushing through the crowd. "The paramedics called that Recovery Girl. She's on her way with your class."

"What about Aizawa and Yamada?" Kat replied gruffly.

"They're coming too, don't worry."

"She's gone quiet. Is she okay?"

"Uh..." The voice trailed off. "She don't look too good..."

"Then fucking hurry your ass up!" Kat hissed. I batted my hand towards the noise, too weighed down by exhaustion to tell him off about his manners. "It's okay, Hina. Your parents are coming and there's an ambulance, and-"

"Chill out dude!" The mystery person tutted, before adding. "Don't worry, kiddo. We won't let anything happen to you now. You deserve the best care we can get you." The sound around me muffled as I was being spoken to, so that the only clear noises were the voices of Katsuki and this person carrying me. They seemed so familiar. I closed my eyes and leant my cheek on their cold chest.

"We'll take her from here, sir."

"Where the fuck is that old hag?"

"Recovery Girl is three minutes away."

"Is there anything we can do for her?"

"Are you family, sir?"

"Well, no-"

"I'm her boyfriend so I can stay."

"You may stay until her parents arrive, young mister. We cannot let you in the ambulance, sir."

"I understand. Ray, please get better soon. We'll be needing you." With that ominous message, footsteps marked the disappearance of the kind stranger.

"Weird dude..." Kat muttered under his breath, taking my hand as medical jargon was spouted and people prodded and poked at me. Someone forced my eye open, shining a bright light at me and humming in approval when I flinched away. "Be fucking gentle-"

"They know what they're doing, gobby." A familiar voice scolded following a hollow noise and an 'ow' from Kat. "Never call me old ever again."

"Okay, hag. Work your fucking magic already."

"It's not that easy, dearie." Something warm pressed against my shoulder. My arm and torso tingled with a pleasant warmth and a strange sensation tickled the edges of my wound. I groaned.

"Don't move, Hina. Recovery Girl is fixing you."

"Why can't you be that polite to everyone else?"

"Ow! You fucking hit me with that stick one more ti- OW!"

"Young mister, if you cannot be quiet, we will have to ask you to leave."

"WHAT?!"

"Here, sweetie. Eat this." As soon as my dry eyes fluttered open, Recovery Girl thrust a candy into my mouth. "It'll help you regain your energy so I can finish healing you. Your arm looks almost brand new other than the surface wounds! You'll just need to be careful of that gash on your ribs. It missed anything vital, but we can't have it openi- Hinami!" I stood up, taking an experimental step forward before darting out of the ambulance.

"Where the fuck are you going?!" I was unsteady, wobbling dangerously with each movement.

"She shouldn't be running with those injuries and that concussion!"

"Yeah, I fucking know! Stupid paramedic!" I hooked my leg up, sticking my foot over the door handle to the ambulance, unbothered by the bickering.

"Hinami! There you are!" I looked over my shoulder to see my friends as I reached up to the slightly open window in front of me. "What's going on with you?"

"N-nee' t' sssss-"

"Hina!" Glancing over at a seething Katsuki, I quickly hoisted myself up, throwing myself over the top of the ambulance. I landed unceremoniously, slamming my knee into the hard metal and groaning.

"What is she doing?" Kami asked shrilly. Pushing myself upwards until I was kneeling, I breathed out heavily and forced my fuzzy eyes to focus on what was happening in front of me. There were a few clunks, and a figure sat next to me, just as tense as I was. I could practically feel him vibrating with anticipation.

"What's going to happen?" Midoriya whispered, voice shaking. Weakly, I took his hand in mine. He held on tight.

The fight was nothing but a blur to my concussed brain and fatigued state. A flash of yellow hair and red costume here, a random quirk there. Dust was kicked up, swirling around the pair like a hurricane. Midoriya and I sucked in a breath simultaneously, holding it until the debris settled.

But even after the smoke cleared, a stream of fog rose off of Uncle Toshi's arms. I looked to my side. Midoriya was glassy eyed and completely pale; even his freckles looked afraid. Toshi simply grimaced before throwing himself back into the fight.

"U-Uncle..."

"He's already been in muscular form for too long today." Midoriya gulped, voice high pitched and scared. "H-he'll..." I squeezed his hand, trying to provide at least a little comfort. Mido gulped again, never tearing his eyes away from the scene before us. The scent of smoke drifted over from the fire that had caught nearby earlier. "Hinami... You were really brave. I'm really proud. And... I'm jealous." I frowned, patting his shoulder.

"M-Mido-"

"Sorry, that's- that's so silly, isn't it?" I shook my head.

"No... 'S okay." He replied with a small, watery smile, but refused to meet my eyes. We both snapped our gazes forward at the sound of murmurs and gasps swimming through the people around us.

Uncle Toshi was surrounded with steam, steadily deflating. He stood a few paces away from All For One, swaying on his feet, looking shocked. It was like someone had pressed pause. Neither man moved, and the entire scene was deafeningly quiet. Midoriya stood up, way above the crowd on top of the ambulance.

"You're sugoi, All Might! And don't forget it!" I stood beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder to steady myself. I had to push away my weakness one last time. After taking a deep breath in, I yelled at the top of my lungs.

"Don't give up, Uncle All Might! I believe in you!" Cheers started up around us as everyone plastered smiles on their faces.

"Ray's okay! So don't lose now!"

"Go All Might!"

"I know you can do it!"

"All Might, All Might!" That signature All Might Grin plastered itself across Toshi's face as the muscles grew on his arm.

"Thank you, everyone!" His voice was steady, like he had full control of the situation. He didn't. "United States of Smash!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. It was ridiculously loud. Midoroya and I were holding each other tight, jumping up and down in joy despite the tears streaming down our faces.

There he stood, in front of the entirety of Japan. Powerless, but standing regardless, his stance strong, his finger pointing directly at his protege.

You're next.

After a few moments passed, there was a rush of noise and movement. Police officers and more paramedics rushed into the scene, securing All For One and bringing Uncle away to check his injuries.

"We should probably go now. You need to finish getting checked over." Midoriya sniffed. "I'll jump us down."

"Thank you, Izuku." He didn't comment on my reply, but as he hooked my legs over his arms, I could clearly see his blushed smile.

As soon as Izuku's feet hit the floor, we were swarmed by our friends.

"Hinami!"

"Are you two alright?"

"I can't believe what just happened!"

"Are you still hurt?"

"How were you that brave?"

"Shut up everyone!" Kat growled, pushing everyone out of the way and taking my hand. "If you're going to be an irresponsible idiot, at least stay in the ambulance after." I smiled, allowing him to drag me back to the paramedics. But not before he ruffled Izuku's hair, a warm expression hidden underneath his anxious scowl.

"You'll need to go for a scan, dear. My old eyes can only see so much, you know. And doctors may want to keep an eye on that concu-"

"Hinami?" I was slumped back in the ambulance, bored as the paramedics dabbed my open wounds with various liquids and Recovery Girl inspected my arm for lasting damage. But at the sound of the voice I had been longing to hear, I sat upright.

"I'm here!"

"Oh my God, Hinami!"

"Dads!" My parents burst into the room, ignoring the protests of the paramedic next to them. My friends were close behind them, Tenya spluttering apologies to the medical staff.

"Never do something so stupid, dangerous, irr-" Father cut himself off by grabbing my cheeks and pulling me roughly towards him so that he could kiss my forehead. "Hinami, I-" He held me close, shoulders jumping as he let out a single sob. I tightened my grip around him, ignoring the dull pain in my arm.

He's right. That was dangerous! We were so worried about you. Very worried, but very, very proud. We love you. Dad signed fervently before wrapping his arms back around me, eyes glistening.

"I love you both too. I can't believe what I just did. I thought- I... I'm so sorry. I'll never do something like that again, I promise."

"You'll promise no such thing!" Father declared. "You'd better be the number one hero after that stunt, or I'll ground you." His hard expression broke into a smile, and a single tear slid down his cheek, leaving a track in the grime and dried blood.

"Not if I have anything to say about it. We all know I'll be number one!" Kat grinned playfully, though he sniffed afterwards. Father wiped his eyes as Dad reached over to the group of classmates standing in the cramped ambulance. Kami and Mina darted forward, not wanting to miss an opportunity to hug the suddenly soft Aizawa. Kat gingerly joined, and the others followed suit. Even Tenya - somewhat reluctantly - joined in. Dad wrapped an arm around them all as best he could so that we were in a big group hug.

"I love you guys!" Mina wailed.

"I love you too!" Kami responded.

"So do I!" Izuku sobbed.

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"Aw, you guys!"

"I too, love all of you."

"I am so glad to have met you all!"

"Tch, yeah. You guys ain't too bad."

"We are proud of all of you. We couldn't have asked for better students."

And there we stood, a big pile of friends and their two mentors, holding each other as tightly as possible, praying that things would finally start to look up.

~

"Because when you hit rock bottom, surely the only way to go is up?" A woman cackled, watching the scene unfold on a large screen. "That's what they'll be thinking."

"Likely, ma'am." Her butler replied amicably.

"It really is a shame to do this then, isn't it?"

"Not at all, ma'am."

"You're right." She laughed once again, high pitched and manic. "I cannot wait to see what this does to their happy little family. And I cannot wait to play with class One-A."

"Is the next step of the plan ready, ma'am?"

"Oh..." The woman picked up a picture with her perfectly manicured hand and daintily slid it into an envelope. The butler gulped, catching a glimpse of stark blue-white as sweat gathered on his brow. "She will be..."