𓆱❀𓆱

... And even more questions.

In my last struggle to stay conscious, a sudden vortex sent the water swirling. I was sucked farther into the depths. The next thing I knew, I was falling through open air.

I was sprawled out onto cool metal in a spray of water. I coughed and sputtered air through my wet lungs. Only dimly was I aware of my surroundings. My brain felt as numb as my skin. I felt a cool breeze chill my already frigid skin and knew I was outside. The pool I lay in was slowly dyed red. I could not feel my leg.

A pair of blurry red shoes crouched before me. I felt a hand lay gently upon my head. "Someday..." the word was a spoken in a hushed, barely audible whisper.

A sudden ruckus exploded around me before another word could be uttered. My body would not move as I tried to will myself to my feet. I was lifted into the air by my clothes and soon I was enveloped in a familiar smell.

"You're safe," Keigo spoke above the hustle and bustle as I was carried into his open arms. I couldn't quite make out his face through my blurry eyes. "You did well, Haru. Just rest now."

I nestled my face into his jacket to block out the clamouring noise and bright city lights, closing my eyes as the fluffy white feathers of his jacket tickled my cheeks. I could only hear the fight above the water tower for a moment before I fell to sleep.

"He's getting away...!"

I became faintly aware of fluorescent white lights glaring overhead. The smell of disinfectants flooded my nose and it wrinkled. An IV ran from my arm to a saline bag to my side. My body ached with bruises and bandaged wounds. A woman sat to my left. Her hair was long, straight white blonde, and large bunny ears poked out from her head. She grinned as she saw me awaken. "So you're the kid sister! Nice ta' meetcha."

"You're... Miruko?" My voice was hoarse and my mouth was dry. My lungs expelled a wet, aching cough. "What're you doing here?"

"Just taking over for a minute. Hawks' has a call."

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Sorry for, uh... turning your offer down. It was an honour to receive one."

She snorted. "Nah, I just wanted to meet the kid Hawks can never stop yapping about. Your wishy-washy brother pisses me the hell off, you see. I wanted a chance to get into his head. Why's he like that? — I wanted to know. When I saw you on stage at the Sports Festival it reminded me of him. I was gonna beat some real sense into ya!" She glowed with glee as she said it. A shiver ran down my spine.

I dodged a bullet, didn't I...? "Thanks..." I murmured. "Um, since you're here, would you mind giving me your autograph? A friend of mine is a big fan of yours and she'd really love one."

Miruko snorted. "You're friends with a fan of mine? And she lets you leave the house dressed in that costume?" she tutted. "What a waste of some great legs. Given your chicken-legged brother's fashion sense, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

"Some people don't enjoy walking around with their whole ass out..." I muttered.

"Why not!" she said, scrawling her name on a page from a notebook. "I work hard on my legs. I should get to show them off!"

I blinked. "I suppose I can't argue with that..." Maybe that's why the only thing Bakugo's costume shows off is his stupid glorious shoulders—

The door slammed open. Hawks paced the room irately. "Damn the Commission and damn the Chairwoman... they're a bunch of useless, bird-brained, conniving little—"

"Watch yourself, Hawks," Miruko warned. His gaze flicked our way. His pupils, thinned to slits, returned quickly to normal.

"Haru! You're awake!" Keigo bounded over to sit at my side. "You're not in too much pain, are you? I can talk to a nurse if you need help, okay? How are you feeling?"

The sight and smell of the hospital was making me sick. "I just want out of here," I said.

"I know," Keigo said, giving my arm a squeeze. "I'm working on it, okay? We'll get you back home soon."

I nodded. "What did the Commission say?"

"Ah," Hawks waved his hand dismissively, "They were just a little pissy I left in the middle of an important mission. Don't worry about it."

My brows drew together. "Sorry that you got in trouble because of me."

"Hey now don't you pull that," Keigo chided. "You fought hard, and you fought smart. I only wish I had found you sooner."

I pursed my lips. "Keigo, do you think... the Chairwoman would pay for me to get swimming lessons?"

Keigo snorted. "That's what you're worried about? Doesn't U.A. have a pool?"

"Oh! I think it does."

Keigo soon informed me Endeavor would be visiting and I could continue my internship for the next few days or return home. He apologized and had to return to his work to make up for his sudden disappearance from a mission that had gone completely haywire in his and Miruko's absence.

"That's right! Your U.A. friends are here, Akiharu," Informed Keigo on his way out. Room 236, I believe?"

I forgot about Midoriya! "Are they okay!?" I flung up in bed, causing a sharp twinge of pain from my busted ribs.

"Chillax! They're in a better state than you for the most part." Keigo gave me a quick hug and a peck on the forehead. With that, and a ruffle of my hair, he was on his way. "See you later, Chickadee!"

I quickly became bored alone in the hospital room, and slowly shifted up till I was sitting. I braced my bandaged feet against the cool tile. My legs were a little numb— I was packed full of painkillers, after all. Quietly, I made my way down the hall to room 236.

I heard a muffled voice speak softly through the door. "When I found the hero killer, I stopped being able to think," Iida spoke.

You've gotta be kidding me! It was really the Hero Killer!? It's like this world is designed to kill us!

"The first thing I should've done was tell Manual. But I forgot myself in my anger. I hate him, but he was right. That's why, until I become a true hero, I think I want to leave my left hand as it is."

"Iida, I feel the same way," Midoriya's voice echoed. "Let's become stronger... together."

After a short pause, Todoroki's voice sounded through the door. "I feel... kind of bad..."

"About what?"

"I feel like if I get involved, other people mess up their hands..."

"Eh?"

"Is it a curse?"

I yanked open the door in a fit of laughter. "Todoroki, I didn't know you could make jokes!"

"No, I'm not joking! I'm like The Hand Crusher or something... — Wait, Akiharu!"

"You're okay!" Midoriya exclaimed.

"I was worried something must've happened when you never showed up to the alley, and then I saw the news... You met Shigaraki?"

"Briefly..." I agreed "I was on the way to the alley when Kurogiri intercepted me."

"I'm glad you made it out okay!"

"You guys, too." I said. "You took down the Hero Killer?"

"Only because he was going easy on us," Midoriya murmured.

"The police just finished telling us off, actually." Todoroki explained the compromise the police had reached with them. The story was that they all got caught up in an attack with the hero killer, yet Endeavor rescued them— though their names were kept from the media. The stories about the League of Villains were overshadowed by the Hero Killer completely, which meant my name was nowhere to be seen online — thank God.

The nurses soon escorted me back to my room to complete a quick checkup to identify when it would be safe for me to return home. While I awaited Endeavor's visit, I contemplated what had happened the night before. Why had Kurogiri pulled me from the water? So I could die in open air? I recalled the way Shigaraki had gently placed his hand upon my head, careful to keep one finger from making contact.

He's a crazy villain, I told myself. There was no use trying to figure out what his intentions were.

It was toward evening when the door slid open next. "Endeavor," I greeted, my lips pressed into a thin line.

"You've been discharged from the hospital and your internship," A plainclothes Endeavor spoke plainly. "A ride will arrive soon to return you to the Commission."

He seemed about to leave, so I took my last chance. "Endeavor, sir, I was wondering if you could answer some questions?"

He glowered, sneered, and plopped angrily on the bed across from me. "Make it quick. I haven't forgotten your disrespect."

"Then why did you request for me to attend your agency?"

He waved the question dismissively. "I don't need a reason."

"You don't seem to like me, or care to bother spending time training me, and I clearly don't like you, so I can't fathom why you would want me in your building."

Endeavor moseyed through some papers in his hand. "Is your aim to interrogate me about your placement? If so, I suggest you spend your time — and mine — on something more productive."

"Fine." I picked at the seam on my hospital gown. "I'm sure you're aware that I'm an amnesiac orphan or whatever. I know very little about my past — Or about these Adamus people everyone keeps mentioning. I was told you attended U.A. with one. I wanted to ask you to please..." I bowed my head deeply. "Tell me anything you might know. Sir."

The papers crinkled as Endeavor set them on the bed. He heaved a long, bitter sigh. "I see. Don't you have someone else you can accost for this information?"

"No, Sir. People I know of your standing are... reluctant to reveal anything to me. I know it's not my place to ask this sort of favour of you, but... If you know anything about their Quirk or how they were able to get stronger, that's the sort of insight I need right now. In order to eventually surpass All Might... nobody seems able to provide that."

I slowly raised my head, and was surprised to see Endeavor's gaze had softened, even marginally. There was something unfamiliar in his eyes. Something haunted. "I only knew her during my first year at U.A.," Endeavor said. "She vanished before our second year began."

My heart dropped. "What... What happened?"

"That remains a mystery." Endeavor cleared his throat, and his eyes returned to their usual piercing gaze. "From what I know, the Adamus Quirk was an anomaly of sorts. That woman once described it to me as, the Earth tether. Some kind of umbilical cord... The phrasing was always abstract. Outwardly, it functioned like some branch of Terrakinises, but internally, it seemed far more convoluted. Something about Life as an entity, and a material substance. Well, the Adamus were known for being secluded, even as a family of prolific heroes, so there's no solid documentation of their quirk. At least, none that I know of."

"I see." I looked at my hands, flexing them. Life— The tether. "That's very helpful, thank-you."

"Is that all?"

I fiddled with the cuff of my sleeve. "Can I ask... What was she like?"

"Odd," Endeavor said. "Not unlike most Adamus. She was detached from the modern world. She only ate her own home-grown food and was always fostering some kind of plant or animal. She spoke often about how much she loved the mountains and dreamed of starting a family on Sekoto Peak. She sang this same melody when she thought no one was listening—" His beard flared suddenly with red hot flame. "Now, stop it with the questions! I have important work to do. The Commission has sent somebody to pick up your stuff and will be here shortly. That is all!"

I bowed my head as he thundered through the hospital door. "Thanks for your help, sir."

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2070 words

Hmm... Now what could all of this mean...