Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

Noa didn’t start living until she was six years old.

The story begins in a cell— a dark, cold, and desolate place, shoved deep in the heart of a secluded stone building. She layed in a ball on the concrete floor, limbs tucked tightly against her body. Shivers rolled down her spine. She pulled her tattered dress across the meager expanse of her shoulders, stretching the soiled white fabric tight enough against her skin to add even the slightest amount of pressure.

Despite the effort, her limbs still shook uncontrollably. The noise of her chattering teeth bounced off the concrete walls like a malicious echo. Clouds of breath puffed out in front of her face with every exhale.

The sound of clacking footsteps approached, and Noa’s eyes widened. The breath caught in her throat. The shivering ceased abruptly– her entire body froze, becoming stiller than a corpse. She willed her heart to stop beating in her chest.

The footsteps grew nearer and louder until a sleek pair of black dress shoes stopped in front of the iron bars.

Ice-cold fear ran fast through Noa’s body. She knew what those shoes meant; knew that if someone was coming to retrieve her, it could only be bad. She deeply hoped that her stationary performance was good enough to make her disappear from view completely, but the effort was in vain. She was visible, there was no denying it.

A metallic clink echoed down the hall as the cell was unlocked, and any hope poured out of Noa at once. She deflated, knowing what was bound to happen and knowing that resistance was futile.

She let herself be scooped up roughly, thrown around and dragged down the hallway by the stranger in a crisp black suit. The hands that were clasped around her wrist dug into her bones, the calloused skin rubbing hers raw. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she held in any sound of pain or protest, stumbling along as best she could.

It wasn't long before they approached a large metal door, which slowly creaked open at their arrival. Noa was thrown into the room, palms landing on the linoleum with a slap.

The nameless man left just as silently as he had arrived, the door clicking shut behind him.

Bitter antiseptic flooded her nostrils, and she grimaced at the familiar smell. The room was cold and sterile, entirely white and entirely spotless. It was inherently clinical, like a consultation room in a doctor’s office. Noa knew it well.

There was a small exam table with a paper covering, and a desk across from it, with a computer and a swiveling chair. In it was a man sitting with his back facing Noa. Waiting. The dusty silver hair tapering at the nape of his neck was more familiar than anything she’d ever known.

The sight would never leave her.

“Good morning.” He said slowly. “How are you feeling today?”

The sound of his unnaturally smooth voice rang through the room and grated against her ears. The false cheeriness made her skin crawl.

Slowly, the chair spun around with a creak. Master looked the same as he always did— happy to speak with her. The facade was well constructed; the smile on his face and relaxed posture, the kindness he was forcing himself to exude. But the cruel, downturned lines around his mouth, the dark shadows subtly shrouding his expression, and the glint in his eyes always gave him away. His face was marred with the violent stain of his actions.

Master raised his eyebrows expectantly, waiting with fabricated patience for an answer. Noa blinked, gathering herself.

“I’m doing good, sir.” She stumbled out quietly, her voice wavering. “Thank you.”

She couldn't help the fear that coursed through her entire body, couldn't help the dreadful hopelessness that his presence evoked.

“Good.” Master smiled warmly. It felt like being burned alive.

“We have a big day ahead of us, Seventeen. Do you know why?”

Noa was caught off guard by the question— he didn’t usually make her guess. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she shook her head.

Master clapped his hands together with another searing smile. “We will accomplish a great feat today, little one. We are finally going to utilize your purpose.”

Noa blinked, confused. “My purpose?”

“Quite.” He answered, nodding. He opened his arms and beckoned Noa over with deceitful affability, still smiling. She suppressed a shiver and pushed herself off the floor. Her gaze was trained on the tiles as she slowly stepped toward him.

“Now, let’s have a look—” He said, gently placing two fingers under her chin. He tilted her face toward the light, gazing at her attentively. “It should be done manifesting by now, if that doctor’s half of what he’s worth…”

He turned her face underneath the fluorescents. The grip on either side of her jaw tightened more and more until her teeth were scraping the inside of her cheeks. He let go and moved to her hands, turning them over and back again, running his rough fingers over Noa’s small, sweaty palms.

He inspected the rest of her outer extremities in a similar fashion, mumbling incoherently to himself as he checked her wrists and ankles and elbows. He gently probed a burn scar on her arm that had freshly healed, humming contentedly at the progress. He tested her reflexes, checked her vitals, and gave her a full physical work up.

This much was routine, but not exactly a frequent one. It didn't take long for Noa to fall into the familiar lull of being the test subject. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, letting the quiet haze of acquiescence cloud her mind as he poked and prodded her. Examination was by far the most tame out of all Master’s activities– this was almost nice in comparison to everything else. She would be a fool to complain.

When he was finally finished with his assessment, he took half a step back and clapped his hands together. Another smile spread over his face, but this one seemed…different, somehow. Sinister in the way his eyes glinted, but genuine in the way his cheeks raised. Noa had never seen a more authentic display of emotion from the man.

“It’s ready.” He breathed with exhilaration.

The chair pushed back and Master stood up, stepping closer. Noa flinched out of habit, but forced her feet to stay planted. Her muscles tensed as he picked her up, sliding his hands underneath her armpits and lifting her onto the table. The white paper crinkled underneath her legs. Her heart was hammering in her ears with deafening anticipation.

“This procedure is going to be very important,” Master said, pulling a rolling stool between his legs and sitting in front of her. “But it won’t be very pleasant. I need you to stay as still as possible for me. Can you do that?”

Wide-eyed and scared, Noa nodded. She just hoped whatever experiment he was conducting this time would be over quickly. He rose from the stool and stood directly in front of her, his tall frame towering over the table. He put a bracing hand on her shoulder, and raised the other to firmly grasp Noa’s forehead. The feeling of his fingers splayed over the top of her skull made her stomach turn.

She waited with bated breath for the procedure to start, muscles tensed tight enough to snap. Her eyes squeezed shut as she felt his power flow through the palm of his hand and into her skull.

The effect was immediate. Master’s presence invaded her own conscience like a parasite. His power burned. It coursed through her veins, infecting her bloodstream, traveling all the way to the epicenter of her being. She felt him wrap around her heart, twisting and squeezing the tender muscle until it was sore and painful.

Only, there seemed to be a sort of barrier between her heart and his power. A different, lighter presence was shielding the muscle like a plaster cast. It was intertwined with her blood vessels, genetically bonded into the very sinew of her aorta. It was light and bright and blue and pure.

It was her. Her soul, her essence, her being.

Noa had never been aware of the presence before, but now that Master had highlighted it, she felt it’s serenity so deeply that the pain of his own quirk was almost bearable. The light was a cushion, a defensive layer between her heart and the invasive darkness trying to overtake it.

Then something happened. The light faltered, just for a second. It was so fast she almost missed it, but Master’s power was fast-acting. It took that chance and poured itself into the pureness, corroding away the light. It was a deep, violent red color, and spread across the blue until it was completely overtaken.

After it had seized the entirety of her essence, the red vanished, leaving her barren.

Noa gasped, her eyes flying open. The visualization of her anatomy vanished.

Master had let go of her, his palm leaving a sickeningly warm trace on her skin in it’s wake. Noa was panting, her eyes still wide as saucers. Tears were beginning to brim, and she wasn't sure why.

The only thing she was sure of was the omnipotence of absence. The light was gone.

When she was created, a sliver of that presence had been placed into her being. As she grew, the rest of her wrapped around it, in the same way that skin laces itself back together over an open wound. It grew with her. Her body had accepted it with open arms and integrated it into every fiber— it was a part of her just as much as her lungs or ribs. It was so deeply intertwined that she hadn’t even noticed its growth, or its existence at all. Her flesh had unconsciously molded around it without question.

When the light was taken, it left a gaping hole where it used to be.

It had only been seconds since she’d been aware of its presence, but now she felt the weight of its absence like the crushing force of gravity.

She pressed her hand against her chest, applying pressure to try and fill the void. Her shoulders rose and fell underneath her palm as she continued to gasp for air. The feeling wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard she tried to bury it. The emptiness was pervasive. It was angry. And it was consuming her from the inside out. She couldn't force air into her lungs fast enough.

Before she started to hyperventilate, something caught her attention, distracting from the panic.

Master had made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded vaguely like a pleased hum. When she looked up at him, he was still standing in front of her, but his focus was diverted. His eyes were trained on his palm, wide and dilated, his lips parted as a breathless smile spread across his face.

He seemed…brighter than before. A faint glow radiated from his skin, like he’d been rejuvenated, given a fresh breath of life. The increase in power and change in demeanor was palpable.

Noa looked down at her own hand, feeling that same emptiness come back tenfold. She wanted the light back. She had hardly been able to experience it for a millisecond before it was stolen.

Alongside the hollow feeling came a different sensation, one she couldn't quite recognize. It teetered on the edge of violence. Her skin felt hot. Her brows flattened into a firm line.

“What did you take?” She said, looking up. Her voice was hard in a way she hadn't heard before.

Master startled a bit, as if remembering she was there. His eyes lifted to her, and his mouth dropped from an elated smile to a cruel scowl. A large portion of his face became shadowed. His eyes tightened with a threatening air, and Noa’s stomach plummeted. Her brows slackened.

She had spoken out of turn. Not only that, she all but demanded an answer from him. Repercussions were bound to ensue.

“What I’ve taken isn't important to you.” He spat harshly. Noa flinched. “You’ve served your purpose and pleased me for today. That’s all you need to know.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor. She frowned, but knew better than to continue her feeble protest. Her luck had been pushed enough.

Noa picked at her fingernails, scraping at the jagged flesh around the cuticle of her thumb. A prick of blood sprang up from the torn edge as she pulled back a strip of skin. She enjoyed the way it stung— it seemed to combat the emptiness.

How could she get that light back? It was all she could think about.

Master squatted down so he was in Noa’s line of vision. His expression softened, small enough to almost be genuine. It was clear he was trying to placate her.

“I’m sure you must be feeling some sense of…loss.” He said. “Am I right?”

She nodded, looking at the floor.

“That's not such a good feeling, is it?” He asked in a soft tone.

Gentle as he may have seemed, there was an underlying twinge of vengefulness that Noa didn't quite understand. In the past, it felt like somehow, Master was making her pay for someone else’s mistakes. This time it felt specific. Targeted. He was trying to make her feel the loss he must have felt at some point.

He may have hidden it well, but his empathy was malicious.

Noa shook her head. It surely was not a good feeling.

Master smiled tightly. “Well, luckily for you, I happen to consider myself a generous person.”

Noa kept her expression stone cold, frightened of showing her conflicting opinion. Generous was a far cry from the adjectives she would’ve used to describe him.

Master blinked at her, irritated with her lack of response. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Noa looked down at the floor and nodded. Master cleared his throat. She glanced up and saw him glaring at her, arms crossed over his chest.

“Yes, sir.” She stumbled out.

“Okay,” Master took a deep breath, exhaling with a tight smile. “Since I’m so generous, I’ve decided to repay you for your…sacrifice.”

Noa’s eyes widened in confusion. “Really?”

This was unexpected. Almost immediately, she was suspicious of an ulterior motive. Master wouldn't just give her something freely— there was bound to be a catch of some sort.

Then Master’s colorless eyes flashed a bright vermillion. It was so quick Noa might’ve thought she’d imagined it. His neck twitched, making his head lurch slightly to the side. His eyes flickered again. The tendons around his throat rippled as he fought off another spasm. It seemed as if he was fighting against himself.

“Yes.” He said once the fit subsided, his voice strained. “I am giving you a new power to replace the one I’ve permanently borrowed.”

Noa didn't believe him at all. Now she was certain of an ulterior motive.

“...Why?” She asked hesitantly, refusing to meet his eyes as she spoke out of turn once more. Master’s eyes flashed again, but she didn't see it.

“Don’t ask questions.”

The demand was one Noa was used to hearing. What shocked her was his voice. She couldn't tell what the change was, but he sounded different. That voice was not his own.

The sentence seemed more like an urgent warning than a command.

What happened next was so fast Noa could hardly make sense of it. Master took hold of her forehead and shoulder like he did minutes prior, and shoved his power in with the force and speed of a meteor. That same red zapped into her psyche and burrowed its way to the vacancy in her heart, pouring itself into the mold. Thick black ooze started filling up the hole, and it burned the muscles in her chest.

She wasn't empty anymore, but so disgustingly full she felt like she could burst.

When she was released from his power, it felt like being doused in ice water. Her eyes flew open, her lungs heaving as she gasped for air. She looked up as her chest rapidly rose and fell, eyes wide. Master looked more tired than before, his skin considerably duller, but he was still watching her with rapt attention.

Noa couldn't breathe. No matter how fast she gulped in oxygen, she couldn't get enough to regulate her system. Her hands started to shake, which spread to her arms, and soon enough her whole body was trembling. She could feel that strange black substance spreading throughout her body, pouring itself into her veins. It burned like acid.

Black spots started to cloud her vision, and grew so large that she was blinded. Her eyes rolled back, and all the strength vanished from her body. She fell onto the exam table, her spine pressed against the crinkled paper. The trembling increased until she was fully convulsing, saliva leaking out the side of her mouth.

Master’s expression didn’t move as he watched her seize in front of him on the table. He slowly reached up and rolled Noa on her side, but otherwise made no attempt to ease the episode. He continued watching intently as her body shook and spasmed. Confusion clouded his mind, and his brows grew a crease in the middle.

Why had he given her that power in the first place?

𖤐✰

Noa was back in the cell when she woke up.

The cold was as bitter as ever, and she drew her legs up to her chest. As she held herself together, blinking at the iron bars in front of her, the previous events slowly came back. The shameless theft, the malicious gift. The seizure. A shiver ran down her spine at the recollection, and a new wave of emotions rippled with it.

When the tide receded, she noticed with a shock that her left wrist had a dark sort of shadow over it. She squinted, trying to make out the shape of it in the dim light of the cell. It winded and twisted over the lower part of her forearm, and came to a point at one end, a blunt nose at the other in a vague head shape. She could just barely see scaling details on its leathery back. It was a snake, and it was stamped into her skin.

Noa didn’t know what to think of it. The reminder was only indicative of her loss.

She still had no clear idea what it was that she lost, but she knew that she wanted it back. She knew that living without it was painful. She knew that whatever foreign power Master had placed inside of her, whatever snake he’d branded into her wrist, she resented it. Anything that came from that man was tainted with evil.

‘Not exactly.’

Noa practically jumped out of her skin. She bolted upright and whipped her head from side to side, trying to figure out where the voice came from.

‘Alright calm down, dude. It’s just me.’

She looked around again, frantic. No one was there. The cell was barren as always.

It took a few seconds for her to realize that the voice hadn’t echoed even a little bit. Her cell was cramped enough to reverberate even the slightest of sounds, so if this voice didn’t echo, it must be in her head.

“Who are you?” She said anxiously. The words had come out louder than intended, but had the proper reverberation. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “How are you talking to me?”

Noa blinked as she waited for an answer, but all she heard was static silence. It felt silly talking to herself. Her eyes darted blindly around the room. Was she imagining things?

‘Unfortunately not.’ They said in response to her thoughts. ‘I’m very real. A gift from the one you call Master.’

The mention put a bitter taste in Noa’s mouth.

“Why are you here.” She demanded.

‘I don’t know, kid.’ They said in response, defeated. ‘And I’m sorry for that. But right now we need to focus on breaking us out of here.’

The frustration of not knowing was fleeting. Noa’s eyes widened as the words seeped in. She blinked. The sentence seemed to have zapped her brain. It had never occurred to her to even attempt an escape, and the revelation was shocking enough to make her speechless for a few seconds. A spark of hope lit in her chest.

Then her sense returned, and doubt crept in.

It won’t work. She thought, discouraged. I can't make it out of here without him stopping me, and I’ll be in big trouble once he does.

She had forgotten to speak aloud, and was slightly shocked when they responded anyway.

‘You haven't seen what I can do.’

Though they weren’t visible, their demeanor felt almost mischievous. Excited.

That miniscule sliver of hope came back, but Noa was puzzled. She tried to make a choice while thinking about it as little as possible, so they wouldn't be aware of her decision making.

Whoever this was, they were clearly confident in their abilities to escape. Noa trusted that much. What she didn't trust was them. How could she be sure they weren't acting under orders from Master? How could she be sure they wouldn't hurt her as soon as she was free? They came from him, so there must be something they have planned. More ulterior motives.

‘I’m not working for that pig.’ They said, startling her. Their voice was cold and hard and stern.

Noa’s face turned sheepish when she realized they’d heard her. A nerve had clearly been struck. She squeaked out an ashamed apology, and could’ve sworn she felt them sigh.

‘It’s fine. I can't really blame you for your hesitance, can I? I wouldn't trust me either.’

There was a short beat of silence. Noa was conflicted on how to feel about this new presence. It was strange, and scary. She wanted to know more before forming a concrete opinion.

What’s your name?

They almost seemed surprised by the question. ‘Um— Hebi. I’m Hebi.’ An awkward beat of silence. ‘Hi.’

Hello.

Another beat of silence. Hebi mumbled something about hating introductions, then made an uneasy kind of sound, like they were clearing their throat. ‘Now that that’s out of the way, we’re leaving. Get up.’

Noa’s eyes glowed red, illuminating the cell. Her legs moved of their own accord, and she looked down in surprise as she stood up without moving a muscle. The sensation faded once her feet were firmly planted on the floor, legs holding steady underneath her weight.

Hebi had just made her stand up all on their own.

Under different circumstances, Noa might’ve questioned how they were able to do so. She might’ve wondered just how far that power could stretch, what their full capabilities were.

But there was no time for questions.

Hebi worked fast. Noa’s palms started tingling, and then burning, turning bright pink and raw as black venom came oozing out of her pores. She wiped her hands across the iron bars of the cell, and they disintegrated almost immediately with a sizzle, leaving a gaping hole in the center. Tentatively, Noa peeked her head through and looked to either side. When she saw that the coast was clear, she carefully stepped over the melted bars.

The hallway was different than it had looked from her cell. She’d spent countless days studying the walls from the outside, the floor and the few visible square feet, but now that she was standing on the other side of the bars, it seemed to be framed in a different light. It was cold and grey, made solely out of concrete, much like everything else there, but it wasn't as dark, or as desolate as the cell. Fluorescent lights flickered overhead, spaced out enough to keep the hallway dim.

Noa’s heart was beating out of her chest. Her lungs were heaving with fear and anticipation. She’d never been outside alone before.

Well— almost alone.

‘Ready?’

Noa took a deep, shaky breath in. Her hands were trembling.

Someone could walk out at any moment. Master could retrieve her in the blink of an eye and serve the worst punishment he’d ever given. Anything could happen. Every possible thing that could go wrong was angrily swirling around in her head, screaming at her to abandon her attempt at escape. It would just end up worse for her in the long run.

But then, through all that noise, was a hushed, calm whisper that tunneled its way through her conscience.

Go, it urged.

Run.

The noise stopped. Noa had the retroactive realization that this place had never been even remotely close to a home— it was merely the placenta that housed her. She had never been alive, not in any way that mattered. Her escape would be her true birth. She was in the corridors of her creator’s womb, waiting to be delivered.

It had been less than a full second since Hebi asked if she was ready. The decision, though carefully calculated, had been made almost immediately. Noa’s brows set in determination, and she inhaled steadily— the first easy breath she’d ever taken. The air in her lungs was just as rejuvenating as if she’d been experiencing it for the first time. It was so clear it almost burned.

Without another second to waste, she took off running down the hallway. She had never used her muscles in such a way, but the foreign sting of exercise was surprisingly pleasant. She willed her legs to move faster.

She hadn't gotten more than ten feet past the cell when the sirens started blaring. The fluorescents shut off, shrouding the building in darkness, and bright red strobe lights started flashing. Noa’s eyes grew wide. She set her jaw and turned her speed up to full gear. As dangerous and frightening as it was, she couldn't help but think she made the right choice in at least trying to escape.

What she didnt know is that she would've been running regardless. Hebi had complete control of her body, and fully intended on moving her by force if need be. Their power spread and flowed through her legs, pushing her past the average speed of any human, her eyes bright red and flickering as the power ebbed. The flashing lights became a blur, the window at the end of the hallway getting closer by the second.

The sound of boots pounding against the linoleum started when she was halfway there. There were multiple pairs by the sound of it, a medium sized squadron sent for retrieval. They chased after her, but gained little speed in comparison. Hebi pushed even faster.

Noa’s bare feet slapped against the linoleum, pounding the flesh and bones under her weight, but she could hardly feel it. She was almost there— the window wasn't more than twenty feet away by now. Escape was so close she could feel it on her taste buds. The womb was closing, crushing and cramping her as it made its last push, throwing her through the glass cervix of the building.

A door opened at the same time Noa launched herself at the window. Time slowed. Glass splintered all around her with a crash, and there was just enough time for Hebi to rotate her body before she started to fall. She looked through the shattered window midair, eyes wide and prepared to see the group that was chasing after her.

She wasn't prepared for the shaggy head of powder blue hair that peeked through the open door, red eyes blown open. The pupils shook, and the waterline moistened, and gravity pulled Noa away.

She was so shocked at the sight that she nearly forgot she had jumped out of a building. The wind blew against her back as she fell through the air, shards of glass falling down with her, clinging to her clothes, creating shallow scratches in her skin. She couldn't see it, couldn't feel it in her dazed state. She couldn't think.

Those eyes… the betrayal in them… the trembling vermillion. The sight was branded into her retinas.

Her arm snapped up and her head jerked back, her entire body lurching. Hebi had shot a black snake out of her hand at the last second, and it attached to the building, working effectively as a grappling hook. Noa was slingshotted by the change in momentum, and bounced like a bungee jumper, her neck snapping backward unnaturally.

She had been centimeters away from splattering her skull on the pavement.

She hung there for a second, dangling from the building, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She had come so close to death, but by the grace of some higher power, she made it. Hebi released the snake and Noa dropped to the ground, the pavement hard underneath her back.

She allowed herself another second, just one, as she layed on the concrete. Shards of glass dug into the flesh of her back, but she let it be. The outside world was so completely different that the pain wasn't even noticeable.

The biggest thing was the brightness. She had seen the window from afar before, and wondered what the bright light was, but she could never have been prepared for the real thing. Experiencing the power of the sun for the first time bordered on a religious experience. The sheer amount of light had her eyes squeezing shut, then slowly opening to a squint as they adjusted. She could vaguely make out a huge glowing orb in the sky, almost white in color, it was so bright. Black spots lingered in her vision when she blinked.

A pleasant shiver ran down her spine, warmth that she had never felt in her life seeping into her frozen, brittle bones.

Then a number of masked faces appeared, looming over the broken window, and Noa snapped out of it. She sprung up immediately and took off running, not caring about the glass or the sun or even the men who might still be chasing her. She was confident enough that her new power would be able to outrun them. All she was worried about was putting as much distance between herself and that wretched building as physically possible.

Her bare feet pounded on the cement, skin slapping against stone painfully. She didn't look back once. Not even when the sight of those screaming red eyes flashed in her mind.

𖤐✰

With almost zero concept of time, Noa didn't know how long she ran for— but she knew it was a while. Her entire body felt like it could collapse at any moment, but she never stopped pushing, not until she felt that she was finally far enough away. She spared a glance behind her, seeing nothing but a street, and slowed to a walking pace. Her chest was heaving up and down, sweat covering a large portion of her limbs. She had never exercised that much in her life.

While she was running, all she had was tunnel vision. She set her sights on the sidewalk in front of her and didn't stop running, didn't let herself see any of the world around her. Now that she had a free moment to look around, she was shell-shocked. The heat of the sun and the sharpness of the fresh air was still new, but Noa was very slowly starting to get used to it. What she was surprised by was everything else.

Bright green leaves hung on thin branches, traveling down to thick trunks of bark rooted into the ground. Noa knew this was called a tree. Her friend had described them to her before, but the real thing was so much better than she could have ever imagined.

Her friend…

The reminder felt like a punch in the stomach. Her heart sank, and she stopped walking, turning back around in the direction she came from. She stood there for a second, allowing herself nothing more. Tears brimmed her eyes as she looked down the tree-lined street. It wasn't as beautiful now.

She had left him there.

Noa grit her teeth, and shoved the guilt down, deep into her chest. There was no time to tell him, to try and help him escape with her. Even if there had been, she didn't think that he would've even wanted to leave. He didn't know any better, but his loyalty was fully devoted to Master.

Noa forced the tears back in and turned around, continuing her journey with no clear end.

She marveled at the trees some more as she walked, marveled at the blueness of the sky and the puffy clouds of cotton. A bird flew off of a branch, soaring overhead. Noa looked at its wings, the color of its feathers, the way its body moved in flight. It let out a happy chirping sound as it made its way across the sky and out of her line of vision. Behind the trees, small patches of bright green grass were shaking their blades in the wind.

Her eyes closed peacefully as she took in a deep breath, still walking. She liked the way the air smelled— fresh and natural, like the scent of the grass and trees around her. A breeze blew by, brushing locks of sweaty black hair away from her neck. She enjoyed the cooling sensation that came with it.

Then a rumbling started in the distance, far enough away that it took a few seconds for the sound to register. Her eyes opened in alarm. She couldn't place what it was, but she could tell it was getting closer. Her heart started thundering. It could be anyone. That noise could mean anything. He could be anywhere.

A beam of sunlight reflected off a far away object, and blinded Noa for a moment. She blinked away the spots in her vision to see a dark blue machine rolling towards her, the noise getting louder. It flew by her quickly, the circles underneath it spinning so fast that she hardly noticed them moving at all. A gust of wind whirled her hair around as the vehicle receded into the distance.

Noa had no idea what that was, but it was loud, and it scared her. Overall though, she was grateful that it hadn’t seemed to be phased. Master wasn't coming back for her. Not yet.

She continued like that for miles, wandering down the sidewalk in a dazed state, switching back and forth from marveling at the world around her, and looking over her shoulder, panicking that she would be recaptured. It wasn't long before the bottom of her feet turned even more raw, sore, and covered in blood and grime.

Hours passed.

Noa’s legs were about to give out when a large stone building came into view, windows traveling all the way up the length of the structure. The same sound she heard before seemed to surround the place, but louder somehow. The strength returned to her legs, and she slowed to a stop.

Where did she go from there?

She looked to either side, wondering what lay behind those trees. Did she hide there, or go investigate the building? She was paralyzed by the choice, completely torn.

If she went into the woods, it would most likely just be more aimless walking. If she went forward, it could be anything. She could find some kind of help, or she could end up in a worse situation than before.

Noa grit her teeth, deciding to trudge ahead and take her chances.

The closer she got, the louder the noise became. More buildings came into view, city streets and lines of shops and stores. Vehicles of all different shapes and colors and sizes were covering the road like giant ants, honking occasionally and revving engines. People bustled across the sidewalk, pushing past each other, not paying attention to anything other than their destinations.

Noa stood at the end of an alleyway, her eyes blown wide open. She was starting to hyperventilate. The noise, the people, the cars— it was all so new, so loud. So terrifying. She squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her hands over her ears and squatting down, placing her head between her knees. Tears gathered around her closed eyelids as she struggled to control her breathing.

Then she heard a whimper through her cupped hands. It sounded pained, hoarse. She looked up, eyes wide. There was a dog a few feet down the alleyway, some kind of mutt collapsed behind a dumpster and covered in dirt.

Noa sniffed, wiping her nose as the tears subsided. She hobbled over to the animal, staying low and crouched down so as not to intimidate it. She stayed a safe distance away, but sat there looking at the dog with interest.

It looked up at her approach, and its eyes were terrified at first. It was trembling. Then it pushed itself against the wall and growled at her, baring its teeth. It seemed to be protecting its leg, and when Noa looked, it seemed mangled, likely broken. There was a gash running across its side, bleeding and festering with bacteria.

She grew repulsed and sorry all at once. She felt a sense of empathy for the poor thing. There was fear of course— the dog could attack at any moment, but the sorrow outweighed any hesitation. She reached her hand up an inch at a time, moving so slowly and painstakingly that it started to cramp.

The dog’s trembling got worse, and it pressed itself even further into the wall. Noa’s sorry expression deepened. It was so scared. She took a steady breath, digging deep in her soul for any sense of courage she could find.

Her hand moved another inch, and the growling got louder. Another inch. Long white teeth protruded from its lips. Another inch.

The dog snapped at her, its teeth clamping down just in front of her hand. It could have bitten her if it wanted.

Noa jumped reflexively, so startled that she fell back a bit, landing on her bottom. She pushed herself back with her hands and feet, putting at least a yard between herself and the dog. Her back pressed into a wall, and the dog ducked its head under its good leg, covering its face with a whine.

A sound of surprise came from behind her, and Noa jumped three feet forward, a strangled scream escaping her lips.

She turned around to see a tall figure standing before her, and her eyes grew wide as saucers. It wasn’t a wall she ran into.

She scrambled back fast, considerably more frightened than she was of the dog. Surely Master had come back. He’d found her. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head, flinching away, bracing herself for whatever impact would come.

It never did.

She inched her eyes open slowly, hesitant to let her guard down.

The man she saw was not the man she knew. Master was still gone.

The relief was almost miniscule. There was still a stranger looming over her. He had black boots on, and dark pants to match. Noa’s eyes traveled up, and she realized his whole outfit was dark. The glow of the sun behind him illuminated a head of long wavy hair, but shadowed his face.

Slowly, he squatted down, coming closer to her eye level. Noa scooted back further.

“Woah, woah, hey.” A soft voice cooed. “It’s okay.”

Noa stared at him. It was hard to make out his face with the sun behind him, but she could vaguely see a light stubble over his chin, a long, straight nose, and scraggly black hair. His eyes were dark, but undeniably kind.

He reached his hand out. Noa inched back again.

“It’s okay.” He repeated, his expression softening. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Noa watched him reach toward her again with wide eyes, and her chest rose and fell, but she didn't move.

“Can I help you up?” The man said, holding his hand out.

Noa hesitated, and dipped her chin down in the smallest form of communication she could manage. When he stood up, he did so slowly. She stared at the hand, then looked up at its owner, the man towering over her. His soft, harmless expression hadn't changed, though his eyebrows slackened ever so slightly. Noa looked down and held her hand up toward his. He gently took hold of it and painstakingly helped her stand.

“Are you okay?” Asked the stranger, squatting back down to her eye level. “Are you hurt?”

She stared at him. He looked concerned, an emotion Noa was largely unfamiliar with. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She didn't want to answer— didn't feel like she could speak even if she wanted to.

Instead, she turned and pointed to the collapsed dog five feet away. It cowered and whimpered into the wall again as the two pairs of eyes locked on its mangled form.

“Oh no,” The stranger said sadly. “Hold on, okay?”

He placed a tender hand on Noa’s shoulder, giving her a careful look before he turned toward the dog and approached it slowly.

The mutt whimpered some more, but strangely enough, didn’t growl at the man's approach. It was trembling, blood seeping slowly out of the wound on its stomach and matting its fur. Noa could see the outline of its ribs so clearly that she had a vivid idea of what its skeleton looked like underneath the thin layer of skin.

“You poor thing.” The man muttered as he gently laid a hand on the dog's head and brushed back its ears. Another whimper sounded as he pet its head once more.

The man looked at its wounds, assessing them quickly and turning to Noa when he was finished. “I’m gonna need you to look away for a second, kiddo.” He said to her softly. “Go ahead and turn around so you’re facing the wall, okay? Cover your eyes. Can you do that for me?”

Noa nodded and complied. She heard some shuffling, like he was rummaging through his pockets, and another whimper from the dog. Knowing she was being disobedient, and terrified of the repercussions but intrigued enough to follow through, she peeked her head over her shoulder.

Her expression stayed flat as she watched the man cast his hand over the dog's head again. Something silver glinted in the other one. He gently turned the mutt's face to expose its neck, and reached up, pushing the silver object in slowly. A strangled cry came from the dog's mouth and cut off abruptly.

Noa didn't flinch. She watched blood pour out of the wound, pooling on the pavement in a thick, rich maroon color. The man turned around, and his eyes widened when he saw she was looking. Noa took a step back, certain that she would be punished, regardless of the man's kindness.

“Shit.” He muttered before speaking to Noa. “I’m sorry you had to see that. He just— he’s hurt. He would've been worse off if I didn't-”

Noa nodded. She understood what the man was trying to say, understood why he did what he did. He put the dog out of its misery, sparing it from any more suffering. He’d shown it mercy— a complex sort of kindness. Noa knew personally that death was better than living a life wounded and in pain.

She became aware of an odd, alien sense of respect for the man and his mercy. Her eyes flicked back and forth between his dark figure and the dog dying behind him.

“Here,” He said, standing. He held an arm out, beckoning her over. “Come this way.”

Noa went easily, staring at the blood on the pavement absentmindedly as she walked. When the dog was out of sight, hidden behind the dumpster, the man stopped walking, and she followed suit. He squatted down again, looking in her eyes. He still seemed worried, concerned.

“Can you tell me your name?” He asked softly. Noa stared at him, and blinked a few times. She’d only ever been addressed by her number, seventeen. She didn't know if she even had a name.

“That’s okay,” The man assured, noticing the slight panic building behind her eyes. “We’ll figure it out soon enough, alright? Don't worry.”

Slowly, the feeling died down, and Noa actually started to believe him. Oddly enough, she trusted him— at least as much as she could trust anybody after the place she’d just escaped. Reliance on a stranger was a foreign, scary feeling, and it made her uneasy. Realistically, he could turn at any second, but she honestly had no reason to believe that he really would. He’d been kind enough to the dog.

She nodded, and a faint smile crossed the man’s lips. He gave her a once over, seeming to assess her. His eyes lingered on her right arm.

“Can I see?” He said gently, reaching his hand out, but allowing her the choice to take it or not. She hesitantly complied, raising her arm. He took it in his hands, handling it with a foreign sort of tenderness as he turned it slightly, looking at the gash running up her elbow. It was fresh, and oozing blood— likely from the window.

There were older, similar marks around it, but they were faded and in varying shades of pink. Her entire body was comprised of scars like these.

The man's expression softened into something akin to sorrow, his brows slackening. “Geez, kid. I'm sorry.” He said sympathetically. “That must hurt.”

Noa nodded, but averted her gaze. Admitting to the pain would have been seen as weakness in Master’s eyes, a punishable offense.

“Do you think you could let me take you somewhere safe?” The man asked. Noa looked back up, seeing sincerity somewhere in him.

“We need to get these wounds checked out, if that’s okay.” He said with a smile. “I bet you’ll feel a lot better once you get patched up.”

Noa continued to stare at him, not blinking. His eyes were a deep charcoal gray, but filled with so much kindness that they weren’t even comparable to Master’s. Tired lines rimmed his brows and lids, creating a vague purple shape underneath his eyes, and the stubble on his chin was just barely starting to poke through. She noticed a long piece of white fabric coiled around his neck.

Noa was still hesitant. So far, the man had given her every reason to trust him and none to fear him. She truly didn't believe that he would hurt her. But simply being in his presence, and going with him to a new location, were two different things. He could bring her anywhere. His sincerity could be a facade to lure her somewhere awful, or worse, back to Master.

“You must be pretty scared, huh?” The man asked knowingly. Noa blinked as he sat on the ground and folded his legs over one another, looking at her with that same assuring expression. “Something tells me it's been a long time since anyone’s offered you some help. Am I right?”

Noa looked at the pavement, ashamed, but nodded.

“So an introduction would probably be good, huh?”

She didn’t know what to say.

“Well first off, I’m a hero, do you know what that means?” He asked.

Noa’s eyes widened, and she nodded again. That was one thing she knew, heroes. The word had been spit from Master’s mouth so often, and with so much disdain, that she had a more than firm idea of the meaning.

“Great,” He smiled. “So you know that there's a certain level of duty I’m obliged to, right? That means I can't hurt you even if I wanted to— and I don’t. It’s my job to keep kids like you safe.”

She continued to stare at him, her face impassive, but in the startled sort of expression that had become her normal. She blinked twice.

“Can I ask for your name again?” The man said. “Do you remember what it is?”

Noa shook her head. It was scary that she didn't know her name, that there was some piece of her identity that had been missing and she never even knew it. Her eyes started brimming with tears.

Why didn't she have a name?

“That's okay!” He rushed to assure her. “It's alright, your name can wait for a little longer. Here,” He stuck his hand out with a closed smile. “My hero name is EraserHead, but I want you to call me Shota for now, okay? It’s nice to meet you.”

Noa looked at his hand. It was rough and calloused, but just as gentle as the rest of him. She was unaware of the greeting gesture however, and just stared.

“Shota.” She whispered, testing out the name. Her voice was hoarse.

Shota’s eyes lit up a dim silver. “She speaks!” He said with a surprised smile. “Good to know you have a voice, kid.”

Noa didn't recognize the feeling, but the muscles in the lower section of her face twitched a bit. All it resulted in was the slightest pursing of her lips, but the sensation was strange enough for her to notice it.

Shota rotated his hand so that his palm was facing up, an offering gesture instead of a form of greeting. “What do you say we get outta here?”

Noa looked at him one more time. Nothing had changed from the warm, safe sense of peace that radiated off him. Hesitant as she still was, she trusted him. She dipped her head down in the form of a nod.

“Great.” The man smiled. “Would you take my hand?”

Slowly, Noa lifted her arm, and placed her thin fingers in his palm. The callouses scraped lightly, in a way that was strangely pleasant. Comforting.

Shota stood up and led her out of the alleyway. When they approached the end, however, that same overwhelming feeling came back to Noa. All the people, the cars, the sounds… it was just as terrifying as before.

Shota looked down and took notice of her panic. His expression filled once more with sympathy. “Here,” He said, letting go of her hand and bending down just a bit. “If you let me carry you, you can cover your eyes. It’ll just be you and me.”

At that point, Noa was done with her reservations. She nodded quickly and let herself be scooped up into his arms. It was safe, protective the way he held her. His arms were warm and strong and nothing but comforting.

“Plug your ears, okay? We’ll be there in no time.”

Noa obliged, and the sounds of the city dulled to a hum. She buried her face in his scarf and squeezed her eyes shut. The world disappeared.

Shota Aizawa walked out of the alleyway with a six-year-old girl hanging onto his neck, and started down the sidewalk in the direction of the nearest hospital. He leaned over, quickly pulling his phone out of his pocket and typing a message before stowing it back in its place. He put his arm back over Noa’s shoulders, holding her close. Confusion and deep concern was all he could feel.

“Just you and me, kiddo.” He muttered, sliding a hand over her hair.

The rhythm of his footsteps and the sway of his gait lulled Noa to a rare and blissful sleep in almost no time.

𖤐✰

Steady, high pitched beeping of a heart monitor. The smell of antiseptic. Hard, unforgiving material pressed into her back. Bone-chilling cold.

These things were familiar, and frightening enough to Noa to make her completely forget all of the previous events. The hospital setup was one she experienced too often to ever leave her mind, and she became convinced she’d had some sort of fever dream.

She was right back in the facility she came from. She never made it out. Master had gotten her and given her to his doctor friend as punishment. The sight of those round goggles came searing into her mind like a branding iron.

Noa didn't let herself move a single muscle. The only evidence of her awakening was the beeping growing faster. Her heart was hammering in her ribcage.

Footsteps approached outside of the room, faint and muffled enough to indicate a closed door. Her entire body tensed as a pair voices grew louder, but she otherwise stayed still as a statue.

The door opened. Two pairs of shoes clacked against linoleum. Noa didn't let herself take one breath.

“You can’t seriously be considering this.”

She recognized the voice. Shota was still here, but he sounded different, upset.

“I know the situation is frustrating, but it’s necessary.” Somebody replied. “The process is already underway.”

Noa had never heard the voice before, but the strangest thing was, she could feel deep down that she was supposed to know it.

“Do you have any idea what kind of state I found her in?” Shota demanded. “She was so- Oh my god, she was falling apart at the seams. I mean, nothing more than skin and bones. It doesn’t take more than one look at her to see she’s been abused.”

The man he was speaking to seemed to make an uncomfortable choking sound, and hesitated before speaking. “I understand her circumstances were… dire-’

“Spare me, All Might.” Shota interrupted. “Dire?” Footsteps, presumably his, moved to a different part of the room, and Noa heard a clicking noise, then a low, electric buzzing sound. “Look at this.”

It was silent for a moment.

“Oh my.” The man- All Might- said breathlessly.

“Her lower ribs were fractured.” Shota said. “There’s been evidence of skeletal reconstruction throughout nearly half her body. They broke her bones and put them back together.”

Noa’s limbs grew numb. Her mouth dried so much her throat hurt. It took everything in her power not to succumb to memories of the facility.

“She was bleeding internally. See this?”

“Jesus-”

“Nearly every organ has experienced some form of alteration or damage, and those are just the ones she still has. Her only lung is damaged, and almost all of her non-vital organs are missing. The things in her system- it’s senseless, absolutely no form of pattern or sense of reason.”

The sound of paper flipping. “They found substances from all over the world, medications for literally countless things, forms of poison. Her chart is one of the longest the nurses have seen.”

Another bout of silence stretched throughout the room.

“Yes, I-”

“I’m not done.” He cut him off again. “Those are just the internal injuries. She was covered in lacerations and scars, full of infections, and her feet were completely destroyed. We had to put her on a feeding tube, she was so malnourished. The doctors are saying it looks like her quirk is attempting to slowly heal her, and the coma has given her system time to recover, but that’s only done so much.”

The other man was quiet for another few seconds. “Her condition is… well, it’s one of the most concerning things I’ve ever- It’s awful, Eraser. Really. Remind me just how long it's been since you found her?”

Noa heard Shota take a few deep breaths in. “You don’t remember?” He said, his voice teetering on anger.

“I’m sorry-”

“She’s supposed to be your responsibility, and you can't even remember how long she’s been comatose?”

All Might hesitated. “Believe me, I understand your frustration.” He pleaded. “Please keep your voice down.”

“You are absolutely ridiculous.” Shota muttered, beyond irritated. “It’s been months. Four months since I found her, and I can count on my hands how many times I’ve seen you visit.”

Back on the cot, Noa struggled to contain her surprise. She knew at least that four months was a long time, and the other man's name… she knew that well. He’s what stemmed Master's hatred of heroes. If she was with the two of them, there was a much higher probability that she wasn't actually back in the facility.

“Spare me the excuses.” Shota said before All Might could respond.

The hero cleared his throat. “My absence has been…regrettable, and I do apologize for it. You’re right, she is my responsibility.” He took a deep breath. “Which means I have the final say in what happens from here. For the sake of this young girl's future, I chose to ensure her safety.”

“If you seriously think sending her off with that scumbag is the best option, you’re dumber than I ever thought.” Shota said. The tension in the room was growing with nearly every word.

“It’s the safest option.” All Might responded.

“Why, because he’s number two?” Shota asked, dumbfounded. “If you're basing this on rank, why don't you take her in yourself? Your responsibility, right?”

“Keeping her with me would only put her in more danger.” He said. “It would put a target on her, and I wouldn't have the time to take care of her properly.”

“Right,” Shota scoffed. “Why would anyone expect you to take responsibility.”

“It just wouldn't be wise-”

“And making her go with him would be?”

All Might seemed to be growing irritated. “Do you have a better idea?”

“Literally anyone else!” Shota yelled. “You could send her off with me, for fuck’s sake!”

The room grew quiet again. Noa’s heart monitor beeped fast and continuously. She was largely confused about the argument, but she could tell it was about her, and that only made her feel guilty.

“Aizawa-” The hero said sympathetically.

“I’m serious.” He said. “If the only other option is Endeavor, I’ll gladly take her in.”

“You’re twenty years old.” All Might sighed. “That’s far too young to care for a child.”

“I don’t care.” Shota said. “I don’t.”

He was nearly shouting at this point, but speaking sternly enough to still seem slightly composed. “That man cannot and will not give her the physical or mental care that she needs, and will need for the rest of her life.”

It was silent again. This time, it seemed as if All Might was letting Shota speak his mind before attempting to respond.

“This is a horrible idea. I refuse to stand behind it.”

“And I’m sorry you feel that way, Eraser,” The hero said genuinely. Then his voice became definitive. “But this isn't up to you. The decision has already been made— Endeavor is on his way now.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

There was the sound of paper flipping, and a small slam. Another bout of silence stretched, but it didn't last long. Noa’s throat grew drier, and her lungs seized. Her eyes flew open as a cough burst from her lips.

The fit subsided quickly. Bright fluorescents blinded her for a moment, and she squinted, blinking harshly. When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw two figures standing at the end of her cot, heads turned toward her. Both of their expressions were shocked.

“Oh my,” The blonde one, All Might, said in surprise. “Hello there-”

“Hey kiddo.” Shota cut in with a gentle voice, walking towards her. He radiated warmth, a considerable change in demeanor compared to what she heard in his tone before. He smiled as he squatted down at the side of her cot, placing a hand on the railing. “How you feeling?”

Noa didn't answer. She stared at him; his face, his clothes. His appearance hadn’t changed much from what she remembered, but he looked more tired than before. The circles rimming his eyes were darker, his stubble more pronounced.

Her eyes flickered around the room, scanning, searching for any sign of danger, any tools or instruments she might recognize. It looked like the typical hospital room, but the layout wasn't one she found familiar. Still, she looked at the door, the windows, making sure there would be options for escape if she should need them.

“It's okay,” Shota assured. “You’re safe, just like I promised.”

Noa looked back at him. The same trust she had for him before came back strong. She believed him.

When she dipped her chin, nodding, Shota smiled again. He reached out slowly and placed a hand on the top of her head, tousling her hair. The action shocked her, but for probably the first time in her life, she didn't flinch away. A tightness grew in her cheeks, and she found that she enjoyed the sensation of mussed hair.

She scanned the room again, merely out of curiosity rather than paranoia. There was a tray table near the hospital bed she was in, with nothing more than standard medical instruments. The wall across from her had a square of white light, and a transparent black photo pinned against it.

All Might was standing in front of the x-ray, looking at it intently, but he was merely pretending to give Aizawa and Noa their space. He listened with his head turned over his shoulder, and avoided Noa’s eyes.

“Guess what?” Shota said next to her. “I have a surprise for you.”

Noa’s eyes widened. Surprises had never gone well in the past.

“Don't worry, it’s good.” He told her. “We were able to find out your name.”

Fear turned to hope, hesitation to rare excitement. Her grey eyes shone silver.

“Noa.” Shota said with a smile. “Your name is Noa.”

The name kept repeating in her head, echoing around her skull. Noa. Noa.

It felt right. Correct.

Noa.

She didn't blink as she stared at him. There were no words to describe what she felt. He had given her a piece of herself, a vital portion of her identity that had always been missing. It was the first and only real thing she knew about herself, and it meant more to her than she would ever be able to say.

“Thank you.” She whispered, her gratitude so overwhelming she couldn’t meet his eyes.

The man smiled, and tousled her hair again. Noa had the same warm reaction.

She looked at her fingers, going to pick at them like she often did. It was then she noticed an IV attached to her arm, the needle poking into her vein with nauseating familiarity. There was no hesitation. She didn't allow herself time to feel any panic before she reached over and ripped the IV out.

“Oh no, don’t-”

“She’s fine.” Shota spat, shooting a glare at All Might. Noa flinched at the change in his tone, but his face softened when he looked back at her. “We can get it fixed later, can't we?”

Noa took a deep breath and nodded, forcing herself not to stare at the prick of maroon springing from the inside of her elbow. She felt a cool, stinging sensation as Shota wiped the blood with a cotton swab. He pulled a band-aid out of his pocket and ripped it open, smoothing the latex over her skin. It was bright pink.

“See? Nothing to worry about.”

That same pleasant feeling came back, and Noa’s cheeks lifted just the slightest. The corners of her mouth twitched. It was quiet now that the beeping had stopped. Her other arm was IV-less, thankfully, but she startled when she saw the snake printed on her wrist.

“Is that new?” Shota asked, pointing at the tattoo.

Noa nodded. There had been so much commotion that she’d nearly forgotten about it, and the intricate black ink was shocking. It reminded her of Hebi, their invasion of her mind and body.

“It might be from this quirk.” All Might said from across the room.

Shota and Noa looked at him, remembering his presence. He was still looking at the X-ray.

“It looks like All For One took what she’s supposed to have, and replaced it with this…new one. It’s strange, the quirk— looks almost like it’s a part of her. It’s in her nervous system.”

All Might turned around, looking at Aizawa with a puzzled expression. “The big question is why. It doesn't make sense that he would replace her power, instead of just taking it and leaving her with nothing.”

Shota turned to her. “You know anything about this, sweetheart? Do you remember when it happened?”

Noa looked back and forth between him and All Might, hesitant. Her mouth opened and closed.

“It's okay.” Shota said softly. “You can tell us.”

Her eyes still ping-ponged from man to man. Eventually, she mustered up the courage to speak, and looked down at her lap, at the snake on her wrist.

“Master gave me Hebi before I left. They helped me.”

It was a shock to hear her own voice. She gasped at the sound, a hand flying up to her throat. It sounded so different, so much smoother than the rough, hoarse croak she was used to.

“Hebi?” All Might asked. “Your quirk has a name?”

Noa looked at the frail, golden-haired man standing at the foot of the bed. His eyes widened.

This was the first time they’d made true direct eye contact, and the feeling was… strange. The space between them felt electrically charged in a vaguely unsettling way. She got that same feeling, like she should’ve known and recognized that crystal blue hiding in the shadows of his eye sockets, but she didn’t.

She couldn't recall ever seeing him, but the recognition was there. It was confusing.

Noa nodded in response to his question, and looked down at her hands again. “They helped me escape.” She said. “They talked to me.”

The men in the room hesitated.

“Um, talked to you?” Shota asked.

Noa nodded. “I heard them in my head.”

All Might and Aizawa looked at each other, puzzled.

“Should we be worried about that?” The blonde hero asked.

“We don't know enough about her quirk yet.” Shota replied, turning back to Noa and scanning her face. “It could be sentient.”

“What the hell did he give her?” All Might muttered to himself. He looked up at Noa and took a step toward the cot. “Hello, young lady.” He said with a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you. My name is-”

“All Might.” Noa said, interrupting. Speaking out of turn surprised even herself.

“I know you.” She told him. “Master hates you.”

The man was shocked for a second, then smiled uneasily. “Well- yes, that’s me. I’d like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind.”

“So help me, if you start interrogating her-” Shota warned.

“It’s just a few.” Said All Might. “Need-to-know only.”

Aizawa glared at him, but eventually turned his head away, passive aggressively giving him the go ahead.

“Alright,” The hero said, clearing his throat. “So we have a bit of a rough timeline. It tells us you were captured around a year ago, probably more. Does that sound right?”

Noa didn't know what to say. She just stared at him.

“That’s okay.” He cleared his throat again, forcing a smile. “You’ve been through something unimaginable, miss Noa. I can't begin to say how sorry I am for what’s happened.”

He sounded sincere enough, but there still wasn't anything for her to say. She continued staring.

All Might blinked, and looked down at the clipboard in his hands. “Ahem- Do you know the man who did this?

She looked down and shook her head. All she knew him as was Master.

“Okay,” All Might said, nodding. “No worries. His name, as far as we know, is All For One.”

The room grew cold. A chill ran down Noa’s spine. On one hand, she disliked the personalization that the name gave him. On the other, she was free from having to call him, or even think of him, as Master. That was enough of a relief to outweigh her negative feelings.

“I have some good news.” All Might said as he took a step forward. Shota stayed still as a statue, eyes following him intently as he walked over to the other side of Noa’s cot. He squatted down and smiled at her, the skin around his eyes crinkling.

His face looked clearer up close, more illuminated. That recurring feeling of unexplained recognition grew stronger the more she saw of him.

All Might rested a hand on the railing. “All for One won't ever bother you again.”

His tone was serious, promising. Noa’s eyes widened, but her brows creased in confusion. What exactly did that mean?

“I took care of him.” The hero said, sensing her perplexion. “He won't be around to cause you any more harm. You have my word.”

She had an understanding of what he was trying to say, but disbelief made her require specifics. She needed him to say it out loud.

“Is he dead?”

Her voice didn’t waver, didnt break. She looked All Might straight in the eyes and waited for an answer.

“Yes.” He said after a moment, returning her stare. “I-”

A deep breath in. “I killed him.”

Noa blinked. Her breath caught. Her vision blurred as she let the information sink in.

He was gone. Master- All for One- was gone. Not only was she safe, but he wouldn't be coming back for her.

She let her eyes close, her chest rising and falling as she took in a deep, steady breath.

“Are you sure?” She whispered. One more time— she just needed him to say it one more time.

“Yes.”

As soon as Noa peeked her eyes open to look at All Might, they filled with tears. She tried to hold them in, but her waterline just kept filling. She turned away, looking straight ahead as the tears came pouring down her face. She didn't let her expression change. It felt like she was frozen. The air was stuck in her throat.

“It’s okay.” A gentle voice cooed from the other side of her. A warm, tentative hand rested on her shoulder, and Noa easily fell into it, letting Shota hold her. She cracked like porcelain.

“It’s okay,” He repeated as he rubbed his hand over her shoulder blade. “Let it out, kiddo.”

Sobs racked her body, so many emotions flowing through her system that she was unable to contain them. All the while, Shota consoled her, letting her little hands fist in the fabric of his hero costume, her tears soak his sleeve.

“You’re safe.” He kept saying. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”

The fit lasted a few minutes, but subsided fairly quickly. When she was composed enough to lift herself off of Shota, she sniffed, and wiped her cheek with the back of her wrist.

Shota ran a hand over her tangled hair. “How you feeling?”

“Good.” Noa said in a small voice. She sniffed again.

“I’m glad to hear it.” All Might said from her other side.

He had sat by politely- albeit uncomfortably- as Noa’s emotions overtook her. When she and Shota looked at him, he smiled tightly. Silence stretched between the three of them.

“Forgive me, should I come back, or-”

“Just get on with it, All Might.”

“Right, yes.” The hero cleared his throat, and stood up, retrieving his clipboard. “I don't have much more, so we should be finished soon. All for One was there, of course, but, uh, did you notice anyone else? Were there other people working for him?”

Noa hesitated, and her throat dried up. She swallowed and dipped her head. “Yes. There, um- There was a doctor.”

The pen in All Might’s hand scribbled on the clipboard. “Perfect, okay. Thank you.” He said. “Anyone else?”

Noa could feel the memory creeping up in the recesses of her mind, but she worked hard to reject it. She thought of what All Might had asked about employees.

“He had men that would take me where he needed me, and um, a group of them chased me when I left.”

More scribbling. “Okay.”

“There was one person,” Noa said, recalling a strange-looking form she had seen less than three times in her stay. “He was…purple.”

“Um, right.” All Might said, writing down the information with a creased brow. “That’s- yeah. You’re doing great.”

“Is there anyone else you can remember? Anyone you might have seen?”

The question set it free. She tried, she really did, to think of somebody else to say. All that was left was him. The one she had left behind.

The betrayed sting of ruby red searing back into her mind made her body go numb. She froze, and her eyes dropped away from All Might. She kept her breathing shallow.

Noa’s chest grew hot. Time seemed to slow. She could tell them— really, she should. What if he was still out there? What would be the chances of him having survived whatever happened?

And if he didnt… she had left him there. She’d be the reason why anything happened to him. It was all her fault, and if they knew what she did… what would they do to her? What would happen?

She could confess and end up being punished, or she could lie, and let Tomura’s future go unanswered.

Which was better? To speak or to gamble?

Time resumed to its normal speed. It’d been seconds since All Might asked the question.

Noa shook her head to the side, refusing to look at either of the heroes.

It was silent for a moment. All Might’s eyes flicked from her to Aizawa, and back again.

“...Are you sure?”

“Let it be, All Might.” Shota said sternly. “That’s enough.”

“Okay.” He put his hand up in defense. “You’re right.”

“She needs to try and get some sleep. How does that sound, kiddo?” Aizawa asked, turning to Noa. “You feel tired?”

“Yes, that would be good.” All Might said before she could answer. “She should rest before-”

The end of his sentence was drowned out by footsteps approaching the room, a panicked voice accompanying it.

“Please, sir, you should at least sign in, I’m not sure this is a good time-”

The door slammed open, and a large, towering figure entered the room. The nurse trailing after was nearly covered by him, and looked exasperated. They left quickly.

“All Might.” The man said, his voice deep and angry. “Of course you’re here.”

He looked at Shota. “And you…” Flames flicked off of his chin. “Remind me of your name again.”

Aizawa grit his teeth. “EraserHead.”

“Right, sure.” He said dismissively before turning back to All Might. “So? Is he ready yet? I’ve been waiting-”

His eyes landed on Noa, realizing her presence. “Who is this?”

“He?”

“This is Noa.” All Might said, trying to placate the both of them. “She just woke up a few minutes ago.”

Noa was cowering back, staring at the flames surrounding the man’s face and costume. He had a square jaw, short, bright red hair, and searing crystal blue eyes. Everything about him was threatening.

“Oh,” He said with disappointment, sneering as he assessed her frail, meager form. “I thought you were a boy.”

It was silent. Both All Might and Aizawa seemed a bit stunned, but the latter looked angry. His brows furrowed, and he opened his mouth to say something.

“No matter,” Endeavor’s voice boomed before Shota could protest. He clapped his hands together. “She’ll have to do. I can certainly make it work.”

“Make what work?”

The man spared a distasteful look at Aizawa. “Are you still here?”

Shota made an offended sort of noise, but was once again cut off by All Might.

“Alright, let’s uh-” He started uneasily. “Let’s just take a minute here. Noa?”

The girl’s eyes widened when All Might turned to her.

His expression was placative. “I’d like you to meet Endeavor.” He said, gesturing to the man towering on the other side of the room. “He’s gonna take care of you now, okay?”

She looked back and forth between the flaming man and the number one hero, then turned to Aizawa, frightened. She didn't know what to do, didn't know what to say. Shota was the only one she trusted for help.

“He has some kids around your age, you know?” All Might said, regaining her attention. “How would you like to have some siblings, huh? Some brothers and a sister?”

“Yes.” Endeavor added from afar. “You and my youngest son will be very close.”

Noa had rarely felt so overwhelmed. She was used to pain, but this was different. This was psychological— it was messing with her head.

Endeavor, this man she had met seconds ago, was terrifying. His strong, blocky stature and radiating cruelty, the way the lines around his mouth curved downward- he was nearly identical to Master- to All For One. Nothing about him gave her any sort of assurance or positive feeling. What she felt towards the man was more than distrust— it was disdain.

She looked at Shota again, anxious and confused. He seemed full of regret. Noa’s eyes welled with tears, and she said the only thing she was sure of.

“I don’t want to go.”

A crease grew between Aizawa’s brows. He placed an arm around her, consoling her once again.

“I know kiddo.” He said. “I know.”

His arm moved back and forth over her shoulder like it had before. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

Noa held herself together, and no tears fell, but she still felt like crumbling to pieces. It all felt wrong. It shouldn't have been happening, and she didn't want it to.

She remembered what she overheard from the conversation between Shota and All Might while she was pretending to be asleep, about Shota wanting to take her in if that was the last resort. Why couldn't that happen? Why wouldn't All Might let him take her instead?

“This is absolutely ridiculous.” Aizawa muttered, looking over Noa’s shoulder. “I resent it.”

Noa sniffed, and lifted herself off of him. Endeavor and All Might were looking at her with empty expressions.

“I’m sorry that you don't want to go, sweetie.” The blonde man said, bending down. “But it’s the best thing for you. You’ll be safe there, I promise.”

She blinked at him with wet eyes. As clear as his well-meaning intentions were, she didn't necessarily believe him.

“It’s already done.” Endeavor said definitively. Everyone turned to him. “I signed the papers yesterday.”

Silence rang throughout the room, in a way that was considerably more deafening than all the times it had grown quiet before. The information sunk in quick and painful, like a knife twisting.

She never had a choice. No matter what she wanted, her future lay in the hands of Endeavor.

There was no more use in crying. She didn't let the tears even build. She set her jaw, keeping her expression flat, a countenance she had grown proficient in during her time with All For One. She forced herself into bitter acceptance and prepared herself for what was to come.

“Get ready,” Endeavor said. “It’s time to go.”

Noa glanced at the man beside her, his dark eyes sorrowful and dim. Shota looked down and dipped his head, nodding. He held his hand out, and Noa slowly reached for it, letting him help her off the cot. She couldn't feel her arms. Her entire body had gone numb, shaky.

It hurt to stand at first. Her legs, on top of the numbness, hadn’t been used in months. She leaned on Aizawa for a moment before she was able to regain her balance.

It was then she noticed what she was wearing. The tattered beige dress, that had once been white but turned dirty and ripped over time, was replaced with a new, different dress. It was black, with sleeves to her forearm lined with small ruffles. It was clean. She felt clean.

She looked at herself and realized that her skin, which had been nearly encrusted with dirt and grime, was now void of any debris. It was still ghostly pale, and covered in scars, but it was clean. She reached her hands up, and felt that her hair had been washed. It was combed as well, free of matted tangles and oil buildup. The dirt under and around her nails had been cleaned off, the jagged edges healed while she was comatose.

The change was prominent enough to distract Noa for a moment, but only just.

“You ready, kiddo?”

Aizawa was looking down at her, his hand extended. She met his gaze, and a wave of sadness washed over her. It was strong, and suffocating, but she didn't let it show. Her mask of plaster didnt crack.

She took his hand, and let him lead her to the man standing by the door, his arms crossed. Endeavor watched them approach, flames flickering, the same perpetual displeased look on his face. Aizawa bent down, squatting in front of the girl as he rested his elbows on his knees.

“Remember what I said, okay?” Shota looked at her sadly. “Everythings gonna be alright.”

Despite her best efforts, tears built in the corners of Noa’s eyes. Rather than letting them fall, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around Shota’s coiled white scarf.

Aizawa held himself from stumbling back, and a sound of surprise left his mouth. His arms instinctively wrapped around Noa, gently holding her.

“No matter what happens, you’re gonna be okay.” He whispered, running a hand over her back. “You’re a strong kid. Don't forget that.”

He let Noa go, but looked at her for a moment, his hands on her shoulders. “Okay?” He asked.

Noa sniffed. “Okay.”

Shota reached forward and tousled her hair with a small smile before standing up. He took a deep breath in, and spared another glare at All Might.

“Done?” Endeavor said impatiently. He didn't wait for an answer, and turned to Noa. “Let’s go.”

She spared one last look at Shota, feeling utterly defeated. He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. All Might waved sadly.

Endeavor took her hand, grabbing her by the wrist and opening the door. Noa was whisked out of the room, and the door slammed behind her, both heroes disappearing.

“Come on.” The man said as he halfway dragged her down the hallway. “It’s time for you to meet my son. You have a lot of work to do.”

Fear exploded in Noa’s chest and flowed through her veins. It felt like she was being taken to another one of Master’s rooms.

Not much had changed.

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

Stars twinkled in the dark sky looming overhead. The new moon hung in the center, the outline bent in a smooth, curved crescent shape. The springtime chirp of cicadas and sounds of the sleeping world filled the night’s silence.

Noa lay on the roof, an arm behind her head, a leg hanging off the edge of the house. Her foot swung back and forth in the open midnight air as she stared at the sky, listening to the music flowing through her headphones. It was cool, for April. She could sit outside comfortably and stay dry. 

She thought about the stars as her foot swung, letting Vic Fuentes fade into the background. She liked them— stars. She could make them into whatever she wanted them to be. Sometimes, they were just something pretty to look at, something to do when being in Endeavor’s house got too overwhelming. Which was often.

Other times, they could mean something. There were stories behind them, myths and legends and lore that explained their creation, their existence. Stars were multifaceted. 

Noa disliked when scientists tried to complicate them. She believed that stars should be left alone, allowed to be beautiful and complex without anyone trying to make mathematical sense of them. It was useless, she thought. Just let the stars be stars. Let them have their stories and let them be.

It also didn't help that Noa was particularly predisposed to disliking scientists, so her opinion was biased. 

Her chest rose, and she exhaled with a deep sigh. She squinted as she tried to make out a cluster of stars, but the name of the specific constellation slipped her mind. The curiosity was faint, and fleeting, but she wished she could know more about what she was looking at.

Noa’s quirk alerted her of an approaching presence. Hebi was a snake-like being, which provided them with faint heat-detecting abilities, so Noa, by proxy, had a built-in radar system. She could tell by the opposing temperatures that her brother had come to find her. 

“Hey, Sho.” She muttered without looking up, removing an ear bud. 

Shoto sat down on the roof next to her, crossing his legs. “It’s dangerous up here.” 

“Yeah,” Noa sighed. “I know.”

He meant well, of course— but sometimes, when he cared too much, it could come off as just slightly patronizing. Occasionally, it was sort of endearing. Most of the time it made her feel like a child. 

“But look,” Noa said, pointing at the sky. “It's so pretty.”

Shoto looked up, craning his neck. “The stars?”

Noa nodded. 

“Hm.” Her brother’s head tilted to the side a bit, and he squinted at the clouds. “It is pretty, I guess.” He shrugged. “It’s just always there. There isn’t much to look at after you’ve seen them once.”

Noa looked over at him, his smooth, unchanging face, the red hair spilling over his scarred eye. A small smile made her purse her lips.

“I firmly disagree.” She said pleasantly. “I could never tire of them.”

Shoto glanced at her, and gave her a soft smile. The white side of his hair was ruffled by a gentle breeze. The unmarred grey eye twinkled underneath the moonlight. 

It’d been ten years since she was adopted, and Noa still wasn't able to define their relationship. It was… less than siblings, but more than training partners. There was no denying that they were family, but the bond between them defied basic explanation. 

There was an understanding, though. A deep, intrinsic knowledge that whatever one was going through, the other was very likely experiencing the exact same thing. Their pain was mutual. The excessive amount of training they endured together bound them in a way that nothing else could. They had an odd sense of respect for one another— they knew each other better than they knew themselves. 

She didn't show it well, but Noa cared about her brother more than she cared about anything. 

“Are you worried about school tomorrow?” Shoto asked, breaking her from her thoughts. 

Noa frowned, caught. “How’d you know?”

“You’re on the roof again.” He said with a shrug. “You always come up here when you’re worried.”

She fought off a smile. The boy wasn't wrong, but of course he knew that. 

“I come up here when I’m anything .” She corrected. 

Shoto huffed through his nose. Her light sarcasm and little jokes often left him confused, but he’d gotten used to it over time. He’d even grown somewhat fond of it.

“There’s nothing to be anxious about, you know.” He said casually. Noa opened her mouth to object, but he beat her to it.

“The other students don't matter.” Shoto said. “Their opinions have nothing to do with our objective. As long as we focus, and keep our heads clear, we can achieve it.”

“And the objective is…” Noa trailed off boredly, used to her brother's tangents. 

He turned, looking at her dumbfounded. “Heroes, remember? That’s the whole reason we’re going.”

“Well yeah,” Noa rolled her eyes playfully. “But that doesn’t mean the other people at the school don't matter.”

“Their opinions are irrelevant.” Shoto said, serious. “We shouldn't pay them any attention.”

“Okay,” Noa lifted her hands, palms facing out. “You’re right. Fuck ‘em all.”

The corners of Shoto’s mouth twitched, and he shook his head fondly. “I don't even know where you learn words like that.”

Noa smiled, crooked and teasing. “A dark, dark place, where only the most depraved people reside, saying the vilest things they can think of.” She said dramatically. “You wouldn't last a second.”

Shoto raised an eyebrow at her, but had a strong suspicion she was joking.

Noa wiggled her fingers at him, lowering her voice to a whisper. “ The internet.”

He broke into a smile and pushed her hands away, laughing through his nose. Noa looked back at the sky, fighting off a smile. It was rare they had moments like these, where they could relax, actually enjoy each other's company instead of throwing punches. She tried her best to enjoy it while it lasted.

All jokes aside, both the siblings’ internet usage was restricted. Noa made due with what she had.

Something caught her eye, and she gasped quietly, sitting up and leaning on her hand. “Look.” 

She pointed at the sky, and Shoto’s gaze followed its direction. A thin, distant line of silver had just finished streaking across the swath of stars. 

“You’re supposed to make a wish.” Noa told him, breathless. The excitement made her eyes shine silver in the dim moonlight. 

Seeing shooting stars was rare, but Noa hadn't ever been around someone else to show her enthusiasm for them. Her and Shoto shared one more glance before turning back to the sky, each of them uttering a silent plea with their thoughts.

It wasn't shocking what popped into Noa’s head. She was accustomed to seeing a hazy, blurred version of Shouta, all those years ago, ruffling her hair. Almost every time she saw one of those combusting meteors, she would wish that she could go back to that day, do something- anything- to change the outcome. She’d wish that she’d gone with him instead.

That was all usual, as far as wishes went. The shock she felt was caused by what followed after— a vision of her when she had escaped, jumping out the window of the building. 

Only instead of Hebi saving her in the nick of time, they were too late. She splattered on the pavement in a pile of bursting blood and shattering bones. 

That’s what she wished. That she never made it out alive in the first place. Never been thrown in the hands of Endeavor, out of the frying pan and into the fire.

From her left, Shoto looked at her, breaking her from her thoughts. No more than a second had passed.

“What did you wish for?” He asked in that monotone, slightly curious voice he always seemed to have.

Noa blinked, shoving her mind away, and forced a small smile. “Don’t you know what everyone says about wishes? If you say them out loud, it won't come true.” She half-fibbed, shrugging casually. “Sorry. My lips are sealed.”

For a moment, Shoto’s eyes grew wide. He looked at Noa’s mouth with concern, and she smiled.

“Metaphorically, Sho.” She said with affection, patting him on the shoulder. “Metaphorically.”

“Oh.” He said, his face dropping. 

Noa had to hold in her laugh. Having to explain her metaphors to him wasn’t uncommon, and she found it endearing. She reached over and rubbed her hand over the top of his head, a gesture she’d only learnt a few times. It was one of those rare occasions when they had physical contact outside of the training room at all.

Shoto smiled and dipped his head, shaking it to fix the mess she’d made. He glanced up at the moon, noticing it reaching up as far as it could go.

“It’s getting late.” He said. “I’m going to get some sleep. You should too.”

Noa nodded, but waved her hand in polite dismissal. “Go without me. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“Okay,” Shoto said, standing up. “Goodnight.”

“‘Night.” She replied, smiling as he walked back to the other side of the roof, climbing down on the porch. 

It dropped once he was out of sight, and Noa sighed deeply. She closed her eyes for a second, letting the interaction register. 

When the sky came back into view, she shoved her hand in the pocket of her sweatpants, and pulled out an old, smushed carton of cardboard. Had Shoto known about her habit, she would have asked him to light the cigarette for her before he left. But he didn't know, and she didn't feel like being chastised. 

She pulled out her lighter and flicked it, taking a shallow puff of the cigarette. There was only a slight inhale before she blew the smoke out, not letting too much excess get in her lung. 

That’s the thing about smoking. Not only was it unhealthy, but having one lung made it more than twice as dangerous. It was nothing short of a death sentence. 

She took another shallow puff and blew the smoke out. Her eyes closed as she let the dim buzz of nicotine form. The more she smoked, the more her mind wandered. 

Noa loved Shoto. Really, she did— or at least, as much as she knew how to. He was her brother in the most complex sense of the definition. She loved all her family members, to an extent. 

What she had a problem with was their situation, and Shoto would always be involved in that, no matter what. Even when pleasant, their interactions had the stain of their upbringing looming over the two of them like a gluttonous shadow. 

The ‘situation’ in question started not soon after she’d been adopted. When Endeavor put her in his vehicle, strapped her in the car seat, and sped off toward his home, he had given her what he liked to call a ‘pep talk.’ It was clear, blunt and direct. Her instructions were to move into his house, finish healing, and begin learning how to train as soon as possible. 

She was to accompany Shoto on his way to the top of the hero charts, and help him get there by whatever means necessary. She would get food and shelter in exchange— education, running water, everything a child would physically need. 

But she was strictly allowed limited interaction with the other family members. Only when she and Shoto were absolutely needed would they see the other children. Visits with his wife would be rare, and scheduled. She was to obey his instructions, and under no circumstances should she do otherwise. 

Noa had listened from the backseat, looking down at her hands. Her thumb scraped against the cuticle of her forefinger, and she pushed, trying to re-open the scab that had been there months ago.

When they got to the house, Endeavor helped Noa out of the car and dropped her hand as soon as she was standing. He headed briskly inside, ushering her ahead of him. Noa’s eyes were wide as she took in what little she could of the pristine home, but she didn’t see much before the door opened.

She hid behind his leg as he introduced her, giving a brief explanation to his family about why she was there. To help Shoto , he said simply. 

The Todoroki’s had stared at her, most of them stunned into silence. Two of them, the oldest and youngest, had vacant expressions, but wide, blown eyes. One of them had two different hair colors split down the middle. The other had hair like snow, with one single red strand peeking up at the top.

It went like Endeavor said, mostly. She healed, started training immediately, and was put to work. She spent her afternoons in the sparring room with Shoto. 

At night, though, when Endeavor went to sleep, some of the siblings learned to stay awake. Most times, it would be difficult for Noa to fall asleep, and they’d find her hiding somewhere. When she would wake up screaming from a nightmare, they would come in and sit with her until she fell back asleep. 

The visits didn't happen often, but very slowly, she came to know the siblings. Fuyumi took a liking to her, happy to finally have a sister. Her and Touya grew close before he passed.

Endeavor found out once, but it never truly stopped them. They continued to sneak around despite his threats and warnings. After the loss of their eldest sibling, though, everyone stopped leaving their rooms once the sun set. 

Not much changed from there. She grew up, Shoto grew up, everyone grew up. Endeavor’s prized duo fought and fought, and leaned on one another to better their skills. More time passed. Natsuo left, and Fuyumi stayed, homeschooled them, and Endeavor never really stopped trying to get his ridiculous goal accomplished. 

That night, though, a change was underway. UA would start the next morning, and the process of becoming a hero would truly begin. 

Noa resented it. 

It was good that she was getting out of the house, sure. It was good that she would be learning from somebody other than Endeavor or Fuyumi. Sure. 

That didn't mean being around that many people would go over well, for either of the siblings. Thanks to their father’s sheltering, they were utterly socially inept, and neither one of them were going for the right reasons. 

Shoto was going partly because he wanted to be a hero, but mainly to prove that he could do it without Endeavor. Maybe the man was forcing them to go altogether, but his son refused to do it his way.

Noa didn't want to be a hero at all. 

She didn't want to go to the school, didn't want to learn about villains and citizens and ridiculous things like rescuing victims. To her, heroes were overconfident policemen. There might’ve been a few good ones, rarely, but most of them were frauds. It was an overloaded and over-appreciated profession. 

More importantly, she didn't want to be around strangers. That many adolescents in one place was bound to be more than unpredictable, and with it being UA, legitimately anything could happen. People looking at her, talking to her, being around her— she couldn't stand the thought of it. Knowing she would be perceived so much filled her with dread. 

Thankfully, she would have Shoto to hide behind, but he wasn't the best with socialization either. He was likely worse at it than she was. 

Tomorrow would be a disaster.

Noa sighed on the next exhale of smoke. The cigarette was down to the filter by then, and she reached her arm over her head, stamping the glowing end out on the roof. When she flicked it away, she watched it soar over the edge and plummet to the ground. 

Smoke lingered in the air, dispersing slowly. The heavy scent of tobacco mixed with the clean smell of nature, and Noa breathed it in. 

Awful as it smelt, awful as the things were for her, there was a strange sense of comfort that smoking provided. The ritual of it was soothing— getting the pack, pulling a cigarette out, lighting it. Taking the time to sit there and smoke it. It was a vice, obviously, but the vice was therapeutic. 

Now that it’d burnt out, there wasn’t much else to do. She could stay up on the roof and continue looking at the stars, letting music fail to drown out her thoughts, but Shoto was right. It was getting late, and Noa was tired. 

She sat up and lifted herself off the roof, standing slowly. Her bones creaked when she stretched, leaning back and popping a few vertebrae. She stood up there for a moment, looking around at Endeavor's backyard. 

It followed the theme of the rest of the house— obnoxiously wealthy, but simple and pristine. Lush grass covered the lawn, fountains in koi ponds trickled into water with quiet, peaceful splashes. Beyond the backyard was a forest, lined with tall pine trees. 

It was where Touya used to train. Not long after she’d been adopted, it went up in flames. 

A gust of wind blew by, and Noa shivered. She supressed the memory before it could take form, and got down off the roof, dropping onto the porch. She tiptoed to the sliding door, wincing when a floorboard creaked, and slid into the safety of her room. 

Styled in the same traditional japanese fashion as everything else, her room was nice, and wealthy looking, and empty. It was completely devoid of personality.

While it may have been boring, it was safe. It was secluded from her family members, and it was just about the only place she could be truly alone. The only sign of anyone living there at all was the crumpled laundry on the floor, the wadded up bedsheet at the end of her sleeping mat. It could've been a guest room otherwise. 

In some ways, it was.

She bent down and tidied up quickly, tossing her dirty clothes in the laundry bin— being chastised before school was not on her agenda for tomorrow. The light was already off, so she flopped down on her bed with a sigh. She folded her arms over her chest and stared at the ceiling, exhaustion growing fast. 

There were dim, half-baked thoughts about how school would go the next day, backlit anxiety still trying to make itself known. Noa tried not to pay it any mind, and took a deep breath in. She turned on her side and let her body sink into the mat, blinking slowly, just on the edge of sleep.

A nightlight blinked on the wall across from her. Merchandise is what it was, really. It was one of the only unnecessary things Endeavor allowed her to own. The plastic was in the shape of a less popular hero, white scarf whisking in action, eyes glowing red behind yellow goggles. 

The LED’s ebbed as her eyes finally closed.  

𖤐✰

Wind howled, whistling violently through the branches around her. Noa’s bare feet scraped against fallen sticks as they pounded against the rocky underbrush. 

She was running through a forest she didn't recognize. It was dark, and lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the abysmal night. Thunder rumbled with it. Rain poured down in thick, cascading showers. 

Noa ignored the storm and continued her sprint, pushing her legs as fast as they could go. A soaking wet, tattered white dress whipped around her legs in the wind, snagging on branches and stray leaves. The garment was so dirty it was beige. 

The next time it got caught in a bush, Noa was yanked back. She faltered, and reached back to rip the dress away from the stick, tearing the fabric faster than she could blink. 

There was no time to waste. She turned back immediately and kept running. 

The pivot gave her too much momentum. She stumbled, her heel scraping over a rock. The chunky root of a tree next to it caught her foot, and she tripped, arms falling forward. She landed facedown in the dirt, rain downpouring in puddles around her. Mud caked in her hair, in her dress, on her skin. 

She lifted her head, breathing heavily. Her eyes grew wide, and she scrambled up, backing away using her hands and feet. 

A tall figure stepped forward, their face shrouded in darkness. 

Noa was paralyzed. He’d come back. All for One never died in the first place, and there was a decade’s worth of punishments built up, ready for him to serve to her on a silver platter.

Did you truly believe you could get away so easily? A low, familiar voice echoed in her head. You think the choice to leave was your own?

Noa’s eyes grew wide. A deep-rooted survival instinct made her want to back away, but her body was frozen. 

The figure came closer, towering over her. 

Foolish girl, It said with dark amusement, a hand reaching toward her. The voice warped, turning demonic. 

You can't run forever.

𖤐✰

Noa gasped, and she bolted upright in bed, her eyes blown open. Her chest was heaving, heart thundering in her ribcage like a mallet against the skin of a war drum. Her limbs were covered in sweat, t-shirt completely drenched. 

She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to slow her racing heart, steady her breathing. She blinked, letting her eyes stay closed for a moment.

Nightmares like these had never really stopped, and she’d never really gotten used to them. Each one was just as bad as the previous, if not worse. 

There was no escaping them, only enduring them until they stopped. All she could do was get through it and wait for the next one. 

Her teeth grinded together, and Noa rolled her eyes. Endurance sucked. 

Looking at the clock, her annoyance only grew when she saw how early it was. She threw herself back and rolled out of bed, landing on the floor with a thud. Irritation heightened as she opened the door and walked out, wiping the sleep from her eyes and trudging to the bathroom.

It seemed like she was only ever tired when she was unable to sleep. She’d be busy during the day, and feel like dead weight, but when it was time to lay down, it almost always took hours to get any sort of rest. She couldn't fall asleep, couldn't stay asleep, and couldn't fight the longing for sleep when she was awake. Which was often. 

She thought more about the plague of insomnia as she turned the shower to its hottest setting, stripped down, and washed the sweat off her body. She scrubbed her hair, her skin, ridding herself of dirt and grime and that awful, nauseating feeling she got whenever she wasn't clean. It always reminded her of that cell, how bacteria-ridden and covered in bodily fluids she’d been. 

Saying that she showered often would be a drastic understatement. Fuyumi often said she did it too much, which Noa jokingly disagreed with. No one could ever be too clean.

She reached over and turned the water off. Steam clung to the ceiling, leaving the bathroom air hot and thick. She wrung out her hair and stepped over the tub, wrapping a towel around herself. The mirror was fogged when she walked past, and she stopped in front of it. A moment of hesitation lingered before she reached over and wiped her hand over the condensation.

She grimaced at what stared back.

Noa usually tended to avoid her reflection for this reason. It wasn't as if it was anything new, anything she hadn't seen before. That was still her in the mirror— she wasn't unrecognizable. 

She just didn't like it. 

The proportions of her face were all wrong. Her round bug eyes, so grey they bordered on translucence, were like searchlights. They were unsettling to look at. The bridge of her nose was arched, her lips thin in the wrong places and puffy in others. Her face was pale, sickly and hollow, though flushed from the hot water. Strings of sopping wet hair hung down around her face and behind her ears. 

Her expression of distaste grew in the reflection staring back at her. There just wasn't a lot of harmony between her features. A curved nose might’ve looked pretty on someone else, but the combination didn't work for what she had. 

It was rare that she ever cared about her appearance to start with, but when she did, she would only ever see the imperfections. She would go on countless mental tangents about everything she didn't like, and it would lead to a heady downward spiral. 

Mirrors just weren’t fun. She didn't know why she looked in the first place. 

The light flicked off, and Noa stepped out of the bathroom, steam billowing out the door behind her. She padded to her room quickly, closing the door before leaning over to towel dry her hair. A pair of light, comfortable clothes got thrown on, and she walked back out, making her way to the kitchen. 

The floors were cold underneath her feet, and she wrapped an arm over herself as she filled a glass with water. Backing up until she reached the island in the middle of the room, she set the glass down and lifted herself onto the counter, folding her legs over one another. The marble was cold, too— goosebumps bloomed on her shins. 

Noa surveyed the interior of the kitchen absentmindedly while she sipped her water. It was just as nice as everything else— hardwood floors, sleek, light brown cabinets, large, elaborate cooking appliances that only Fuyumi used. It was dark, though. The lowering moon shone through the windows, creating shadows that stretched over the countertops.

Hebi alerted her of an approaching presence, and Noa startled. She turned and saw Fuyumi, and relaxed as she walked toward her. 

“It's five in the morning.” She said gently, in slight surprise. “The sun isn't even up yet.”

Noa sighed, looking down. “I know.”

“Another nightmare?” 

Noa met her eyes. They were the same color as her own, pewter grey, but they weren't as unsettling. Fuyumi hadn't put her glasses on yet, so faint lines outlined her lids as she squinted in the dark. Her expression was knowing and sympathetic.

Noa nodded, looking back down at her hands. She picked at her cuticles, embarrassed of her obvious fragility. 

“I’ll get used to them eventually.” She said dimly, not believing a word. She just felt sorry for Fuyumi’s concern.

“I hope so.” Her sister said with a smile. She reached up, likely to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, but Noa flinched. Fuyumi’s hand dropped, and she tried to hide the disappointment from her face. 

“Sorry.” Noa muttered, her face growing hot.

“It’s okay,” She assured with a sad smile. “It's not your fault.” 

The hangnail she was picking at ripped off, starting to bleed. Noa brought her thumb to her mouth and sucked the blood off, chewing at the jagged skin. 

Fuyumi turned around, leaning her back into the counter next to where Noa was sitting. She reached over and plucked the glass from Noa’s other hand, taking a sip.

“Nervous for today?” She asked.

Noa nodded, lowering her mangled fingers into her lap. 

“You’re gonna do great.” Fuyumi said, smiling, reassuring what their brother had told her the night before. “You and Shoto have nothing to worry about.”

A disbelieving smile lifted the corner of Noa’s mouth. “We’ll see.”

“Speaking of— dad should be up soon.” Her sister said, lifting herself off the counter and setting the glass down. “I’m sure he’ll wanna talk to you guys before you leave.”

Noa’s face fell. “Great.”

Fuyumi started walking back in the direction of her room, waving a hand behind her. “Good luck today!”

“Thanks.” Noa replied, trying and failing to sound optimistic. She lowered her voice, speaking to herself.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ need it.”

The anxiety for what the rest of the day would hold was quickly overshadowed by a strong, familiar wave of self loathing. 

It was embarrassing, the way she flinched and worried about every little thing. Almost her entire family cradled her fragile brain like an egg they were forced to keep intact, and they were right to do so. It was just irritating that she burdened them so much, that she felt so weak, so breakable to them. 

She’d tried for years to toughen up, to get over her past and let herself open up to her siblings when they’ve tried. Fuyumi’s efforts were unwavering for a long time— she was determined to help Noa recover, determined to have a sister— but even she stopped trying as much. Years later, though, she still made an attempt every now and then. 

Noa really tried to let her in, but whenever she tried to talk about something important, her mouth would dry up. Her breath would catch in her throat and her heart would start to thunder in her ears. Despite all her efforts, she was emotionally unyielding, and almost always to her detriment.

There was a bit of progress being made when Touya was still alive. His personality was so big, so eccentric and full of emotion that it sort of forced Noa out of her shell, inch by inch. When he passed, though, everything relating to positivity had gone with him. She retreated back into the cocoon of defense she had perfected in All for One’s facility.

Nothing had been able to pull her out since.

Thinking about all of it made Noa’s emotions go haywire. Her hands started shaking, and heat bloomed over her chest. Her breathing grew heavy. 

It was all too much. Everything was building up, water beginning to accumulate behind a dam.

She put her head in her hands and attempted to control her breathing. Her fingers knotted in her hair, and she raised her fist, knocking it against her head three times, hard enough to hurt. 

She thought of Shoto, of the mask he wore all the time, the one she herself had adapted and used during training. His emotions were strong, Noa knew that. But with the exception of his anger, they were impenetrable. His mind was a fortress. 

Those were the kind of defense measures she took, trying to replicate his mask for her own sake instead of solely for the sparring room. She just needed it all to go away. She needed to stop thinking. 

Very slowly, her breathing slowed, then became steady. The pieces of the mask fell into place, and solidified, fusing together. She felt herself hardening around the edges. The emotions started to fade— lingering, as they always did— but shoved on the backburner for now. Suppressing them would only be harmful in the long run, but in the moment, desperation outweighed any future repercussions.

Noa lifted her head, and felt the effects of a firm, successful mask. The dam was reinforced. A sense of satisfaction came with the accomplishment.  

The digital clock on the oven blinked, catching her eye. It was time to wake Shoto up and start getting ready. 

She unfolded her legs and slid off the countertop with a hefty sigh, dread manifesting once more at the idea of school as she trudged down the hall. Her brother was fast asleep, breathing deeply when Noa slid open his door. She stepped in, approaching his cot quietly. 

Shoto slept like a corpse most of the time. His body stayed still as a statue, and he hardly ever snored. There had been many times when Noa and the others had checked on him because they thought he’d died in his sleep. 

He was easy to wake up, though. When Noa placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him, his eyes slowly opened, and he blinked at Noa as they adjusted. He looked groggy, and confused for a second, before the rest of the world caught up to him.

“It’s time to start getting ready.” Noa said softly, removing her hand and stepping out. She closed his door behind her and stepped across the hallway, entering her own room. The school uniform lay on the floor, clean and pressed by Fuyumi the night prior. 

It was simple enough— a white button up, red tie, grey blazer, and a forest green skirt— but Noa disliked it. The skirt was appalling, and because of the weather, the school hadn't sent her tights yet. Her legs would be on full display, scars and all. She imagined being hounded with questions, stares from the other students. 

It was an effort not to grimace as she dressed. She pulled up the white socks as high on her shins as they would go before slipping her shoes on, tying them tightly. The backpack at the foot of her bed was slung over her shoulder, and she stepped out of the room. 

Shoto was leaving at the same time. They shared a knowing look before turning and walking down the hallway together.

Endeavor was waiting in the kitchen when they entered. He was leaning against the counter, arms crossed, flames flickering. The uniform made it clear he was about to leave for work.

“I’m sure you both know that today is going to be of the utmost importance.” He started, pushing himself up and taking a step toward them. “I don't need to explain the necessity for perfection again, do I?”

“No.” The siblings said at once, voices hard.

“Good.” Their father glared, then turned to Shoto. “Your main purpose at UA is to refine your skills as much as possible. You will learn as much as you can from your teachers, and you will be at the top of your class. You will not let the other student’s distract you.”

Shoto’s teeth clenched. “Anything else?”

“Be amazing.” Endeavor said coldly. “Do not disappoint me, and do not disappoint this family.”

They stared at each other for a bit. Shoto was fuming, but fighting to stay composed. Endeavors jaw ticked. 

“You,” He said, turning to Noa. Her mouth set in a firm line, preparing herself for the incoming list of demands. 

“Other than benefitting Shoto’s progress, your mission is analysis. I want you to pay attention to the students, the teachers, to the entire school. Identify any threats, any kids with real potential that you’ll have to fight to beat.” 

Noa listened with irritation, her expression tight. Endeavor’s jaw set, a glint of demanding cruelty in his cerulean eyes. 

“Overcome the obstacles your peers may present, and ensure Shoto’s success.” He told her. “You are responsible for our preparation of the future’s hero society.” 

Endeavor stared at her for a moment, glowering. Noa’s face didn’t move. The mask she’d made was good and strong— all she felt toward him was annoyance, instead of the seething, all-consuming anger she usually experienced. 

“Hello?” Endeavor said, irritated. “I expect a response when I speak to you, child.”

Her brow raised. The mask’s potency… might have been a bit too strong. She cared so little that her mouth moved before her brain could stop it.

“Oh,” She said boredly. “Are you done?” 

Immediately after the words came out, she regretted them. Her eyes widened, and furious shock passed over Endeavor's features. His lip upturned as he grimaced at her. 

“You will be dealt with when I get home.” He told her, voice cold and threatening. 

Then he stepped back, glancing between the two siblings for a moment. He looked at their uniforms, likely making sure they were in order. 

“Tighten that tie.” He snapped at Noa. She inhaled, and begrudgingly complied. He appraised them once more.

“Out.” Endeavor told them harshly once he was accepting of their appearances. He pointed a finger at the door. “Get going, the both of you. Now.”

Shoto and Noa ducked their heads, walking quickly underneath his arm. They were desperate to get away from the man, even if they had to obey him to do so. They rushed out the door without looking behind them.

“Do not disappoint me.” He called out as they walked down the path, exiting through the front gate. His words fell on angry, unlistening ears.

𖤐✰

The soles of Noa’s converse clicked against the sidewalk, mixing with the sound of her brothers own footsteps. She stared at the battered high tops as they walked to UA, listening to Shoto vent.

“That scumbag and his demands…” He started, shaking his head, jaw set tight. “He’s completely ridiculous.”

“I’m sweating, Sho.” Noa told him, and it was true. His emotions were making his quirk act up, and the morning sun was shining down on them to add to it. “Take a breath.”

“I’m sorry,” Shoto replied quickly, stretching his right arm out. “Here.”

He knew well that she had tactile issues with sweat and heat. Noa hesitated, but let him wrap it around her for a second. 

They stopped walking, letting his arm rest on her shoulders, cooling her off. Her fingers reached up and loosened her tie, letting the knot hang low. She could breathe easier once her temperature was regulated. 

“Thanks.”

Gently, she shrugged his arm off, and it dropped to his side. They continued down the sidewalk, and Shoto continued his rant, but kept careful control of his temperatures.

“Everytime I think I know how vile he is, he does something else that makes me hate him more. It’s never-ending. This ridiculous thing with All Might…” He huffed loudly. “I wish he’d give it up already.” 

Noa nodded, but didn’t say much. If she went on a tangent, she wouldn’t be able to stop. 

Shoto looked at her for a second. “What do you think?”

“I think that I hate him.” She replied with a shrug, looking at her shoes. “But I’m used to his antics by now. A pep talk was inevitable.”

“Of course.” Shoto said with a quick nod. “I was expecting it, I just think it’s pointless. It’s like he thinks we’re incompetent. The way he speaks to us…”

A scoff broke from Noa’s lips, remembering the threat from minutes before. “The way I spoke to him…”

Shoto smiled, a huff of breath puffing through his nose. “I can't believe you said that.”

“He is gonna beat my ass when we get back.” She said glumly, trying not to think too hard about it. 

Shoto’s face fell. He seemed to consider it for a second, then looked at her. “You could try to talk yourself out of it.” He suggested hopefully. “You seem to be good at that.”

“My mouth is what got me in trouble in the first place.” She reminded him. His expression dropped again, and she shrugged, not wanting to upset him. “Maybe if I go mute again he’ll take pity on me.”

Shoto scoffed bitterly. “That man doesn't have a pitiful bone in his body.”

“Touché.” Noa smiled. 

The walk continued in comfortable silence for a few moments, both siblings getting lost in thought, letting the rhythmic pace of their footsteps fill the quiet. They walked through neighborhoods, past rich, elaborate houses, small, private parks with lush lawns, and eventually made it to the streets of the city. 

“Do you remember our conversation from last night?” Shoto asked as they walked down the sidewalk, past towering buildings and local shops, bustling people on their way to work. 

Noa nodded, still looking at the toes of her shoes. The rubber was scuffed, the black fabric around it worn and discolored after multiple years of use. 

“Don't forget that we need to focus on ourselves.” He said, his expression slightly distracted, but determined. “The other students aren't important to us. Their opinions don't matter.”

"Yep,” Noa sighed. “Fuck ‘em all. I remember. It feels wrong to do what he says anyway. Analysis? Give me a break.” 

A smile lifted the corners of Shoto’s mouth. They kept walking, making it to the school in a few minutes. Both of their eyes widened as they approached the gates of UA.

The school was massive. Four pillars were arranged in a square, composed entirely of expansive glass windows and attached by small, skinny hallways. The wall bordering the structure stretched all the way around, towering over the sidewalk. 

“This place is like a fortress.” Noa muttered as they walked through the entrance, gazing up at the gate, at the mechanical structures built inside of it. 

“It certainly is nice.” Shoto agreed with a nod.

They walked through, making their way to the stairs. Students were all around them, talking in groups and rushing to class. They were loud, and there were so many of them that Noa immediately got overwhelmed. Her heart started pounding beneath her ribs with consuming anticipation and claustrophobia. 

Eyes were everywhere. Blinking at her. Watching. Red shapes of irises and pupils appeared in her vision around the students. 

A pair of headphones was gently pushed into her chest. She looked at Shoto, who’d impassively handed them to her without a word. He brought them knowing that this would likely happen. 

Noa’s heart warmed at the consideration, and she smiled, embarrassed. “Thanks.”

They stopped for a second while Noa plugged the aux cord into her phone, scrolling through her playlist and selecting a song. A heavy push on the back of her shoulder made her stumble forward, though, and Shoto put a hand out to steady her before she could fall. 

She glanced up at the person pushing past, who was looking over his shoulder at her with a sneer. His deep red eyes stood out from afar. 

Noa made a face at him and flipped him the middle finger. The blonde did the same, grimacing as he returned the gesture and walked away. Every movement he made was angry, like the emotion was his default. 

His backpack was hanging off one shoulder, which made Noa frown and move her other strap so she was wearing it properly. 

“You shouldn’t antagonize students on the first day.” Shoto said from beside her, amused. 

“He antagonized me first.”

The interaction left a bitter taste in Noa’s mouth. She blinked, mentally shaking off the irritation, and looked back down at her phone, selecting a track she didn't really see. An earbud got shoved in, and her and Shoto continued down the hall, making their way toward the 1A classroom. 

Their pace grew slower and more reluctant the closer they got. When they approached the door, Noa and Shoto played a sort of game, eyes flicking back and forth from each other to the handle. 

Eventually, Noa sighed and braced herself, placing her hand on the cool metal and opening the large, grey door.

“Your old school put a stick up your ass? Or were you just born that way?”

Both siblings had walked into an argument. At first glance, it seemed like one was lecturing and the other was antagonzing. Standing in front of a seat was a tall, stocky boy with dark blue hair, and in the chair, lounging with his feet on the desk and his hands in his pockets, was middle finger guy. 

Noa grimaced, turning back the other way to walk out the door before it could close. It shut before she was able to, and the sound made the argument halt. Any heads in the room turned to her and Shoto.

Noa instinctually shrunk in on herself, disliking the amount of eyes on her. Shoto didn't move. 

The one with the glasses rushed forward to introduce himself, chopping the air in front of him. He stuck his hand out, first to Shoto, then Noa. “Pleased to meet more fellow classmates! My name is Tenya Iida.”

Shoto glanced at his hand, then turned and walked away. Iida made an offended sort of scoff as Noa followed suit. Both of them walked between the aisles of desks, migrating to the back of the room by the chalkboard. Shoto sat down in the seat furthest away.

“Wait,” He said when Noa started to sit next to him, holding a hand out. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “We should spread out a little bit. If we cover more surface area we can get more information.”

Noa hesitated, caught off guard. The idea of being removed from Shoto made her anxious, especially if that meant she had to be surrounded by strangers. Her teeth clenched a bit, but she took a deep breath in, turning around.

“Where do you want me to sit?”

Shoto nodded, indicating ahead. “Somewhere up there.”

If Noa’s face couldve fallen anymore, it did. She looked to the front of the room, already having a foreboding sense of dread. The only seats open in the foremost half were the three surrounding Middle Finger Guy. He repelled human interaction. 

Noa grimaced, weighing her options. She could sit behind him, which would likely result in his overgrown head getting in her way and her being antagonized persistently by his voice. She could sit beside him- the idea immediately was shut down. If she sat diagonal, though, she would be as far away as possible, just a desk in front of Shoto.

Or she could just not listen to him and sit down where she was at. The idea was dismissed faster than sitting beside MFG. She didn't feel like arguing. 

“I could hit you for this, you know.” She said semi-jokingly, sparing her brother one last glance before walking away. She groaned to herself as she trudged over and threw herself in the chosen seat, taking a deep, lengthy sigh.

The blonde turned his head at the sound. His expression grew irritated when he saw her sitting there. 

Noa didn't budge. She didn't even look at him, instead keeping her eyes trained intently on the white board in front of her, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She felt his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned back around.

Noa turned up the volume of her music, shoving in the other earbud. She let the drums drown out her inexplicable anger, and put her head down as the rest of the students filed in. 

With her eyes closed and her face buried in her arms, Noa tried hard to focus on her expression. She imagined herself with eyes that were less wide, a countenance that was less perpetually scared. She practiced flattening her face into a completely empty expression that no one would even question, keeping her lids low and squinted so she didn’t look so pathetic. 

Minutes later, a tap on her shoulder made her look up. The girl that had gotten her attention was pretty— dark purple hair cut in a short bob, aux cords hanging from her ears. Her face was expectant, but mostly impassive.

Noa raised her eyebrow, taking a headphone out. The girl nudged her head toward the front of the room. 

“Attendance.” She said in a bored voice. “You’re up.”

Noa quickly straightened and fixed her shirt, reaching up to fully remove the headphones. Then her eyes lifted to the whiteboard. 

Her face went slack, arm freezing next to her shoulder, cord in hand. The person standing at the front of the room made her body go numb with shock.

“Todoroki Noa.” Shouta Aizawa said, not looking up from his clipboard for longer than a second. 

She blinked. The best she could do was raise a shaky hand, not saying a word.

Aizawa moved down the line, calling out the next student’s name in the same voice.

𖤐✰

Noa’s mind was disconnected from her body as she walked to the locker rooms in a daze. The other girls in the class walked quickly ahead of her, chatting quietly amongst themselves, making introductions. She barely noticed them, lingering behind with her hands in her pockets, a lost look in her eyes.

He was there. Shouta— Mr. Aizawa— was there, at the school. Not only that, he was her teacher. Her homeroom teacher, so she would be in his class the most. 

Noa didn't think she’d ever see him again. She’d hoped, of course, but the realistic chances of her ever being able to regain contact with the man were next to none, until then. There were so many emotions, so many types of shock running through her system, that she couldn't form a reaction. She was completely stunned.

The small cluster of girls in front of her filed through a door, running to lockers and claiming them quickly. Noa wandered through them, absentmindedly finding a door and setting her bag down. She could hardly see. So many memories were coming back, flooding in so vividly she could almost feel the frigidity of the hospital, the sensation of Aizawa’s hand rubbing the top of her head. 

Her past was coming back in waves, and she was drowning in them.

Through the water roaring in her ears, Noa heard a faint, hushed whispering sound. She snapped out of it for a moment, looking up to see three girls on the other side of the locker room, their eyes flicking to her every couple of seconds. 

Noa’d heard of this before, but honestly didn't expect it to actually exist in real life. She thought gossip was just a myth perpetuated by cheesy coming of age movies.

She looked down at her legs as she pulled on the school-issued workout uniform. Her scars were out and loud, just like she’d known they’d be. They winded up her shins, twisting up her knees and thighs. She was covered in them. The skirt and the socks had given her somewhat of a barrier, but in the changing room, nothing could be covered. 

The girls looked over again, and realized they’d been caught staring, turning away from her with hushed giggles. Noa’s face grew hot with shame and anger as she yanked her pants over her hips. She thought she might say something, try to stick up for herself. Judging her appearance on the first day with no introductions was shallow and unfair. 

Her mouth closed, lips pursing. Shoto’s voice echoed in her head. Their opinions don't matter.

“If you guys wanna keep staring, I’m sure your phones have great cameras.” A dull voice said from beside Noa. 

She startled, looking up. It was the girl from before, with the aux cords.

“We haven't even been here an hour,” She said, pulling her purple hair out of the collar of her jacket. “Let’s get through at least one class before acting like bitches, ‘kay?”

If Noa’s face was hot before, it was burning now. They were all looking at her. She ducked her head down, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. 

The attention only made it worse. Noa was deeply, eternally, and silently grateful for the random act of support, but she was mostly embarrassed. Her gym uniform was on by then, so she quickly pulled her shoes over her feet, standing up and exiting the locker room as fast as she could. 

She was sweating as she walked down the hallway, making her way down to the practice field. Angry adrenaline made her start shaking. The shock of her teacher, the shame of the locker room, it was all too much. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her hands moving back and forth at her sides in an attempt to release whatever feelings she could.

Slowly, she took a deep breath in, closing her eyes for a moment. She let the air fill her lung, let her ribcage stretch to allow them room to expand. She remembered her mask from that morning. It felt far away now, but she called on it, willing it to come forward. She felt the pieces slowly slide into place. 

Her eyes opened, and she released the breath. The bunching of her shoulders eased. Her clenched jaw relaxed. She formed her face into that calculated flat expression. 

This was fine. It would all be fine. Aizawa was here, and teenage girls were mean, and school sucked. That was fine. 

Stick with Shoto , she told herself. It was a mantra she’d taken to repeating when the amount of people at school got too overwhelming. Stick with Shoto, and you’ll be fine. Standing behind him will make you mediocre enough to ignore. 

No one notices the sidekick.

It was an effort to hide the glum expression from her face as she trudged down the UA staircase and onto the practice field. About half the class was gathered around the softball pitch, waiting on the rest to finish changing. 

Noa’s eyes looked around frantically for Shoto, but he must've still been in the locker room, because his candy-cane colored hair was nowhere in sight. The realization made her feel awkward, and she crossed her arms over her chest, going to stand at the edge of the group. She lingered a few feet behind the rest of the students. 

Aizawa hadn't shown up yet either. Noa’s foot tapped on the ground in anticipation, her breathing growing impatient and anxious.

“Hey,” An approaching voice said from behind her. Noa turned and saw the girl from the locker room. 

“Sorry about them.” She said, indicating toward the other girls joining the group. “‘Bunch of idiots. They could’ve at least said something interesting.”

Noa looked at her, resisting a small smile. She sighed, shrugging it off and looking ahead. “They can say what they want. I don't really care what anyone thinks.”

The lie wasn't good. She still tried to say it casually enough that it could be slightly believable. 

“Well, yeah.” The girl agreed with a shrug. “But it’s still rude. Normally I wouldn't have said anything, but-”

“Don’t worry about it.” Noa said gently, a small lift to the corner of her mouth. “You were a lot nicer than I would've been.”

A crooked grin spread across the girls face. “I say let ‘em hear it. Drama is interesting.”

“Yeah,” Noa adds. “As long as you aren’t the one involved.” 

The two girls had been talking in similar poses, standing next to each other with their arms crossed casually, staring ahead. In the silence that lingered after the conversation, they turned and looked at one another for a moment. 

Something interesting lay in her expression. Noa was… intrigued, maybe. If there was anyone she remotely enjoyed at this school, it'd be her. 

“Kyouka Jirou.” The girl said, sticking her hand out. Noa gave her a once-over, looking at her hand skeptically before reaching out and shaking it. Her fingers were soft and cold. 

“Noa.” She replied, face growing warm. 

A motion behind Jirou’s shoulder caught her attention, and she squinted, stretching her neck up. She saw a strand of red hair sticking up a few feet away, just visible over the fabric of the girl’s gym uniform. 

Noa looked back at her, thinking about what she did for her in the locker room. She offered a small but genuine smile. 

“Thanks, Jirou.” She said, dipping her chin in gratitude. She walked around her and over to where Shoto was standing. 

He was waiting for her on the other side of the group of students, his face hard and impassive.

“Who was that?” He asked. There was a vague sense of accusation in the question, and it made Noa uneasy, defensive. 

“No clue.” She shrugged. “She stuck up for me in the locker room, but I don't know why. I didn't ask her to.”

“Huh.” He said apprehensively, brows furrowed.

Noa looked at the ground, embarrassed. Speaking felt disobedient— her voice got quiet as she stared at the dirt. 

“She’s nice.”

Shoto turned to her quickly. He looked a bit surprised, and not necessarily in a positive way. He rushed to school his expression, letting it flatten out into his usual monotony. 

“Okay.” He said, nodding slowly. “Just don't get distracted.”

Noa sighed, shoving down the twinge of annoyance. 

“Mhm,” She nodded at the ground numbly. “I remember.”

Shoto was still looking at her, his face conflicted. The rest of the class gathered before he could say anything else, and Aizawa walked to the front of the group. All conversation stopped, all eyes trained on their teacher. This was the first lesson of the entire year. Every impression mattered.

The man cleared his throat, and briefly explained how middle school commonly held back potential. Noa really, really tried to listen and pay attention. She grit her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, willing herself to concentrate on the matter at hand. It was all for nothing. 

Shouta looked so different, yet somehow exactly the same. There had been so much shock during attendance that she’d hardly had enough time- or mental fortitude- to take notice of his appearance. He was older, of course, but he still had that long, scraggly hair and light stubble, the white scarf and deep green hero costume. 

He still looked exhausted, but notably more so than he’d been a decade prior. The bags around his eyes were darker, and his irises were that same deep gray, but somehow dimmer. The yellow goggles he wore for work hung above his scarf.

“Bakugo.”

Noa snapped out of it when she felt someone pushing through the crowd. She blinked as she came back to reality, and noticed Middle Finger Guy stepping up, Aizawa directing him to stand on the plate. 

“You scored first in the entrance exams.” The man told him. “What was your softball pitch in middle school?”

Middle Finger Guy- Bakugo- couldn't even seem to answer a question without looking like he smelled something rancid. 

“67 meters, I think.” 

Aizawa nodded, tossing him a softball. “Now try it with your quirk.”

Bakugo caught it with a grin, and stepped into a white circle painted on the dirt. He rolled his shoulder in preparation. Noa rolled her eyes at the theatrics.

“Anything goes, just stay in the circle.” Aizawa tiredly instructed. “Now get on with it. You’re wasting our time.”

Middle Finger Guy grinned, almost sadistically, and shrugged. “Alright man, you asked for it.”

In irritatingly perfect form, he bent down, reached his arm back, and swung his leg out, lurching forward. As soon as the ball left his hand, sparks ignited in his palm, and a deafening explosion propelled it through the air. 

The heat, the sound, and the force of it nearly pushed the entire class backward. Noa flinched, but concealed it as a grimace. 

When the realization registered, though, so did the shock. 

Explosion. 

Middle Finger Guy had some sort of explosive quirk, and a good one by the looks of it. Devastating, chaotic, and unpredictable, but overall— powerful. 

Trouble, is what it was. 

Noa blinked as the heat faded and the dust settled. Bakugo turned around, grinning egotistically. Aizawa held his phone out to display the distance of the throw. 

705.2 meters.

The reactions of the students were almost unanimously awed. If Middle Finger Guy wanted to make an impression, he certainly did so. 

Noa was annoyed, and impressed. When she inhaled, though, it stung, in a way that was familiar. She grimaced, and sniffed again, distracted by the scent. What was that? 

“Three of you are recommendation students,” Aizawa said from the front of the group, getting Noa’s attention. “Which means you’ve been sent here by a pro, and were given different entrance exams.” 

He looked down at the clipboard in his hand, flipping a paper over, and his face dropped. It was minute, but Noa could just barely see it, and only because she had been watching closely.

Aizawa cleared his throat, looking back up at the class. “Noa Todoroki, you also scored first. Same goes for you.”

Noa’s face dropped, lips parting. 

Everyone turned toward her, and her neck grew unbearably hot. Her mouth dried. She tried desperately to hide the shock and embarrassment from her expression, but when she looked away from the students, she only made eye contact with Aizawa.

He’d been avoiding her gaze since before attendance even started. They hadn't looked at each other once. Now that they finally locked eyes, Noa felt frozen in place. She never thought she’d see him again, and she certainly never thought those would be his first words to her if she did. 

A softball pitch? She thought absentmindedly. Really?

She hadn't realized how long she’d been standing there, staring. Someone coughed. Shoto gently nudged her with his elbow. 

Noa stepped forward, stumbling a bit before walking through the crowd. Aizawa threw her a new softball. She blinked as she caught it, still stunned. 

What a reunion.

A hard push on her shoulder snapped Noa from her thoughts. She’d been too distracted to notice the person pushing past on her other side, and she froze when he hit her. All the shock drained from her body and was replaced with hot anger. Her head slowly turned back.

“Beat that, hotshot.” Bakugo said over his shoulder with a smirk.

Noa’s fingers tightened over the stitches of the softball. Seriously , if there was a worse time for him to pick-

She was inside the circle before she could finish being angry. She focused on the object in her hand, and took a deep breath, feeling the air enter her lung. The sun was still rising, warm and potent.

When Noa first heard the words ‘softball pitch’, she imagined just throwing it really hard and being done with it. She didn't want to show off, didn't want to use her quirk unless she had to.  

Now, though…

She needed to be better. She needed to 1) say ‘fuck you’ to MFG, and 2) prove herself to Aizawa. She was fueled by spite and determination.

Noa opened her eyes, and looked at Aizawa sideways. “Anything goes?”

The man nodded. Noa glanced back down at her hands, lowering the softball. The arm with the tattooed wrist dropped toward the ground, and her eyes glowed red as a black snake protruded from her palm. It froze, solidifying itself into a makeshift bat. 

Noa took a deep breath in, looked up, and tossed the softball. Hebi’s strength flowed through her arms as she swung the bat, exhaling when it made contact with a high pitched ding . 

The ball ricocheted off the snake and soared, flying over the trees, past the gates of UA. Enough wind force was generated from the swing to make a few of the students behind her stumble back.

Breathless, Noa looked to the side, bat hanging low. Aizawa was trying to restrain a smile as he held up his phone. 

845 meters.

Excitement shone in her eyes at the approval, and the corner of her mouth twitched, but she quickly willed her expression into uniform boredom. She shrugged, tossing the bat outside of the circle and walking back to Shoto. The snake shimmered and dispersed into the air.

The reactions of the students were similar to when Bakugo had thrown his own softball, if not stronger. They made awed comments as she passed through the crowd, staring with wide, impressed eyes. The attention was unnerving, and her fingers twisted together. Everyone was looking at her.

The anxiety ebbed a bit when she saw Shoto at the edge of the group, waiting for her with a pleased expression. She walked toward him quickly, but didn’t miss the rage on Bakugo’s face as she passed by without a word. It was a considerable effort not to gloat.

“Good job.” Shoto said quietly when she joined him. 

Noa stared at the ground, fighting the heat from her face. “Thanks.”

Her brother looked at her with interest. “I’m surprised you used your quirk.” He said. “I forgot how powerful it is.”

Noa looked at him for a second, blinking. She herself was surprised that she used Hebi for the ball throw. She didn't plan to use them at all unless absolutely necessary. 

“You know Aizawa?” She whispered, indicating toward their teacher with her head. Shoto nodded. 

“He’s Eraserhead.” Noa told him. “His full name is Shouta Aizawa.”

She waited for the pieces to click, but her brother just blinked in confusion. 

“My nightlight?”

“Oh.” Shoto said in realization. Then his eyes widened, and he looked at Aizawa. “Oh my.”

“Yeah.” Noa responded bitterly, nodding. “He’s… yeah.”

The situation was still mind-boggling. Out of all the teachers in Japan, the one she just happened to receive was the only kind man she’d ever met? Someone with connections to her past? That was hard enough to deal with on its own, and Noa wasnt lying when she told Shoto this. 

But she wasn't telling the whole truth, either. Her teacher wasn't the only reason she’d shown off. 

The burning feeling of eyes boring into her shoulders made a chill run up her spine, and she turned around. Bakugo was still glaring at her.

Noa returned the look, and rolled her eyes before turning back to Shoto. They stood next to each other for a few moments, Shoto thinking back on something. 

“I still can't believe you beat me.” He said, shaking his head back and forth. 

Noa remembered the entrance exams, and smirked. “It’s not my fault you were too pissed at Tornado Hands to focus.”

The outcome of the exams weren’t the best, obviously, but watching her brother lose his carefully constructed composure was entertaining, to say the least. Shoto continued to shake his head, clearly frustrated at himself. Noa understood how he felt, knew the repercussions they each faced because of the placement. 

“The old man already let us know how he felt about it.” She shrugged. “Don't keep beating yourself up, Sho. You’d just be giving him the satisfaction.”

Shoto nodded. Before anything else could be said between the siblings, a gentle tap on Noa’s shoulder got her attention. She turned and saw a boy with bright red hair beaming at her. 

“That was totally amazing, man!” He gushed, pointed teeth gleaming as he smiled. “You’re the strongest chick I’ve ever met. Sweet job!” 

He stuck his hand out, and gestured to a few of the people standing around him. “I’m Kirishima. This is Kaminari, Sero, and Ashido.”

The corresponding people all looked equally as kind as the redhead. A skinny blonde with a black streak in his hair grinned at her cheekily, the taller guy next to him rolling his eyes, but smiling kindly at Noa. Ashido had baby pink skin, and bright, curly hair that matched. She was gorgeous, and wasn't from the group of whispering girls in the locker room. She waved with a bright grin.

“Oh-” Noa blinked, stuttering. “Uh, hi.”

Her fingers twitched, about to reach up and shake the extended hand, but Shoto cut in before she could. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” He said curtly, putting an arm around Noa and gently turning her around. 

His arm dropped. They faced Aizawa and didn't say a word to each other, negative tension growing. The kids behind them seemed surprised, but took it rather well, and migrated to a different side of the group. 

Aizawa scolded the girl- Ashido- when she got a little too loud and excited about the class. 

“So this looks like fun, huh?” He asked rhetorically, an authoritative look in his eyes. “You have three years to become a hero. You think it's all gonna be fun games and playtime?”

The class gasped at the seriousness, the slight cruelty in his words. A warped, almost scary grin spread across the man’s face. “Idiots.”

“Today you will compete in eight physical tests to determine your potential.” He instructed. “Whoever comes in last has none, and will be expelled immediately.”

Again, the students gasped and burst into protest. Noa herself was surprised by the severity. Expulsion meant the man was certainly not messing around. 

Before the class could descend into chaos, Aizawa silenced them with a red glare. 

“I run this class how I want, understand?” He said threateningly. “If you have a problem, you can go home right now.”

The reactions of the people around her were largely split in two. Half the students were horrified and panicking, the others racking their brains, tackling the obstacle from a logical standpoint. 

Noa, weirdly, was excited. She enjoyed the way Aizawa ran his class— the no bullshit philosophy, the strict but mostly uncruel expectations. It made sense he would do it that way; the hero profession was no joke. Adding in the factor of expulsion mightve been a bit extreme, but creating high stakes made for determined kids with more to lose, and less chances of getting hurt in the process. 

Of course, the only other person who shared this animus was the one she’d quickly come to despise. Bakugo was grinning at his teacher with a maniacally thrilled expression, noticeably enticed by the challenge. 

“You can't send one of us home!” A girl in the front protested. “I mean, we just got here! And even if it wasn't the first day, that's totally unfair.”

The girl wasnt much taller than Noa, with short brown hair and soft pink cheeks. She looked nice, too, but Noa recognized her from the locker room, and knew better. 

Annoyance built in her chest. Fair? She wanted to talk about fairness? 

“Oh, get over yourself.” Noa muttered before she could stop it, rolling her eyes. Only the words came out louder than she’d intended. 

A few heads turned to her, the brunette girl who’d spoken initially turning around with an offended expression. Noa’s face heated. She looked at the ground.

“She may have spoken out of turn ,” Aizawa cut in, saving her. “But Todoroki’s right. Unfairness is a part of life. Tell me, are natural disasters fair? Or power hungry villains, hm? Catastrophic accidents that wipe out whole cities?”

The class was stunned into silence. The brunette girl's face turned bright red. Aizawa crossed his arms, letting the words sink in before speaking again, glaring at his students. 

“The world is full of unfairness, and it's a hero's job to try and combat that. If you wanna be a pro, you will have to push yourself to the brink. For the next three years, UA will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. So go beyond, plus ultra style."

Noa felt his lecture working. Even her severe lack of desire to be a hero wavered at the inspiration in his voice, disguised as it may have been. 

“Show me it’s no mistake that you’re here.”

The other students had similar, albeit stronger, reactions. Aizawa’s determination was contagious. He’d set a fire underneath every single one of them. 

Noa’s jaw set firmly. She felt the dagger of focus sharpen like a knife in her psyche. It was time to do what she came here for. Help Shoto, stay behind him, and go as unnoticed as possible. 

The softball throw had impeded her plan for a minute, but she wasn’t going to let her mask crack anymore. Her only objective was her brothers success, regardless of the fact that it meant she was playing right into Endeavor’s hands. 

“Now then,” Aizawa said. “We’re just wasting time by talking.”

The people around her were full of anticipation, gearing themselves up for the tests to start. Their teacher scanned each of their faces, lingering on Noa’s for no more than two seconds. He dipped his chin at her, nodding minusculey. 

“Let the games begin.”

It would certainly be an interesting year. 

𖤐✰

Though tedious, the tests passed fairly quickly. In all honesty, Noa sort of found them boring.

She did exactly as she planned, scoring just below Shoto, restraining or stretching her power just enough to almost keep up with him. It took a lot of precision, but it wasn't something Noa was unfamiliar with. She trailed less than a foot after him in the sprint, stayed by his side during the distance run and long jump, and partnered with him in the toe-touch and sit ups. 

When they were on the mat, Noa’s gym uniform against the stinky blue plastic covering, Shoto held her feet down, and she started doing her curls. It was an exercise Endeavor had them do often, and they had formed a tradition of punching the others hands when they came up. 

After her first sit up, though, when her fist extended, she looked to the left and saw a pair of students next to her. On the other side of them, Bakugo and Kirishima were paired together. 

Middle finger guy was doing curls too. 

He felt her staring and glanced over, then sneered at her. Noa glared back.

Simultaneously, they started doing the sit ups faster, trying to beat the other in a silent battle of abdominal strength. Noa focused so much that she even forgot to box Shoto’s palms. Their eyes kept flicking back and forth, checking the others' progress. They kept moving faster, almost neck and neck. 

Noa grit her teeth, refusing to let him win. By the time Aizawa blew the whistle, she had done two more sit ups than him.

She smiled gloatingly as she stood up off the mat, dusting her hands off. She didn't even bother glancing at her opponent, feigning indifference. She continued staying attached to Shoto as they moved through the tests. All the students tried their hardest, and Noa kept an eye on every single one of them. 

There were a few outliers that had a certain amount of concerning potential, but Shoto was better than the majority. Momo Yayarouzu had a creation quirk, which allowed her to materialize anything she wanted as long as she knew how it was made. Fumikage Tokoyami had a sentient quirk, much like Noa’s own, but it was unpredictable. Unbelievably strong and ruthless, but unpredictable.

Katsuki Bakugo… she was reluctant to admit his talent, but even she had to hand it to him. The quirk was good, but it was more than that. Every move he made was big and angry, but it was precise. The chaos was calculated. His skill was able to hone an already devastating power. At the moment, he posed the biggest threat.

Everyone was sweating by the time they re-gathered at the softball pitch. Students looked at each other nervously as they went up one by one, competing in the same test Noa had done prior. They did good at that, too. The brunette girl from before had some sort of gravitational quirk. It made her ball float into space and she received a score of infinity. 

Then, the last person in line walked up to the plate. He had unruly green hair, and a hunched, anxiety-ridden stature. His hands shook back and forth at his side in a way that seemed like a nervous tic.

Noa didn’t necessarily blame him. She payed him a bit of interest at first, but he didn't end up using his quirk at all during the tests, and she quickly wrote him off. All his scores were high, for a regular person, but significantly lower than the rest of the students. 

She felt bad for him. He seemed sweet, if not a bit of a mess.

The people around her whispered to each other about his odds, and the majority consensus was that if he didn’t step it up now, he would be the one going home. Noa tried to ignore them, but then a loud, grating voice broke out over all the others.

“ Hah? ” Bakugo said, drawing the sound out, looking at Iida like he was stupid. “Of course he is, he’s a quirkless loser.”

Noa’s brows creased, but she continued trying to drown them out.

“He has a quirk.” The navy-haired boy protested. “Did you not hear about the entrance exams?”

To her irritation, Noa’s interest peaked. What could this seemingly mediocre guy have done to earn a reputation? She looked over at Iida, who was standing next to her, and sighed, begrudgingly preparing herself for conversation.

“Excuse me.” She said to him quietly. “What happened at the exam?”

“Oh,” Iida looked at her in surprise, blinking for a moment before speaking. “Do you see Uraraka over there?” He asked, pointing to the brunette girl with pink cheeks. Noa nodded.

“He saved her from a huge zero-point robot, took it down with one punch. His bones were shattered, but he was able to gauge certain parameters of the exam that no one else could.”

Noa’s brows raised. The feat was impressive, regardless of the repercussions. There was clearly a layer of intelligence behind all that nervous energy. Maybe she was wrong to count him out. 

“What do you care?” Bakugo said, leaning forward, sneering at her from the other side of Iida. “Haven't you been stalking the class enough?”

Annoyed- and surprised- Noa blinked. He’d caught on to her analysis, which had to take at least a sliver of brain power on his part.

“Yeah,” He said with a glare, nodding. “I saw you watching everyone’s quirks. You and the nerd are just alike.” 

Bakugo gave her a quick once over, and grimaced. “It makes me sick.”

Noa’s first instinct was to hit him. Her anger grew palpable. It was a struggle to remember her mask, and remain indifferent, but she looked at him, simply raising a brow. 

“Huh,” She said boredly. “Surprised there’s a brain underneath all that arrogance.”

Bakugo’s face contorted in rage, and he lunged at her, yelling profanities. Noa was more than ready to defend herself, but Iida held up a firm hand and pushed the blonde away. 

“You two!” He scolded. “That is enough.”

Both of them glared at each other over either side of Iida, seething. Bakugo’s upper lip seemed permanently pulled back.

A nudge on her opposite side got Noa’s attention. 

Shoto had tapped her with his elbow, and when she looked at him, his expression was disapproving. He shook his head, silently indicating to stop talking to the others. Noa’s face fell, and she looked back at the softball pitch. 

Midoriya was looking down at the sphere in his hands, and he took a big, deep breath, his shoulders rising. He reached his arm back, and Noa had the most unsettling, peculiar feeling as the outline of his body glowed a faint pink. The light was hardly noticeable, but it made her stomach turn. 

The ball left his hand, but the power faded, and it hardly went further than 40 meters. Midoriya looked down, confused, before he glanced at Aizawa. 

“I erased your quirk.” The man said, his voice low and stern. “The judges in the exam were not rational enough. Someone like you should never be allowed at this school.”

Noa was taken aback by Aizawa’s tone. She’d never heard him so harsh.

“You did what to my-” Izuku started, before realization dawned on him, and his eyes grew wide. “Those goggles! I know you. You can look at someone and take away their powers. You’re The Erasure Hero: EraserHead!”

The name brought back a memory of Noa standing in a dirty alleyway, a dog dying behind the dumpster. She suppressed the shiver that ran down her spine, and shook away the thought.

On the pitch, Aizawa only glared at Midoriya, ignoring his fawning.

”You’re not ready.” He told him. “You dont have control over your power. Were you planning on breaking your bones again? Counting on someone else to save your useless body?”

“What?” Izuku’s eyes grew frantic, and he waved his hands in front of him. “No, no, that’s not what I was trying to do!”

Aizawa flung his scarf out, and the white tendrils wrapped around Midoriya, drawing him close. Interested- albeit intrusive- Noa used her quirk to listen in. The chastising edge to her teacher's voice was so severe, so serious, that it honestly frightened her. 

“No matter what your intentions are, you would be nothing more than a liability in battle.” He said cruelly. “You have the same reckless passion as another overzealous hero I know, one who saved a thousand people by himself and became a legend. Even with that drive, you’re worthless if you can only throw a single punch before breaking down.”

Again, Noa was taken back. Even if it was true, and overall out of concern, it was out of line. No one deserved to be spoken to like that. She could literally see the kid’s dreams being crushed one by one.

“Sorry Midoriya,” Aizawa said, insincere. “With that power, there's no way you can become a hero.”

“ Damn .” Noa whispered, feeling sympathetic for Izuku and appalled at Aizawa. 

“You can hear them?” Someone said next to her in a disbelieving, somehow offended voice.

Already recognizing the tone, Noa closed her eyes, blinking slowly before turning her head and looking at Bakugo. 

He was standing next to her, Iida having removed himself from between the two. She stared at him with annoyance for a few seconds, her face monotone, then looked back at the pitch, ignoring him.

“What’s your quirk anyway?” Bakugo persisted. “Besides being annoying.”

Noa’s jaw tightened, and she clenched her teeth, but stayed staring straight ahead.

“Hey.” He said, snapping his fingers. “You deaf? I’m talkin’ to you.”

“What do you care?” Noa asked, her patience wearing thinner with every word. She still didn't look at him. 

“Oh, so you can watch everyone in here, but can't be honest about yourself?” Bakugo quipped, rolling his eyes. “It doesn't matter to me, idiot. It’s just obvious that you were holding back during the tests.” 

Noa blinked, and her jaw got even tighter. Her eyes darted to him; he looked at her with his arms crossed.

“Tell me why.” He demanded. “What does a loser like you possibly have to hide.”

To both of their surprises, Noa laughed. It was closer to a scoff, and more bitter than coffee grounds. She had more to hide than anyone. The irony she was able to find in his beration made her anger ebb just the slightest.

“Careful,” She said with a smirk, her eyes trained on Aizawa and Midoriya. “You sound defensive.”

Bakugo grit his teeth, but surprisingly didn't let the comment get to him. He leaned an inch toward her, squinting. “You made a big show with that stupid ball throw, but now you’re not even trying. Why?”

Finally, Noa turned her head, looking at him directly. Her face was impassive, a brow raised.

“Threatened?”

A snorting laugh and a smirk came from the boy beside her. “Not a chance.”

They stared at each other for a moment, violent, angry tension growing. They hadn’t interacted more than three times, and Noa already disliked him so strongly it bordered on hatred. The red in his eyes was something she’d seen before, and couldn't stand, so she was predisposed to disliking even the sight of him. 

A gentle breeze passed by and blew Noa’s bangs away from her forehead. When she inhaled, the air was tainted by a sickeningly burnt, bitter chemical smell. 

Noa’s stomach plummeted. The hairs on her arms rose. Her eyes doubled in size, flickering red. She stumbled back, bumping into Shoto. As soon as he caught her, Noa turned and walked quickly the other way, her brother in tow. 

“What happened?” Shoto said in concern as she dragged him to the other side of the students. When they were far enough away, Noa stopped, letting go of his wrist. Her heart was racing, chest heaving. Her pupils were blown, hands trembling at her sides.

“Noa?” Her brother said, brows wrinkling. His eyes darted around her face. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Noa said, nearly gasping. She put a hand over her collarbones, trying to tame her racing heart. “I’m fine, he just-” She took a few more breaths. “Stinks.”

Shoto couldn't have looked more confused. Noa, again, lacked the mental fortitude to explain. With considerable effort, she took several deep breaths in, controlling herself, her outburst of panic. She looked back at the pitch, trying to refocus. Shoto followed suit, but glanced at her skeptically from time to time. 

When Noa was with All for One, in that awful year she endured before being thrust into the hands of Enji, he had conducted numerous experiments. A common procedure was to inject her with chemicals, noting how her body held up under the stress, what it took to keep her alive, how it affected her entire being. 

One of those chemicals was nitroglycerin. 

Nitroglycerin is an unstable, explosive substance that can sometimes be used to treat heart conditions. It was also the detonator of Bakugo’s quirk. The smoke she had smelt when he threw the softball had been a remnant of the chemical, the stinging she just felt in her nose an effect of being in proximity of his sweat-covered hands. 

Noa wanted to puke. She could practically feel the needles being pressed into her veins, the leather straps holding her to the metal table. The memories were too real. A wave of nausea surged, and her stomach lurched. It was a struggle to keep her rising bile contained.

Everything was happening so quickly. It might've been overwhelming, but Noa was ultimately grateful for the constant distractions. 

A loud, pained ‘SMASH!’ rang out from the pitcher's mound, snapping Noa from her spiral. Midoriya had his hand extended, his body void of power until the last second, when the ball was just leaving his grasp. The end of his finger glowed that same pink, and Noa got that same unsettling feeling she did before. 

With a deafening boom, the softball rocketed away from the group, soaring through the air with enough force to take out a plane. A huge gust of wind blew the class backward as clouds parted around the ball, and it disappeared from view.

The students were silent, stunned. A bird chirped. 

“Mr. Aizawa.” Midoriya said through gritted teeth, voice strained. He put his hand in a fist, broken finger bending unnaturally. “You see? I’m still standing!”

True, rare, genuine surprise shown on Aizawas face. He lifted his goggles, lips upturning. “This kid…”

The man turned his phone toward the watching students. 

705.3 meters.

Noa snorted, quickly slapping a hand over her mouth. The rest of the class’ reactions were loud enough to drown the sound out, thankfully. Knowing what she would see, she turned toward Bakugo, standing at the other end of the crowd. He was staring at Midoriya, his jaw open, arms shaking with anger. 

Noa couldn't help the satisfaction. She couldn't help the slight twinge of jealousy toward the green haired boy, either. She wished she would’ve thought of throwing it a fraction of a meter further than MFG, instead of blowing his score out of the water.

When the humor wore off, the admiration set it. Regardless of how weird Midoriya’s quirk made her feel, it was undeniably strong. Just the tip of his finger sent the ball flying. If he could figure out how to safely use all that power… 

Noa really shouldn't have underestimated him. 

Her and Shoto shared a look, a silent conversation passing between them. They both knew to watch out for whatever this kid would end up doing next.

“DEKU YOU BASTARD!” Somebody shrieked, gaining everyone's attention. “TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT OR YOU’RE DEAD!”

Bakugo burst through the crowd, lunging at Midoriya with his palms sparking. Noa’s face dropped, and she was filled with second-hand embarrassment. What the hell was this guy's problem?

He was stopped short by the ropes of Aizawa’s scarf. The man was in hero mode again— goggles on, eyes glowing, hair levitating. 

“What?” Bakugo struggled against the fabric. “Why the hell is your damn scarf so strong?”

“Because it’s a capture weapon made out of special carbon fiber and metal alloy.” Aizawa replied dryly, annoyed. He released Bakugo and tilted his head up, grabbing a bottle of eye drops from his pocket. “Stand down. It would be wise not to make me use my quirk so much. I get serious dry eye.”

Noa smirked as the blonde pouted and slunk back over to the crowd of students. 

“You’re wasting my time now. Let's move on.”

It was an effort to hide the smile from her face. Aizawa was different, that was for sure. He was harsh and strict, and a little bit rude, but he was funny, in a dry sort of way. He had a certain snark that hadn't shown itself when she was a toddler, and she found it amusing. It certainly put Middle Finger Guy in his place.

Noa watched Midoriya walk back to the group, head hanging low. The bruised finger hung limp at his side, his good arm clutching his wrist. 

There was an analytical expression on her face as she squinted at him. It seemed like him and the blonde knew each other somehow. The question of why Izuku’s power made her feel so weird glared in the back of her mind.

The day just kept getting more interesting, and not necessarily for the better.

𖤐✰

Not long after Midoriya’s ball throw- which Noa was still perplexed by- the tests were finished, and the students gathered around a screen, staring at their names displayed next to their rankings. Some were pleased, some disappointed, others accepting. 

The results were mostly what Noa had predicted. Momo placed first, which was slightly irritating, but Shoto and herself were directly after, so it wasn't a huge problem. Bakugo and Tokoyami were right behind her, which was, again, unsurprising, but when Noa looked over, she saw Bakugo’s expression, and felt satisfied. He was enraged that she did better than him, and seemingly without trying.

The most miserable of the bunch was Midoriya. Despite his ball throw, he placed last, and it was written all over his face. He was standing right next to Noa, too, so she got the full brunt of his mumbling. After a few minutes, she felt empathy starting to take over, and dreaded what she was going to do. She sighed, and blinked slowly before turning to him.

“Worried about the results?” 

Izuku looked up, startled. His green eyes were shining as they flicked over to the screen, his name in the twenty-first slot. The expression fell as he looked back at her, gaze dropping to the floor.

“I wouldn't put it past Aizawa to expel one of his students,” She started. 

Midoriya’s misery only grew, a tear building.

“-but there’s no way he would kick you out after seeing you use your quirk so smartly.” She rushed to finish. “Your ball throw was good, really. Everyone here saw your potential.”

Though it seemed impossible, Izuku’s eyes widened even more. He sniffed, wiping the back of his wrist beneath his nose. “You really think so?” 

“Of course.” Noa nodded, her brows creasing. “You deserve to be here as much as the rest of us.”

“Thank you.” Midoriya smiled bashfully. “Not… everyone seems to think so.”

It didn't take a genius to guess who he meant. 

“Okay first of all, do you know that guy or something? ‘Cause I fuckin’ hate him so far.”

Midoriya seemed shocked for a second, presumably at her language, but he nodded, his face dropping. “Yeah… I know Kacchan.”

Confusion made Noa’s brows crease, but she brushed it off. “Whoever he is, I think that he actually did see your potential. He wouldn’t have reacted like that if he didn't.”

The way Midoriya’s expression contorted was amusing. He looked both surprised and perplexed. “Uh, maybe.” He said, twisting his fingers. “But I really doubt it.”

“He would’ve laughed in your face if you did poorly.” Noa told him. “His anger means he has something to be worried about, and you have something to be proud of.”

Again, Izuku’s eyes widened. “Wow. Um, thank you.” He said, scratching the back of his neck. “That’s a really smart way to look at it.”

Noa shrugged. “I’m used to people like him.”

A brief moment passed in the silence that followed. They were looking at each other, and that same peculiar feeling returned at the sight of his large veridian irises. Noa’s brows creased, wondering once again what it was between him and All Might that made her feel so odd. 

In front of them, the screen shut off, getting both of their attentions. Aizawa stepped in front of it, stowing his phone in his costume. “I was lying before— no one’s going home today.” He grinned. “That was just a rational deception to motivate you.”

The students erupted into complaints and protests. Noa smirked at his antics, regardless of how unfair it may or may not have been to lie. She gave Izuku a sideways, I-told-you-so glance, and he smiled sheepishly. 

An elbow pressed into her side, and it had happened often enough that morning for her to know who it was. 

“Please, could you stop doing that, Sho.” She said calmly, turning to him. “I’m gonna get a bruise.”

Shoto nodded, looking a bit regretful, but still put off by her interactions with the class. Noa tried to ignore his persistence. 

“You guys didn't know that?” Someone said from a few feet away, sounding facetiously genuine. “I’m sorry, I guess I should’ve said something.”

Noa looked over, and rolled her eyes at the perfect looking girl with the black ponytail. Momo was one of the girls from the locker room, and Noa very faintly remembered seeing her at the recommendation exams. She was gorgeous, and extremely talented. Clearly smart. She looked sort of like Noa, if she was taller and prettier and less awkward and perfect. 

The mask was taking serious, likely irreparable damage that day. Every moment, one right after the other, was stressful and irritating and nerve-racking. Being at the school for hardly more than two hours was already wearing down the plaster so much that Noa had to use metaphorical tape and glue to hold it together.

If she hadn't made the mask that morning, she would've been crumbling to pieces. She might've gotten kicked out already. Her emotions were out of control.

A few feet away, Midoriya looked at her, smiling hugely, holding a thumb up. She wanted to go up and talk to him. He was sweet, and she could relate to him. 

Then she remembered Shoto, and didn’t move from his side. She gave Midoriya a small, pitiful smile and looked away. 

After that, Aizawa wrapped up the lesson, and the students migrated back to the school, changing back into their uniforms and getting ready for the rest of the day.  

The seven girls in the locker room were silent. Every movement echoed.

When everyone returned to the classroom, uniforms on, Noa didn't waste any time. Her head was pounding, and the florescents were bright, and she didn't want to deal with the repercussions of talking to one of her classmates. She put her headphones in, layed her head over her crossed arms, and rested her eyes.

Midoriya was behind Bakugo, across the aisle from Noa. He glanced at her, the layer of tangled black hair pouring over her shoulders. He wondered what kind of complexities lay between her and her brother, between the entire family. He knew Endeavor’s skills and reputation well. 

The girl didn't see when someone approached him, resting both of their hands on his desk. 

“Leave her alone.” They said before walking away. “Don't concern yourself.” 

Izuku looked taken aback at the implied threat. In front of him, Bakugo’s head was turned a fraction of an inch. His brows creased as he squinted at the floor, mind turning.

Da fuq goin awn here

𖤐✰

The rest of the day passed slowly. Teachers came and went, making introductions and handing out syllabi, explaining how their classes would operate. 

Every now and then, one of Noa’s classmates would make an attempt at conversation, but she resigned herself, forcing her words to be unyielding. If they persisted, she would put her headphones in, ignoring how rude the dissmissive behavior was. She hoped Shoto was proud, if he saw.

Eventually, it was time for lunch, and Noa got up from her desk, grabbing her bag. When she turned around and walked toward her brother, he was packing up his notebook, not looking up at her approach.

“Ready for lunch?” Noa asked, trying to sound positive. 

Shoto zipped his bag, still not looking at her. “You should eat with your new friends. It sounds fun.”

Noa’s face fell. “Oh, come on, Sho-”

“You’re wasting our time.” He interrupted harshly. “Don't forget the goal here. Stop straying from the plan.”

Before Noa could reply, he was walking away, shrugging his backpack on. He exited the room quickly, leaving her by herself. Noa’s mouth was dry as she stared at the chipping paint on his desk— it hurt to swallow. 

Her brother was right. She knew that. Trying to form connections was pointless. In the long run, they weren't important for the outcome of her and Shoto’s future. Making friends would very likely only turn out negatively. 

With a long, deep sigh, she put her backpack on and walked out, making her way to the cafeteria. She didn't allow herself to look anywhere, dissociating enough just to be able to see what was in front of her, not the tables or the people sitting at them. She grabbed a cup of fruit and a bottle of water, and went back out of the lunch room. 

It took a few minutes to find the right staircase, but Noa eventually made her way up to the roof, and took a deep breath in as the wind blew by. All the racing thoughts and intense emotions and previous events washed away like grains of sand on a shore. She breathed in again, soaking in the peacefulness. 

This was why she loved rooftops. Everything got just a little bit quieter.

Noa walked over to the ledge, sitting with her feet hanging over as she put her headphones back in. The city around her was beautiful from this angle, and she looked around at it as she opened her fruit, popping a strawberry in her mouth. Buildings of different sizes stretched down the street, trees on the sidewalk blowing cherry blossom petals in the breeze. 

Solitude was one of her favorite pleasures in life. After being around so many people, it was especially needed. However, she couldn’t help but think of the few people whom she’d actually enjoyed. 

Maybe having a companion or two up here with her wouldn't be so bad.

A bird flew by multiple yards away, stretching its wings, the lithe body moving expertly in the air. It reminded her of the first she’d ever seen. 

Noa watched it soar, her feet dangling over the edge of the rooftop, swinging back and forth to the tune of one of her favorite songs. It was older, but some things were just timeless.

I’m all out of hope

One more bad dream

Could bring a fall

𖤐✰

Down at the cafeteria, Shoto was on his way to the trash can when he passed by a table and heard his sister's name. He stopped, taking a step back and looking at the students sitting together. He recognized them from his class, but didn’t know any of their names.

They all looked up at his approach. A boy with red hair smiled.

“Hey Todoroki, what’s up?”

“Noa isn’t any of your business.” He said coolly. “And that goes for all of you.”

Shoto didn’t stay long enough to hear their reactions. He walked over to the garbage can, teeth clenched. He dumped his lunch angrily, and went back to his table, sitting alone. Heat radiated off his left side.

At the table, Kirishima and the group he had comprised in the short amount of time they’d been at school, looked at each other, confused and a bit stunned. Bakugo had the usual displeased sneer on his face, but his mind was still turning. 

What the hell was going on with those two? The girl was annoying enough, but the guy with the hair was like a guard dog. It didn't make sense. 

To his annoyance, they were both talented enough to make him imprudently intrigued. 

Without a word, Bakugo got up from his table and exited the lunchroom. He wandered the campus aimlessly, looking for where the girl had run off to. 

The amount of questions he had, the amount of reluctant attention he’d been paying to her, was more than infuriating. He hated that he was even trying to find her. Whatever was going on between her and her freak brother wasn't important to him. Why should he care?

His teeth clenched. It was weird, and suspicious. That was the only reason he was trying to figure it out.

Bakugo was about to give up when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Noa walking quickly down the stairs, the majority of her face hidden by a sheet of black hair. What he could see of her expression was peaceful looking.

“Hey.” He said when she turned the other way, not seeing him. 

It sounded like a command rather than a greeting. Noa froze, stopping for a second, but kept walking with her back facing him.

“Hey!” Bakugo called out again, taking a step forward. “Quit ignoring me.”

Noa stared at the ceiling, sighing deeply. She turned around and looked at him, her face hard. “What do you want.”

Bakugo didn't say anything for a second, and just glared at her. Noa rolled her eyes at his lack of response and turned to walk away. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, turning her around.

Noa whirled to face him, switching the grip so that she was bending his fingers back to his wrist. Bakugo sucked in air through his teeth, bending his elbow, trying to wriggle his arm free. 

His hand didn't budge. Noa bent the fingers another centimeter.

“Ow, ow, ow! What the fuck?”

“Touch me again and I’ll melt your hands off.” She said, squeezing his fingers one more time. She let go, pushing him away harder than she meant to.

“ Okay, Jesus Christ.” Bakugo cursed under his breath, shaking his hand. The ligaments on the inside of his wrist burned.

Noa glared at him. “What. Do you want.”

He didn't know what her problem was. The assault on his right hand only made him angrier. He crossed his arms, squinting.

“What’s up with you and the redhead, huh?” He said. “What’s the story?”

“What do you mean?” Noa blinked, playing dumb. “I only met Kirishima this morning.”

Bakugo stared, his teeth clenching. Noa rolled her eyes. 

“There isn't a story.” She told him simply.

“Bullshit.” Bakugo replied. “The fucker acts like he owns you. Whatever family bond you guys have going on is weird. ”

“Maybe.” Noa said, glaring. “But my family has nothing to do with you.”

“I don’t give a shit about your family.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Just stop bothering me, the both of you.”

Her face dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”

Bakugo just glared at her. He was too stubborn to admit, or even accept it himself, that he was wrong.

“Who the fuck are you?” Noa asked loudly. “ Bothering? ”

It was almost an effort not to laugh at the hypocrisy. 

“Me and Shoto have been trying to keep to ourselves all day, asshole. You’ve literally been causing problems since before the first bell rang. Everybody within hearing distance is bothered by you.”

His arms crossed tighter, jaw ticking. “So?”

“So shut up!” Noa burst out. “Leave us the hell alone!”

The bell rang before Bakugo could lash out. Noa glared at him one more time before huffing and walking away.

The blonde stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure. Her hair swayed with her footsteps. The hand he had grasped was shaking.

She and her brother were attached at the hip, and the duo caused a problem for him. They were both too good, especially together. Maybe, if he could somehow end up separating them, he could take them out one at a time.

As a team, he didn't stand a chance.

𖤐✰

On the walk home, the Todoroki siblings seemed to have a personality swap. Shoto stared at his feet, watching his shoes step over the sidewalk. Noa did the talking, ranting about their day.

“I mean, I know we’re not there to make friends. Clearly , he isn't either. That doesn't mean he has to be rude to every person in the class. It’s the first freakin’ day! Terrorizing everyone with your hostility the first time you meet is just crazy.”

Noa’s tangent paused for a moment, and she caught her breath as she and Shoto walked.

“Most of the kids were alright, I guess.” She shrugged. “There were a few I- Okay, don't look at me like that.”

Her brother had given her the irritated sort of expression he had all day, and Noa was genuinely growing tired of it. 

“I’m not trying to be anyone's friend, okay? Some people are just cooler than others, that's all. I can like someone without being friends with them.”

Shoto didn't say anything. They kept walking.

“I know what I’m supposed to do, Shoto.” She told him. “I’m following the plan. All I’m trying to say is there might've been one or two who stood out, but the rest of them seemed normal. Compared to Middle Finger Guy, they were, like, sedated.”

Her brother thought for a second, hands in his pockets. “He’s definitely going to be a problem.”

“For sure.” Noa agreed, nodding. “Hopefully he’ll get expelled by the end of the week.”

The very corner of Shoto’s mouth twitched, and Noa was glad she was able to crack him just a little bit. 

The walk continued that way for a few minutes, and they soon arrived at Endeavor’s house. They walked through the front gate, and saw Fuyumi on the porch waiting for them. She waved as they approached. 

“Hi!” She called out with a bright smile. “I’m so glad you guys are home!”

Both Noa and Shoto held back smiles at their sister’s radiative warm energy. When they walked up the stairs and onto the porch, Fuyumi’s eyes scanned over the both of them.

“How was everything?” She asked excitedly. “Did you have fun?”

“It was…” Shoto started, trailing off. 

He and Noa looked at each other. At the same time he said ‘interesting,’ Noa said ‘awful.’

Fuyumi’s expression turned apologetic, but she gave them a small smile.

“I’m sorry, guys.” She said sympathetically. “But it’s only the first day, right? Maybe tomorrow will be better.”

“Maybe.” Noa shrugged, doubtful. 

Her eyes darted over her sister’s shoulder, looking through the open door behind her. 

“Is he here?” 

Fuyumi looked back inside for a moment, then turned to her with the same sad, smiling expression. “He’s still at work, but he should be on his way home soon. I'm sure he’ll want to, uh… debrief on today.”

Both siblings sighed. It was obvious that another lecture was coming, they just dreaded it. Fuyumi ushered them inside and closed the door behind her. Noa and Shoto removed their shoes, migrating to the training room. 

They entered and set down their bags, sprawling papers and syllabi all across the matt-covered floor. They passed the time in quiet peacefulness, writing until they had nothing else to do, and starting to spar early when they were finished. 

It was strangely nice, spending time with him outside of the watchful eyes of their father. It didn't happen often. Shoto was a lot nicer when Endeavor wasn't around.

Then again, who wasn't?

Too soon, the sun started to lower, and the sky turned a dim pink. From the sparring room, they heard the front door open. Both their bodies tensed, and they looked at each other quickly as loud footsteps came down the hall. The door slid open, and Enji stepped in, still in full uniform.

“Well,” He said in surprise when he saw them, crossing his arms. “It’s rare that you do something correct without needing to be told. Good job.” 

Both Noa and Shoto gritted their teeth. Even praise was back-handed with him.

“Continue sparring.” Endeavor instructed, walking to the other side of the room. “Tell me about the other students.”

They complied, going back into their practiced routine of sidestepping in circles around each other, throwing light punches and halfway-executing their moves. Even watered down, their sparring could be intense.

“Momo Yayarouzu.” Noa started, grunting as she ducked underneath Shoto’s fist. “Strong creation quirk. Recommendation.”

Shoto blocked one of her fake punches, and she feigned a swing with her other arm. 

“Bakugo.” 

It was an effort not to let her emotions show on her face.

“Explosion quirk. Strong kid, awful personality. Placed first in the entrance exams.”

When she ducked his next swing, Noa popped up and jabbed, hitting Shoto a bit harder than she intended. 

“He’s a threat.”

Endeavor hummed, taking the information in. “Go on.”

It continued like that for several minutes, Noa going through almost every student in the class. It was tedious, and she hated everything Endeavor made her do, but she was just a little bit glad for the refresher. Knowing her classmate’s strengths would come in handy soon enough. 

Her and Shoto were both sweating by the time they were through. 

“So,” Endeavor said, looking at them. “There was a benchmark assessment. Tell me the results.”

Shoto answered, and their father’s face dropped in angry disappointment. “Momo, you say? Yayarouzu?” He turned to Noa. “You said she has some sort of creation quirk?”

“Yes.” She answered tiredly. “Recommendation student.”

“Hm.” He said, skeptical, before seemingly coming to terms with himself. “I expect better from the both of you, but it will have to do. You’re lucky your sister didn’t best you again, Shoto.”

The boy glared. “My burn hasn’t even healed yet.”

“And I would have given you another had you failed.” Endeavor snapped. Both teens flinched. 

“Out with you.” He told Shoto, pointing at the door. “I need a word with your sidekick.”

Noa’s teeth clenched, and she watched glumly as her brother stepped out of the room. He looked back before he left, expression full of empathetic sorrow. The door closed behind him. 

A slap rang around the walls of the training room. Noa’s head flew to the side, her hair covering her face. The skin on her cheek stung, turning bright red. 

“The way you behave is disgraceful.” Endeavor told her loudly, sneering. “If you ever speak to me the way you did this morning, much more than this will be waiting for you. Do not disrespect me again.”

Noa readjusted her head, and looked down, but otherwise didn't move. Her eyes filled with reflexive tears. 

“Yes, sir.”

It was silent for a moment, the sound of their breathing filling the room.

“Get out.” Endeavor said. “Don't leave your room until the sun is up.”

Faster than she could think, Noa turned and hurried out of the room, leaving behind her book bag and school papers, not caring about all the things her and Shoto had ended up leaving behind. They could pick it up tomorrow.

She clenched her teeth, but accidentally bit down on her tongue so hard that she tasted blood. A tear escaped her waterline, and she sniffed as she frustratedly wiped it away.

Shoto was waiting at the end of the hall. He stepped closer when she approached, reaching toward her.

“Are you okay? I heard-”

“I’m fine.” Noa cut him off, gently pushing his hands down. “It’s nothing.”

“I’m sorry.” He said genuinely, emotion in his voice. “Please, let me help-”

“I just need to be alone for a second, Shoto. I’m sorry.”

Noa walked past him, lightly grazing his arm. She went to her room quickly, ripping off her sweaty clothes, changing into something comfortable, and shoving her carton of cigarettes in her pocket. She was on the roof a minute later, the filter between her lips, a lighter flicking to burn the end.

She inhaled, letting the smoke go deep this time. Her cheek still stung in the shape of Endeavor's hand, and she absently wondered if it’d left a mark. 

When she exhaled, she burst out coughing, and struggled to keep it contained, quiet as possible. Smoke got in her eyes, and combined with the heaving of her lung, they started watering. 

That was why she didn't usually fully inhale. It was also why she chose to do so just then. She wanted to feel the burning sensation, the gasping for air, the taste of tobacco in the back of her throat. She wanted it to hurt. If her lung stung more than her face did, it was easier to ignore.

The tears that’d been building didn’t go away like they usually would. In fact, they started coming out faster, until she was fully crying. Noa didn't let her face move, just stayed calm, kept puffing on her cigarette as the tears rolled down her face.

So much had happened that day. School, Aizawa, Shoto and the other students, Izuku, Middle Finger Guy, Endeavor. Everything was way too much. The mask buckled under all the pressure, and her father’s strike had been the final blow. 

Noa despised crying, but it was relieving to let the emotions out. Eventually, though, the buzz kicked in, and her tears subsided. The cigarette went out after a few minutes, and the wave of emotions had passed.

Dreading every action, Noa stood up, walking across the roof in the direction she’d come from. It might’ve been nice to stay a little longer and stargaze, but she was exhausted.

Slowly bending down, she lowered herself off the roof, and tiptoed to her room. The sounds of dishes clinking a few rooms away indicated dinner, and Noa’s stomach growled. She ignored it, throwing herself down on her mat instead, pulling the sheet over herself.

She’d barely gotten through the day. As she fell asleep, the only option was to prepare herself for it all again the next morning. 

There was no escape, only endurance.

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

The next morning started the same.

Noa awoke from a nightmare a few hours early, and wasted an hour underneath the hot water before it was time to wake Shoto. Both of their backpacks had been organized by Fuyumi and left outside their doors. By the grace of some god, Endeavor had already left for work, not having any lectures planned for them before school. Noa didn’t think she could stand the sight of him so soon after last night. 

Her and Shoto left the house quickly, walking to campus in silence. After a while, their footsteps grew too loud for Noa to bear the quiet any longer.

“I’m sorry.” She said in a small voice. 

Shoto turned to her, expectant. 

“I know it seemed like I was… straying , from the plan yesterday.” She explained, staring at her shoes. “But I wasn't trying to.”

He gave her a disbelieving sort of look. 

“Really, I wasn't!” She protested with a small smile. “I may not have been as rude as you, but when someone talked to me, I still tried to steer them away.”

Her brother just shrugged. 

Noa wasn't able to gauge how he was feeling. The conversation made her antsy, and speaking up for herself- even as pathetically as she was doing then- only made it worse. Her eyes stayed trained on the pavement.

“I plan to continue rejecting any attempts,” She said gently. “But I really don't need you in my ear every three minutes reminding me about it.” 

Shoto looked at her for a moment, a bit surprised. His brow twitched.

Noa’s eyes widened, her expression becoming placative. “Can we just agree to keep the comments to a minimum? Please?”

For a tense couple of seconds, Shoto just looked at her, an unnameable emotion lingering behind his opposing eyes. Then it faded, and he huffed a little, nodding. 

Noa sighed, letting out a pent-up breath. The tension slowly ebbed, leaving her with a vague sense of unease. 

Things had always been rocky in her family— that was a given. Starting school, though, seemed to be a bit of an aggravator to their circumstances. The cocoon Endeavor had built around them was awful, of course, but it was familiar. It was the only consistent thing they’d ever known. 

Yesterday, they left its false safety, and came back to find that it didn't fit anymore. School was already producing radical changes for the both of them. 

The siblings continued their walk, and made it to UA in just a few minutes. The expansive campus towered over them as they walked through the gates, and Noa shoved an earbud in, wondering if she would ever get used to the opulence. Music poured through the speakers, and she looked anxiously at the students crowded around her.

That… that she would never get used to.

Shoto helped them fade into the back, ushering her ahead of him as they made their way to the classroom. There weren't a lot of kids when they entered, just a few stragglers and the two that were there the day before, Iida and Bakugo. Mercifully, there were no arguments or introductions for the siblings to have to suffer through, and they were permitted to make their way to their desks in peace. 

When Noa flopped into her seat, she ignored the head turning in front of her, glancing over their shoulder to glare in her direction. She acted like his pervasive vermillion eyes boring into her face were nonexistent, and turned her music up, laying her head down.

The sense of deja vu was only heightened when Jirou tapped on her shoulder ten minutes later. Noa looked up and offered her a small, tight smile before sitting up and removing her headphones. 

“Training will be later on today,” Aizawa was tiredly instructing from the front of the room. “Behave yourselves until your next class starts.”

The yellow sleeping bag he carried around with him was in his hand, and it looked like he was about to reach up and pull it over his head. Then he hesitated for a moment. 

His eyes flicked up, meeting Noa’s temporarily, and he sighed. The sack dropped to the floor. 

“Todoroki.” The man said, turning to the exit. “A word?”

Noa’s stomach plummeted. She would've thought it’d splattered on the linoleum underneath her, had the silence in the room not been so deafening. Her heart pounded once. Twice. 

Someone in the room coughed. Noa startled, getting up and walking briskly out of the room, her hands shaking at her sides. The sound of her shoes against the floor echoed.

When the door shut behind her, Aizawa was waiting in the hallway with his arms crossed. Noa blinked, her eyes like moons. Her fingers started twisting together in front of her, and she looked at them, unsure of what to do or say.

“Well…” Aizawa coughed, clearing his throat. 

“Hey.”

Noa choked a little, sputtering on air. “U-um, hi?”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah, I have no idea how to do this. I’m sorry.”

Noa blinked. She tried to respond, to say anything at all, but she was sidetracked. She hadn't seen him that up-close in over a decade. The features that’d aged overtime were so much clearer than she remembered. A strong sense of affection bloomed at the sight of him, and alongside it, a strong sense of vulnerability at the memories he invoked. 

“I know it’s, uh, it’s been a while.” Aizawa said when she didn't respond, breaking her from her thoughts. “You’ve grown up to be a pretty strong kid. Just like I said.”

Noa’s face grew red in embarrassment. The memory came back so clearly— her throwing herself into his arms, him rubbing a hand over her back and telling her it would all be okay. She had to bite down on her tongue to fight back the threat of tears. 

It was quiet for a moment, and Aizawa interpreted her silence as intentional, rather than emotional. 

“I understand that you’re upset with me, and you have every reason to be.” He said, genuine but stern. “I’m sorry for everything that happened when you were younger. Truly, I am. You don't have to forgive me, but please, while you’re in my class, can we agree on no hard feelings?”

That was enough to snap Noa out of her trance. Her brows creased tightly.

“Hard feelings?” She repeated, confused. Then she blinked, remembering her manners. “Um, I’m sorry sir, but I’m not upset with you. And I’m not… really sure why you think I would be.”

Aizawa looked genuinely shocked. “You’re not mad?”

Noa grew even more perplexed, and she shook her head. Her teacher’s expression turned confused as well, his brows drawn.

“Huh.” He said, nodding slowly. “I just thought, when you didn't return any of my letters, that you… y’know. Hated me.”

“Hated you?” Noa repeated, appalled. “Of course I didn't- I’m sorry, did you just say ‘letters’?”

Again, Aizawa nodded slowly. If Noa was confused before, now she was completely dumbfounded. 

“I’ve never received a letter in my life.” 

Aizawa looked confused too, and he blinked a few times. “Then what…?”

The realization seemed to dawn on the both of them at once. 

“Oh.” They said at the same time, looking at each other with a mutual sort of anger.

Aizawa shook his head. “I should’ve expected that, I guess. Endeavor’s bound to intercept anything from the outside world if it pertains to you, huh?”

Noa nodded glumly, trying to see past the rage building within her. She’d been written to by the person who had basically saved her life, and the letters were taken from her before she ever knew. Endeavor could’ve done anything with them. 

“Well,” Aizawa said, seemingly trying to get over his anger as well. “Other than that, how are you? How’s everything been since the adoption?”

Noa’s eyes widened. She was caught off-guard by the question— couldn't remember the last time someone seemed so genuinely interested in her life.

“Uh…” Noa started, blinking. “It’s been… fine, I guess. I’m good.”

Aizawa squinted at her, skeptical. “Sure. And therapy?”

Her brows creased in the center. “Sorry?” 

“Therapy.” He repeated obviously. Then his eyes widened. “Endeavor did put you in therapy, right? 

Noa blinked again, and slowly shook her head. 

Aizawa stared at her, baffled. “Are you kidding me?”

Her lips parted and closed, eyes scrambling nervously before falling to the floor. Aizawa stayed like that for a second before composing himself, closing his eyes and clenching his jaw. 

“This is exactly what I said would happen.” He muttered, shaking his head. “I told All Might-”

“Hey, Mr. Aizawa?” Someone asked tentatively as the door opened. 

Both of them stopped their conversation, looking over to see Kirishima’s head popping out, an anxious look on his face. “Uh… Bakugo kinda… well, he’s threatening the other students.”

Aizawa groaned and walked through the door. “We’ll continue this conversation later, okay?” 

Noa nodded, quietly following him into the classroom. 

“In the meantime, I want you to do me a favor and handle that.”

He was pointing a few feet away, to Kaminari’s seat, where Bakugo was holding the poor boy by his collar.

“I will kick your fucking teeth in, loser, you hear me?!” He threatened, palms sparking. “ Huh ?”

“Geez, dude.” The other blonde laughed, unbothered. “There’s no need to get defensive. I’m just saying you seem a little too interested-”

“Aren't you the teacher?” Noa asked Aizawa as they watched the two bicker. The man shrugged. 

“You’re more than capable.” He said as he walked to his desk, reaching for his sleeping bag. “And you’ve made me miss my nap. Handle it.”

Noa blinked as she watched him retreat inside his yellow cocoon. “Uh, okay. Sure.”

She looked over at the two blondes, where the situation was escalating. Bakugo’s sparking hand was inches from Kaminari’s face, and the kid lacked the self preservation skills to quit teasing him.

“Handling it.” Noa muttered to herself as she walked over to them. 

They were blocking the path to her seat. Whatever little qualms she had about excessive force were dismissed quickly. She reached up, grabbing onto the neck of Bakugo’s uniform and wrenching him off the desk, throwing him in his seat. Both kids landed with a huff, and stared at her.

“Control yourself.” Noa told Bakugo as she walked back to her desk, glaring. 

Once her back was turned, she smelt burning sugar, and whipped around, seeing the blonde lunging at her. She banged her fist on the back of his head before he could follow through with the attack, and he fell to the floor with a thud. 

The room grew quiet. Noa sat down, her face burning. She wanted to bang her head against the desk.

“ Ahaha !” Kaminari cried out, pointing at Bakugo as he pushed himself off the floor. “Hit him again!”

The rest of the class burst into quiet laughter. As the chatter resumed, Noa and Bakugo glared at each other. 

Against her better judgement, she smirked, and shrugged a little, gloating. The blonde's lip upturned, and he whipped around in his seat, facing forward.

He spent the rest of the period pouting.

While everyone was waiting for class to start, talking amongst themselves, Noa stared at the yellow sleeping bag in a heap on the floor. Her mind felt fuzzy around the edges, and she was soon thrown deep into a dissociative state, being transported out of reality and involuntarily delving into her past.

Sun. Air. Trees. Birds. Buildings. The city streets. 

A dying mutt. A saving grace. 

A mercy killing— a pocket knife stuck in the side of the neck. 

A kind smile. A helping hand. Warm arms.

The hospital. 

It’s gonna be okay.

When the memory of being dragged away by Endeavor surfaced, Noa was shocked out of her trance. Her heart was pounding so hard it ached. Her wide eyes searched the room frantically, becoming reacquainted with her surroundings. She didn't realize that the silver was shiny, that tears had just barely built. 

She turned around, looking two seats behind her. Shoto was sitting quietly at his desk. He looked up when he felt her gaze, and his brows creased in silent question. It looked like concern, like he was asking if she was okay.

Noa swallowed, and nodded, turning back around.

Aizawa climbed out of his sleeping bag and began the first lecture of the day.

𖤐✰

When the lunch bell rang, Noa looked around the room for Shoto, but he was out the door before the alarm had even stopped. He didn't look behind him. 

Noa’s face fell, and she stared at her desk, discouraged. She picked at the chips of paint on the surface, letting them wedge themselves underneath her fingernails. 

The prior concern was only fleeting, just enough to make sure that she was fine. He was still angry with her, and his behavior had become hurtful— all the possessive dismissiveness was starting to get to her. She tried not to take it to heart, but the action was inherently personal. It cut deep. 

He was choosing to freeze her out like this. 

The overarching theme with Shoto was that he refused to harness the fire aspect of his quirk because it ‘came’ from Enji. Noa could understand that, to a point. However, his stubbornness was often to his own detriment— the overload of ice made him physically and mentally shut off from everyone else. His mind and body were hypothermic, and it was contagious. 

Noa’s fingers were starting to turn blue.

When she looked down, they were normal and pink, but they still felt cold. She pressed them together, trying to return some warmth into her hands.

“Noa!” Someone cried dramatically, snapping her from her thoughts. Noa looked up in surprise to see a blonde head of hair running toward her. Before she could move, Kaminari rushed to her desk and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing.

“Please!” He wailed. “Please come have lunch with us!”

Noa was frozen. Her entire body was rigid.

“Kaminari.” She said slowly, her voice strained. 

“Yeah?”

“Please get off of me.”

Denki yelped and sprung back, waving his hands in front of him. “Oh no,” He said, brows wrinkling. “I’m so sorry, I totally shouldn't've- Damn, I should've asked or something. I’m sorry.”

Noa’s lips were tight. Her skin was still crawling. “It's okay.”

“He’s being too much of a spaz for normal modes of human communication.” Sero said from next to them, halfway apologizing on the blonde's behalf. “He means that you should join us, if you want to.”

“Yeah.” Kirishima added with a smile. “If you can get your big bro off your back long enough to get some grub.”

Noa blinked. “I have no idea what half of that meant.”

“Ignore them.” Ashido said in exasperation, pushing the boys aside. “Just come eat with us. They’ll settle down eventually.”

Both girls looked at them for a second. Kirishima was digging his knuckles into Denki’s head.

“Hopefully.” She added with a grimace. “They are boys.”

Noa smiled, though she tried not to. 

The prospect of dining with them was intriguing, at the very least. She’d never eaten with anyone outside of her family before. A lingering thought reminded her that Shoto would be even angrier, but Noa ignored it. If he wanted to get his feelings hurt by her interactions with others, then so be it. She was done coddling him. 

Noa looked at the group gathered in front of her desk, squinting. Something was missing from the picture. 

“I have one condition.” She said, earning expectant expressions and a few nods.

“Hey, Jirou!” She called out, just as the girl was walking through the door. Kyouka leaned back through the frame, and Noa gave her a small smile.

“Wanna have lunch with us?”

Jirou smiled back, stepping into the classroom with a shrug. “Sure.”

“Well,” Noa said to the group with a falsely annoyed sigh. “My time is yours for the afternoon.”

“Sweet.” Kaminari said. He and Kirishima high-fived, and the group walked out together, making their way to the lunch room. 

The girls walked behind the three other boys, Noa sandwiched between Mina and Jirou. It was unsettling, being so surrounded, but Noa didn't completely hate it. It was just new. 

When everyone walked into the cafeteria, they made their way to Lunch Rush’s line in a group. They chatted while they waited, and Noa watched with absorbent eyes. She took in every mannerism, every idiosyncrasy that made each person individual. She tried to study the way they communicated, how they talked and laughed with each other. It was all so natural. So… easy. 

Noa envied it. Maybe if she paid enough attention, she could replicate those techniques and begin navigating the art of fitting in.

The group didn't seem to mind her temporary mutism. They included her into the conversation, but never pointed out her lack of participation. It seemed like they were just happy she was there, which was both the nicest and strangest feeling she could remember experiencing.

Bakugo walked up and joined them in line when they were almost at the food bar. Noa turned and glared, annoyed and a little surprised. 

“Bakugo!” Kirishima said excitedly when he approached. “Glad you could make it, man.”

“Yeah, yeah.” The blonde grumbled. “Just shut up and let me get my food.”

“You willingly eat with him?” Noa asked Kirishima, appalled. The other heads in the group turned toward her. Jirou slapped a hand over her mouth. Mina snorted. 

Bakugo glared. 

“Uh, yeah.” The blonde said rudely. “Why wouldn't he?”

“ Uh, because you’re a piece of shit?” Noa retaliated. “I don’t know.”

Bakugo made that same enraged, sort of upturned look, and Kirishima stepped between them.

“Alright dudes, alright.” He said, smiling. “You don't have to get along, but no fighting in the group, okay? That’s, like, our only rule.”

Noa shrugged, struggling to sound pleasant. 

“If he leaves me alone, you won't have anything to worry about, Kirishima.” 

Then she glanced at the blonde next to him and grimaced. “Just keep your dog on a leash.”

Bakugo lunged at her. Kirishima held him back by his arms. 

Jirou laughed and steered Noa the other direction, leading her away from the boys. The entire group found their antics amusing. 

They all went through the line quickly, grabbing whatever food they fancied and migrating to an empty table. Noa sat down with her cup of fruit, and was about to bite down on a piece of mango when a steaming dish was pushed in front of her. 

She looked down at the bowl of katsudon, then the person who had slid it across the table. Kaminari was sitting opposite her, smiling with a warming face. 

“Sorry,” He said sheepishly when he noticed her staring. “I just- I saw that you only grabbed some fruit. We’re in the hero course, right? Don't you need, like… stamina?”

Noa blinked. The steam was wafting off the bowl and up to her nose, the scent of the pork making her mouth water. Her stomach growled. All she had yesterday was the same cup of fruit she had in her hand now. 

“I, uh…” She started, embarrassed but reluctantly accepting. “I don’t- you really didn't have to.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Denki replied with a smile, waving it off. “Eat your noodles, girl.”

A snort came from the end of the table, and everyone turned. Bakugo was scoffing at Denki. 

“Are you trying to flirt, or make her think you like boys?” He asked cruelly. “‘Cause one’s workin’.”

The table grew quiet. Kaminari’s face glowed bright red, and he slunk down in his seat, looking miserable. Noa was embarrassed, and caught off guard by the apparent moves that were being made. Everyone kept looking at Denki, though. Noa started to feel sympathetic.

“That tracks.” She said to Bakugo, nodding slowly. “Of course you’re a homophobe.”

“Hey!” He said from the end of the table in protest. “I hate everybody, not just the gays.”

The silence was broken. Quiet laughter broke out across the group.

“Tracks.” Noa said with a shrug, turning away to ignore him. 

Kaminari slowly came out from under the table, removing his hands from his face and looking at her gratefully. Noa smiled back, dipping her chin. There was still a bowl of food in front of her. She didn't exactly know how to remedy the situation, but she wanted to keep things amicable, and unawkward. 

“Thanks, uh… dude.” She told the nicer blonde as she took a bite. Denki forced a smile, but sighed, and visibly shrunk. 

“It’s okay, bro.” Sero said, patting him on the shoulder. “At least you tried.”

Noa grimaced, turning to Mina and Jirou, trying to separate herself from the line of testosterone across from her. She hoped whatever advances that’d previously been underway were erased. 

“Wow.” Noa said in surprise as she chewed. “This is really good.”

Lunch Rush was famous for his cooking, but tasting it for herself really solidified his talent in her eyes. The flavor, the rice, the pork— it was all perfect. The only thing…

“It could use some spice.” She said with a shrug. 

Her taste buds had always been inclined for heat, though she was never sure why. She just enjoyed it. Regular food never really had much of a taste.

Another scoff sounded from the end of the table. Noa rolled her eyes, already knowing who it came from.

“The hell do you know about spice, loser?”

She sighed, looking at Bakugo irritatedly. “Do you really have something to say about every word that comes out of my mouth?”

His upper lip lifted at the side. “Don't be cocky, Snake-Face. I don't care about anything you say, unless it’s clearly a lie.” 

Then he shrugged, pointing at her. “Look at your skin. There’s no way someone with that complexion can take the heat.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Noa said in mock surprise. “Do you think you’re tan?”

His gaze tightened. Noa made a face at him.

Between them, Kirishima laughed. “Sounds to me like we should settle this before another fight breaks out. What do you guys say about a good old-fashioned spice off?”

Bakguo grinned, enticed by the idea of a challenge and a chance to beat Noa in something, that way he could get her back for the quirk assessment. Noa just shrugged, impatient to put some heat into her food. 

“I’ll get the hot sauce.” Sero sighed, getting up from the table. 

While they waited, Noa felt the effects of the challenge starting to form. She was cocky.

“What do I get when I win?” 

“You think you’re funny, huh?” Bakugo replied, turning to her. “When I win, you have to fight me. One on one, no pulling punches.”

A few of the people listening gasped, shocked at the threat. 

“Sure.” Noa said simply, shrugging. “I mean, it’s funny that you think you’d win, but fine. I’d kick your ass any day.”

Mina and Jirou snickered next to her. Noa gave them a small smile, glad they were on her side.

“When I win…” She started, thinking as she looked around the cafeteria. Her eyes landed on a head of green hair, and genius struck. 

Noa grinned. “Everytime you’re a dickhead to Midoriya, I get a free punch. No exceptions.”

The table ooh ’d. Bakugo’s expression dropped, jaw ticking. 

“So you wanna give me a concussion.”

Noa grinned wider. 

The blonde rolled his eyes. His fingers pressed into the surface of the table, pink flesh turning white. 

“What is it to you how I treat the nerd anyway? Mind your own business.”

“You make it the entire class’ business when you scream and attack him in public.” Noa retorted. “Do we have a deal or not.”

Bakugo clenched his jaw, reluctant acceptance overtaking his features. He rolled his eyes, not looking at her as he stuck his hand out.

“Yeah, I’m not fucking touching you.” 

He scoffed, and made an offended sort of face, dropping his hand. Sero came back carrying a jar of ghost pepper hot sauce and two small cartons of milk. He set them on the table and sat down, looking at everyone expectantly. 

“Thanks, Sero.” Noa said as she reached for a carton, chucking the other one at Bakugo. She aimed for his face, but his reflexes were too quick, and he caught the hurling milk in front of his nose.

The black-haired boy smiled crookedly. “No problem.”

“Gimme that shit.” Bakugo grumbled, reaching over to snatch the hot sauce. He poured a spoonful into his curry, and when Noa held her hand out to take the bottle from him, he batted it away. “What, you think I’m gonna let you cheat? Move over, idiot. I need to make sure it’s the same.”

He had to lean closer to dump the spoonful of hot sauce over her katsudon. The proximity made her nauseous, and she pushed herself as far back as her seat would let her. She held her breath until he sat back down.

“Five bucks says Noa wins.” Kaminari mumbled to Kirishima as they watched the two. 

The redhead grinned and reached over, shaking his hand. “You’re on, man.”

“Alright,” He said, looking between Noa and Bakugo. “Ready?” 

Both of them grinned.

“Okay… go !”

𖤐✰

Twenty minutes later, Bakugo was pouting at his desk in the 1-A classroom. Noa sat diagonally behind him, gloating. Both teen’s mouths were on fire, faces red, eyes watering. Noa was sweating, but the burning sweetness of victory made it worth it. 

Sero walked through the door like an angel, carrying two more cartons of milk. He tossed them to either student, and both chugged it eagerly. Kirishima begrudgingly shoved a bill into Denki’s hand, who grinned and slipped it into his pocket, throwing Noa a wink as he did. 

Though she tried not to, she made a face, and turned to stare at her desk, taking another drink. 

The rest of the group seemed to be in good moods, entertained by the competition that had just taken place. As the other classmates filed in, they looked mostly pleasant as well. Noa wondered how they managed to look so happy all the time.

Then Shoto came in. Her face dropped. 

He glared at her the entire way to his seat, and she shrunk under his gaze. When he looked like that, it almost always reminded her of Endeavor. As much as the boy tried to reject his father, he was still made up of half of him. That side usually made itself known in the form of anger.

Noa turned around, pleading for a moment of silent communication. She needed to apologize, make some sort of eye contact. Anything.

But Shoto didn't look up. He stared at his desk intently, jaw clenched.

Noa shoved away the hurt, and pressed her cold fingers together again. She turned to the front of the room, noticing that all the students were in by then. Aizawa stood at the front of the class, about to open his mouth to speak. 

Then the door burst open, slamming against the wall. 

“I AM HERE!” A loud voice bellowed. “COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A HERO!”

The blood in Noa’s veins went cold. 

All Might, in full hero mode with his patriotic jumpsuit, entered the room. His presence alone made him look twice the size he was. 

Noa hid her shaking hands underneath the table. Her face was ghostly white as she stared at the man, eyes blown open. The class burst into cheers and excited exclamations around her, but Noa’s ears were ringing. She couldn't hear any of it. 

All Might had been just about the only hero she’d heard of consistently throughout her whole life. Master hated him before she escaped and he died— Endeavor hated him as well, and drove those feelings into his children with a mallet. Noa was predisposed to not liking the hero, regardless of his involvement in the hospital that day. 

He’d been all over the news in the past decade, climbing quickly to the number one spot in the hero charts and making history, and notably, causing Endeavor to form his undying grudge. Noa never saw that strange, disheveled version of All Might she’d witnessed at the hospital. It seemed as if he kept that part of himself hidden from the public.

Aizawa leaned over, and mumbled something in the hero’s ear. All Might looked up, glancing at Noa’s desk. 

Both their eyes widened as they connected. That same peculiar, unsettling feeling she felt in the hospital, around Midoriya yesterday, passed between them like a wave of negative energy. 

The ringing in her ears stopped. Her stomach turned. 

All Might smiled at her hugely. 

“Young Noa!” He called out, getting everybody’s attention. “So great to see you! It’s been a while, hasn't it?” 

Noa’s face dropped, appalled. 

“ You know All Might?! ” Everyone said at once, staring at her in shock. 

Noa’s face turned beet red, and she covered it with her hands, sinking down in her seat till she couldn't see him anymore. This was humiliating, and had absolutely awful implications for her future at this stupid school. 

Not only was Aizawa her teacher, but now All Might was in the picture as well. The two people with more connections to her past than anyone else in the world would see her everyday. She would be reminded of All for One everyday. That weird feeling would happen everyday. 

Underneath her hands, Noa squeezed her eyes shut, hard. This was just miserable. Every detail of her past being out in the open like that made her want to disappear. 

“Oh-” All Might said uncomfortably at her lack of response. “Okay then. Anyway-”

“We have a class to teach.” Aizawa cut in quietly. “Keep it quick.”

“Yes, right.” He replied with a nod. 

He went on to explain that the class would be participating in battle exercises with each other in teams of heroes and villains. Twenty-one brief cases emerged from the wall, holding each of their costumes. 

Noa couldn't understand why, but she had a terrible feeling about this. It was inevitable that the exercise would be a complete disaster.

𖤐✰

When the students all arrived at ground beta, decked out in their hero costumes, Noa was more than entertained. There was so much to look at.

Everyone’s costumes were different, each suited for their specific quirks and personal styles. All the little tools and gadgets gave Noa a bit more of an idea of what they could do. She surveyed them inconspicuously while she waited for Shoto to get back from the locker room. 

Jirou was a few feet away, dressed in a pair of black pants and dark boots, a coral shirt with a cropped black jacket over it. Headphones were placed over her head, connecting to her ear jacks. Red crescents were painted under her eyes. 

Noa enjoyed her costume. It was simple, but stylish, and practical.

Kaminari looked a bit similar, in black jeans and a semi-cropped jacket. There were white accents in the shape of lightning bolts, and the costume was generally more flashy. The high collar, blue glasses, and arm mechanism added a certain level of flair that Noa was subtly surprised by. 

Kirishima was shirtless, with red gears over his shoulders, a cape hanging over his black pants, and a belt with a big ‘R’ on the buckle. The contraption around his face held some of his hair back. She mentally applauded his confidence. 

Looking at everyone else made Noa a bit insecure about her own costume. They all looked so cool— hers was bland in comparison.

The form she had sent in was a simple black outfit that covered almost every inch of her body, and contained a few gadgets. What UA gave her was… a bit modified. 

She had on baggy black cargo pants that were held up by a bulky utility belt, and a tight, dark grey halter top with two small strings on the chest in the shape of a tiny ‘x.’ It showed her arms, shoulders, and most of her torso. The exposure made her feel nauseous, and her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. 

Big, bulky combat boots were laced on her feet, a fingerless glove on one hand to expose Hebi’s tattoo, a black and red striped sleeve going halfway up the other arm. The material of her entire costume was specially made— an important note she had left for the designers. She sent in a vial of Hebi’s venom and asked them to make sure her clothes would hold up under the substance. Becoming undressed in the middle of a fight would legitimately make her toss herself off the roof.

The red belt around her waist had multiple pouches, each holding similar vials and different gadgets to use them with, like small weapons and blow darts. Hanging around her neck, though, was what might've been the most important part. She had a small pair of yellow goggles that were nice, but mostly useless, unless she needed to protect her eyes. Or look cool.

Though it was obvious, she hoped the others wouldn't make the connection between her and her teacher.

Her hair was pulled back from her face, in a tight, low ponytail. She didn't like that exposure, either, though it was necessary for the exercise. All her unpleasant features were out in the open.

The costume looked okay enough, but it was boring, and showed entirely too much skin for her comfort. Noa looked over at Momo, who was standing tall in a red and white outfit with a cape over her shoulders. For a second, she felt a little sorry about the revealing nature of the costume. 

Then she noticed how perfect Momo’s body was, and the insecurities came flooding back. The girl’s confidence oozed off of her. Not only was she the perfect version of Noa, she also had huge curves compared to her own embarrassingly flat stature. 

The way Noa looked was just shameful. She was skin and bones, always had been. 

Before she could finish falling into the trap of self-loathing, Shoto appeared beside her, and Noa had to choke back her reaction at his costume. His entire left side was completely covered in ice, a simple white jumpsuit on his other side. Noa had tried to talk him out of the ice man monstrosity before he sent in his forms, but he wouldn't budge. 

“What do you think?” Shoto asked as he held his arms out, an adorably innocent look on his face. Noa sighed a bit, glad he was at least speaking to her. 

“It’s nice.” She told him with a tight smile, trying not to grimace. “I like it.”

“Don't lie to him, bones.” Someone said from behind her. 

Before she could turn around, Bakugo shoulder-checked her again as he walked past. “He looks worse than stupid Deku.”

Noa’s face contorted a little, irritated at the nickname and the insult to her brother, and at the blonde in general. She opened her mouth to say something before she remembered their bet. 

Instead of arguing, she walked up slowly to his retreating figure. When she tapped him on the shoulder, she was waiting with her hands behind her back and a small, soft smile.

Bakugo was already grimacing when he turned to face her, but his expression slackened when he saw her looking at him through her lashes. He took half a step back.

“The fu-”

Noa dropped the innocent facade and reached her arm back, letting it snap forward and connect with the blonde’s jaw. 

It was a solid punch. She felt the bones in her hand absorbing the shock, and saw Bakugo’s head snap to the side as he stumbled.

The most surprising thing was that he didn't hit her back. He didn't even try. 

Bakugo simply swiped his tongue on the inside of his cheek, spit on the ground, and grinned at her. It must have been one of the only times she hadn't seen him mad, and arguably one of the only times he probably should've been.

“I didn't think you’d actually do it.” He said, making a pained face, but still smiling as he rubbed his cheek. “Shit fuckin’ hurt.”

Noa blinked, stunned at his reaction. It almost seemed as if he’d wanted her to hit him.

Her brows furrowed. “You insulted Midoriya on purpose?”

Bakugo rolled his eyes. “The nerd does it for me already. I just say what’s true.”

“But you did it on purpose.”

He shrugged. “Wanted to see if you would keep your word or pussy out.”

Noa looked at him strangely. Purposely getting yourself punched to prove a point? 

“You’re sadistic.” 

Bakugo shrugged again. “I can take a punch.”

“Sadistic.”

It was then that she noticed his costume; the dark cargo pants and army green holsters, the sleeveless black top with an orange ‘x’ on the chest, the combat boots, the huge gauntlets on either forearm. A black mask was fitted over his eyes, making the red stand out like lasers. 

Noa grimaced. It had to have been the coolest outfit in the class.

“I hate your costume.” She told him angrily. “You look like a garbage can.”

Bakugo grinned. “You’re a shit liar. I look great.”

Noa sneered and flipped him a middle finger, about to turn around when two people approached them. Kaminari and Kirishima were walking up with huge smiles on their faces.

“Holy shit dude!” Denki said.

“You absolutely smoked him, man.” Kiri added. “Sweet punch!”

Against her own will, Noa smiled. The praise, validation, compliments, whatever they were, felt nice. 

“The bitch is strong, for someone who looks like a middle schooler.”

Noa blinked slowly, and huffed, looking at Bakugo with annoyance. “Must everything you say be an insult?” 

“Yes.” He replied seriously. 

Noa rolled her eyes, and was about to walk away when Kirishima gently grabbed her hand and leaned toward her.

“You gotta pay attention to what he says.” The redhead whispered. “He hid it, but that was a compliment.”

Noa’s brows creased, and she leaned away from him. “Really?”

Kirishima nodded. She thought for a second, and found that he was right. Bakugo disguised it behind the middle schooler insult, but he still said she was strong. If she knew anything about him after the past day and a half, it was that one of the things he valued most was strength. 

The ‘compliment’ made her feel odd. She didn't like it. At all. 

Noa grimaced, an expression that was becoming frequent when she was in Bakugo’s vicinity, and focused on the insult instead. “This middle-schooler’s about to kick your ass. Especially if you don’t quit picking on Midoriya.”

Bakugo rolled his eyes. “I still don't see why it’s any of your business.”

“You are a little aggressive toward him, dude.” Kirishima said, placing a hand on the blonde’s shoulder.

“What did he ever do to you?” Noa asked. “I mean, seriously? What makes him deserve all that?”

Anger overtook Bakugo’s face, but not the typical kind she had seen previously. This was cold, steely anger. His face flattened, brows setting in a line. He took a step toward her, lip curling.

“You don't know shit about what’s going on with me and Deku.” He spat. “Keep your goddamn mouth shut.”

Bakugo turned to walk away, and saw that Kirishima and Kaminari were watching them intently. Much as they had most of the day, Denki’s eyes lingered on Noa, his cheeks a rosy sort of pink. When Bakugo noticed him staring, he tapped his gauntlet against Kaminari’s chest.

“You look like you’re about to choke on your own drool, Dunce Face.” He said before leaving. “Get it together.” 

It was quiet between the three students as they watched his figure retreat, grenades weighing down his arms. That same uncomfortable feeling from lunch returned. 

Noa had less than negative experiences with anything relating to a crush, and she was completely, wholly confused about what was going on. 

“Geez, that guy sure knows how to make everything awkward, huh?” Kirishima said with an uneasy laugh, breaking the silence. Noa noticed that he seemed to have a talent for remedying a conversation. He was personable. 

“I don't know how you can stand him.” Noa told him, shaking her head. “Seriously.”

The redhead shrugged, grinning. “I’m incredibly persistent. I'll crack him one day, you just wait.”

Noa smiled a bit, impressed but sarcastic. “Any attempt at rubbing some heat into that cold, dead heart of his is applaudable in my eyes. Good luck.” 

That earned a small laugh from both the boys, which made her feel sort of nice. Then she made eye contact with Denki, and it got weird again. 

“I’m, uh…” She started, taking a step back and gesturing behind her. “I'm gonna go find Shoto. I’ll see you guys, uh- yeah . Bye.”

As she walked away, her back turned to them, Kirishima put a consoling hand on Denki’s shoulder, who slouched down, a miserable expression overcoming his face.

“I’m hopeless. ” He whined, which Noa tried not to hear. 

She was intercepted by Jirou before she could find her brother. Noa smiled shyly, a pleasant feeling blooming at the sight of her. 

“Dude!” Jirou said excitedly, looking at her costume. “You look so fucking cool. I’m jealous.”

“What?” Noa responded, dumbfounded. “ I’m jealous, yours looks way better. I love the color of your tank top.”

“Oh, please.” Kyouka waved her off. “It’s nothing in comparison. That little sleeve with the red stripes? So cool. I mean, seriously. I’m gonna have to take some pointers.”

Jirou assessed her outfit a bit more, while Noa tried really hard to act normal about all the compliments. She swallowed, and put a hand up to the goggles around her neck, trying to cover them a bit. 

“Is that-?” Jirou said, breaking Noa from her thoughts. 

At first she thought she noticed the stupid yellow plastic, but the girl was looking at her stomach instead. Her head turned to the side with a peculiar expression. 

“When did you get an appendectomy?”

Noa’s mouth opened. She blinked. Her mouth closed. It felt like the air was caught in her throat.

“Oh- that?” She choked out uneasily, attempting to breathe. “Uh, yeah, happened when I was a kid. Don't remember much.”

“Huh.” Jirou responded interestedly, nodding. Then she shrugged and stood up straight. “Pretty neat, I guess. You seem like you have some cool stories.” 

Noa had to choke down another reaction, though she was considerably more amused. “You have no idea.” 

Behind someone's head, a strand of red hair caught her eye. “I’ve gotta get back to Sho.” She added, the slightest bit regretful. “See ya?”

“Yeah.” Jirou smiled. “Good luck out there, whoever you end up with.”

“Hey,” Noa grinned. “There's only a one-in-twenty chance that it’ll be someone I hate, right? Hopefully I won't need any luck.”

Jirou grinned back, finding the feud amusing. “Yeah, hopefully.”

“Good luck as well!” Noa told her over her shoulder, finally making her way back to Shoto. She knew to expect disappointment when she stepped next to him, knew that he would be put off by her interactions again. Surprisingly, he didn't look mad at all. 

“Why did you punch Bakugo?” He asked in his curious, monotone voice. 

Noa blinked a few times. The mood swings were throwing her for a loop. It was the nature of his quirk though, she supposed. Hot and cold was just part of his disposition. Wasn’t necessarily his fault that he switched between the two so frequently. 

Noa shrugged and explained their bet. 

Shoto nodded when she was finished, still a little confused, but a bit more understanding. “They do seem to hate each other quite a bit. I suppose that makes sense.”

Looking over at the group, searching for a pale green jumpsuit, Noa’s tone dropped a little. 

“I think it’s mostly one sided.”

Midoriya's costume was very likely homemade, with light green fabric and white accents, bulky red shoes and a matching utility belt that was practically identical to Noa’s. A mask covered his whole face, the shape of a wide smile built into the mouth area. On the top of his head were little shapes vaguely reminiscent of bunny ears, not unlike All Might’s hairdo when he was working. 

Noa’s face heated, and she put a hand over her goggles again. They both incorporated their idols into their costumes. 

You and the nerd are just alike. It makes me sick. 

It was then that All Might arrived, skating in front of the group dramatically, just as big and loud as he always was. Noa stiffened as he further explained the training exercise. 

“As heroes, your job is to retrieve the bombs that the villains are guarding. As villains, it is your duty to prevent them from doing so.”

A hand shot up in the crowd, Iida’s robotic costume glinting in the sun. He asked if the exercise would be held outdoors.

“Good question!” The hero said, beaming. “Believe it or not, some of the most villainous activities take place indoors. Think about all the heists, drug deals, think of the home invasions. Even kidnappings most commonly happen indoors.”

Noa’s body tensed again as All Might's eyes flickered to her. The allusion was obvious. 

“Er- Time to draw lots!” The man said, shaking off the awkwardness. “One of the groups will be uneven, so someone will have to go twice, once on either team.”

Grimacing, Noa felt a twinge of dread at the prospect of twice the work. She hoped she wouldn't end up being the unlucky one, and felt sorry for whoever would be. She wasn't worried about her grouping, though. Like she told Jirou, there was only a one in twenty chance. If she was really lucky, she might even end up with Shoto. 

One in twenty chance. She reminded herself as All Might stuck his hand in the box and pulled out a rubber ball.

“Noa Todoroki, and…”

Her eyes widened. One in twenty-

“Katsuki Bakugo will be villains. The hero team they will be fighting is…”

She could hardly hear Midoriya and Uraraka’s names being called. She had bitten down on her tongue when All Might had spoken the blonde's name, and could taste blood. 

Midoriya looked absolutely miserable. Uraraka seemed anxious. Bakugo, predictably, was enraged.

Without thinking, Noa’s gloved hand shot up, tattoo sticking out above the other students. 

“Oh, uh,” All Might startled. “Yes, Miss Todoroki?”

“Can I switch teams?”

The hero blinked, caught off guard. “Um… I don't- Can I ask why?”

“I refuse to work with him.” Noa said firmly, crossing her arms. The entire class was looking at her, but for maybe the first time, she didn't care.

“Well-” All Might blinked again, a bit confused. “I think I’m gonna have to say no, Young Noa. After all, part of a hero's job is to work together with people you may or may not get along with. I have experience with that myself.”

Regardless of how sound the expert advice was, Noa didn’t want to budge. Her jaw clenched.

“Can I forfeit?”

The students around her were startled, if not slightly amused.

“Um… no?”

Noa sighed so deeply her lung ached. She put her head in her hands and tried not to cry out of frustration. She didn't pay attention to the rest of the teams being called out, until Shoto’s name came from All Might's mouth, and she heard that he drew the short straw. He would be competing twice. 

To his effort, Shoto wasn't too phased by it. Noa had a suspicion he might’ve even been glad to get the extra chance to prove himself and flaunt his abilities to All Might. Gods know both siblings had a target locked on the hero.

Noa wasn't concerned about All Might anymore, though. She was fuming. Her hands shook at her sides as the hero led the other students into the viewing room.

Not only would she have to work with that irritating vermin of a human, she would also have to make sure he didn't slaughter Izuku Midoriya and keep the bomb protected. This would be an absolute catastrophe, and she’d be damned if she was going to let Bakugo fuck up her first real impression to All Might and the class. 

Midoriya and Uraraka were outside the designated building, planning their course of action. Nails dug harshly into Noa’s palms as she walked to her partner, jaw cramping from being so tightly wound.

Bakugo was standing with the most gruesome sneer she’d ever seen, his gauntlet-ed hands in fists at his sides. 

“Fuck off.” He told her before she even got to him. “I’m not playing teammates with you.”

“The fuck you aren’t.” Noa said quickly, just as angry. “I’m not failing this exercise because you can't get over yourself.” 

“Failing isn't an option. Not if I’m there.” Bakugo said confidently.

Noa rolled her eyes. “It’ll be our only option, especially if you’re there. First-degree murder gets us disqualified, remember? You need to put whatever the hell is going on with Midoriya behind you.”

Bakugo’s expression only grew worse. His hands were trembling, eyes blazing as he glared. It seemed like he was trying to find something to say, but couldn't. He turned on his heel instead, walking away quickly.

Noa’s teeth grinded together. A snake shot out of her hand, wrapping itself tightly around Bakugo’s wrist. She yanked it back hard, pulling him closer.

Almost impossibly fast, the blonde whipped around and took two long strides toward her. He was inches away, so close she could see the individual strands in his brows. Nitroglycerin wafted off of him and into her nose. The red in his eyes was blazing, almost molten with the amount of rage inside. 

He was radiating that same anger— not the usual annoying kind, but the cold, scary kind that had Noa’s hairs standing on end.

“Touch me again and you’ll find yourself so broken that even Recovery Girl can't fix you.” He threatened harshly, his voice low and hardly contained.  

In him, in his unsettling eyes, Noa saw every man who had ever wronged her. She felt the hatred and cruelty so vividly that she may as well have been six years old again. She felt all those memories rushing back as he stood in front of her. The chemical component of his quirk was radiating off him, making Noa’s head pound. It was all she could do to not back down and shrink away.

Then Bakugo’s face twitched, and he took half a step back. The motion made Noa’s head involuntarily jerk to the side, wincing.

Both their expressions dropped the moment she flinched, eyes widening. 

Noa’s face grew unbearably hot. Her silver eyes flickered red as she backed up and turned around, walking away faster than she could think. 

She hurried past fake buildings, shame-filled tears growing along her waterline. Her entire body was trembling. She felt numb. 

Without really being able to see, she darted into an alleyway, her back hitting the wall as soon as she was out of view. She closed her eyes and let her legs buckle, lowering herself to the ground. Her forehead pressed into her kneecaps, breathing growing faster with every moment. 

That was utterly humiliating. 

Flinching was one thing. She’d grown accustomed to the embarrassment and weakness of it. Flinching in front of Bakugo, though, flinching because of Bakugo, was completely different. That had to have been the most mortifying thing she’d ever experienced. 

Yeah, they hated each other. Yeah, he’s one of the biggest assholes she’d ever met. Yeah, his anger made Noa’s emotions go haywire. That didn't mean, even for one second, that she should’ve ever reacted to him like that. 

Allowing him to see her weakness, her fragility, made her want to bang the back of her skull against the building. She wanted to melt into the ground and disappear.

Of course he, of all people, had to make her react like an abused mutt. Of course he, of all people, had to be dead set on pissing her off. Of course he, of all fucking people , possessed a direct trigger to her trauma. Her nostrils still stung.

Noa slammed her fist into her head, repeating the action twice. The pain was just barely strong enough to give her an anchor to reality. 

The earpiece All Might had given them crackled to life as the hero’s voice came pouring through the speaker. Noa flinched hard, startled by the sound, and snapped out of her spiral. 

The round was starting. She had a building to be in, and a fight to probably not win.

It was time to go.

𖤐✰

Other than two pairs of footsteps clacking against the concrete, the walk up the stairs of the building was completely silent. The tension between the two teens was so thick Noa could feel it in the air when she inhaled. 

It seemed like Bakugo was unphased by her, still brooding about Izuku. His eyes were distracted, searching the ground for something, but still with that backlit anger they always had. He was confused, and irritated about it.

Noa felt like every nerve in her body was singed at the ends. Every fiber was on high alert as she walked next to him. In the enclosed hallway, the smell of his nitroglycerin was stronger than she’d ever smelt it. She tried to take as little, as shallow breaths as possible. It felt like she was on the brink of suffocating around him.

When they walked into the designated room, Noa made her way toward the large missile-shaped object against the wall. It was metal, and relatively nice, but it looked fake. She knocked her fist against it and heard that it was hollow. Definitely fake.

“At least that's one explosion I don't have to worry about.” 

Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to be in four places at once. Protect the bomb, keep Midoriya alive, work with Asshole Supreme, and defend against whatever plan Uraraka would try to pull off. 

The overall priority was to make sure Bakugo didn't kill somebody. The most effective way to do that was to, unfortunately, leave the bomb unattended. 

Hmm, She thought. Maybe not completely unattended.

It felt like a halfway solid plan. She spared a glance at Bakugo, who was staring at the floor intently, and turned away from him. She lifted up her top just enough to expose the rest of her stomach, and braced herself as her abdomen started shimmering. Soon, a colossal black snake grew out of her muscles, and slithered in front of the bomb, standing at least six feet tall. 

“That’ll keep it somewhat protected.” She mumbled to herself as she pulled her shirt back down. A wave of fatigue from the use of power made her lightheaded before it passed. “Now we can both rush them and have double the attack power.”

“Hey,” Bakugo said from behind her. It might've been the most languid she’d ever heard him. He seemed serious. 

Noa turned and looked at him expectantly, still annoyed. The blonde’s eyes flicked to the snake on the other side of the room, but that didn't phase him either. Whatever was on his mind was more important.

Bakugo’s jaw ticked, almost as if he was annoyed to even speak to her. “Do you really think he has a quirk? Deku, I mean.”

Noa blinked, looking at him stupidly. It took a second for her to form a sentence.

“As much as I hate you, I can tell that there’s at least a sliver of intelligence trapped inside that tiny brain of yours.” She said, crossing her arms. “So I don’t get why you’re confused. Do you think he threw that ball further than you with just his human strength? You think normal arms did that?”

Bakugo got mad again, but surprisingly stayed quiet. He just glared at her.

“Obviously he has a quirk.” Noa answered. “And a good one, too. It just hurts him, I think. He seems… scared of it.”

The blonde was still lost in his own head, eyes searching the ground blindly. His hands were shaking. Anger rolled off his shoulders. 

“The heroes have entered the building.” All Might said through their earpieces. “Your fifteen minutes start now!”

That seemed to reignite their determination. Noa looked down at her wrist, turning it underneath her gaze. 

Alright, She thought begrudgingly. Time to wake up.

The tattoo didn't move. Her eyes stayed gray.

Hello? I said wake up.

The black ink wriggled a bit, snake drawing seeming to slither in place. 

‘It’s about time.’

Noa’s irises glowed red. Her and Bakugo didn’t spare a single look at each other as they wordlessly left the room and started sprinting down the hall.

Usually, Noa enjoyed running. As hard as it was for her, she liked the exertion, the burning in her legs, the extra work her lung had to do to keep up. It was always just barely dangerous enough to make her filled with adrenaline. 

It didn't take long to realize that she hated running with Bakugo. 

He wasted no time at all. There was no stopping him, no slowing down the relentless pumping of his legs. It was an effort for Noa to even stay next to him. 

After nearly a minute, she was wheezing. Her lung wouldn't catch up. She couldn't breathe.

“Wait,” She called out, pausing to rest her hands on her knees. 

Bakugo didn't stop. Noa grit her teeth and shot a thin snake out, wrapping it around his wrist like it did before. And just like before, Bakugo whirled around, fuming.

“Get the fuck off me, bones. I thought said don’t touch me.”

“Just- wait. Seriously.” She said, panting, holding her hand up. “If you give me a second I can find out where they are.”

Confusion temporarily replaced the anger. His brows creased. “You can?”

“Yes.” Noa breathed, still struggling to make her lung catch up. Her chest was heaving. 

Bakugo crossed his arms, squinting. “And why the hell should I work together with you, huh?”

Noa’s jaw clenched. His bullshit was taking too long.

“Do you wanna win?”

“Obviously.”

“Then shut up and play teammates.” She snapped. “Move.”

Bakugo rolled his eyes, but complied, giving her a few feet of space. 

Noa, barely able to focus, forced her breathing to regulate. She bent down, resting her fingertips on the ground as she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She shoved Hebi to the front of her brain, activating their thermal vision. A sort of mental blueprint appeared in the shape of the building, showing two warm figures on the same floor as them.

“They’re a few halls away.” Noa said quietly, standing up and dusting off her hands. “But they’re being careful. We have to stay quiet and take them by surprise.”

Bakugo looked at her dumbfounded. “You got all that just from listening?”

“Sort of.” She said, brushing him off. “There’s-”

Before she could even finish, Bakugo took off down the hall. 

Noa chased after him, but by the time she rounded the corner, he was setting off an explosion. She got there just in time to see Midoriya on the ground, shielding Uraraka. The top half of his mask was blown off.

“What’s the matter, Deku?” Bakugo yelled tauntingly. “Afraid to stand up and fight me?”

The boy looked up, that rare sense of determination shining brightly in his green eyes. 

“I knew you’d come at me first.” He ground out, standing. “Figured you’d try to catch me by surprise.”

The blonde's face contorted with that classic Izuku-centric rage, and he pulled his arm back, launching himself at the boy. “I’m gonna hurt you so bad, they're gonna have to stop the fight! Just look!”

As Bakugo leapt forward, Noa braced herself to intervene, but soon learned that she didn't need to. Midoriya met him in the middle, grabbing his gauntlet-ed arm, and grit his teeth, swinging him over his shoulder with all his might. 

Bakugo landed on the floor back-first. He coughed harshly, no doubt having had the wind knocked out of him.

Noa slapped a hand over her mouth, surprised and full of ill-timed amusement. Izuku had just suplexed the over-loving life out of him.

“ Kacchan .” He forced out between clenched teeth. “You always use a right hook to start a fight. I know, because I’ve watched you for years! I analyzed every amazing hero, even you! I wanted to learn everything there was to know about them.”

Noa’s eyes widened as she watched the two. Did he say years?

“It was all in the notebook you burned and threw away!” 

Tears were building in his eyes by now. Bakugo was trembling with rage as he stood, glaring daggers at Midoriya.

“You can call me Deku, but I’m not the same defenseless kid anymore.” The green haired boy yelled. “Do you hear me? I've changed. From now on, Deku is the name of a hero!”

Even though she was on the other team, and even though the fight was not looking good in her favor, Noa had to use considerable force to hold back a round of applause. She was glowing with pride for Midoriya. It seemed like that was the first time he’d ever stood up to the blonde.

“ Deku ,” Bakugo growled, impossibly enraged. “You’re shaking in your boots, you’re so scared, but you wanna fight me anyway.” He put all his body weight into another lunge at Midoriya, palms crackling loudly. “ THAT’S WHY I HATE YOU! ”

At the same time Izuku went to block him, Noa saw Uraraka shuffling away through the corner of her eye. It was obvious what they were planning.

“Uraraka, go!” Midoriya cried out as he and Bakugo made contact. The girl took off down the hall, and Noa wasted no time in giving chase.

Uraraka was fast, Noa had to give her that. It took a few seconds to catch up. Quickly grabbing the capture tape, she sent a snake out of her palm, and turned the brunette around, pulling her close. She was just pulling a strip of tape off the roll when Uraraka struggled free. 

Noa reached out and frantically grabbed her, pulling her arm behind her back. Uraraka made a small sound of pain, and continued attempting to escape. Noa kept trying to get the tape over her wrists with one hand. She wasn't able to get very far before Uraraka threw her head back, slamming her skull against Noa’s face. 

Reflexively, she let go, stumbling. A hand flew up to her nose— it was definitely broken, and probably about to start bleeding. She cursed under her breath as she watched Uraraka’s figure dart up the stairs. 

Noa took four long strides forward, continuing to chase after her, when she heard a series of loud explosions. She stopped, remembering the two boys. 

It was an ultimatum. Did she go after Uraraka and protect the bomb, or did she let the snake handle her and make sure Midoriya was still alive? Her head whipped back and forth between the two directions. Offense or defense. Success or failure.

Fuck it , she thought as she grit her teeth and started running toward the explosions. Failure it is.

Noa winced as she gingerly touched the crooked bridge of her nose. Taking a deep breath in, she shut her eyes and flicked her hand to the side, popping the cartilage back into place. Her fingers came back bloody, her eyes watering at the pain, but she tried to brush it off. She’d survived more than a few broken noses. 

“Since you’re such a stalker, by now you probably know how my quirk, explosion, works.” She heard Bakugo say from around the corner. 

Noa ran toward them, turning to see the two boys standing across from each other. Izuku looked pretty roughed up.

“I secrete nitroglycerin-like sweat from my hands and make it blow up.” The blonde said, malicious but clearly excited. “Imagine what I could do if I had a lot of it!”

Midoriya’s eyes widened at the same time as Noa’s. It made sense then, why his scent was so much worse than usual. Those ugly ass things on his arms must’ve been full of the substance. 

“That’s right,” Bakugo said with a sadistic grin, stepping toward his opponent. “These gauntlets aren't just for show. They’ve been storing up my sweat inside for one monster blast!”

Dread pooled in Noa’s gut, and it looked like the same happened with Midoriya. If he let that thing loose, there was no telling how it would affect the building and the results of the match, or how it would affect Noa herself. 

Metal clicked as Bakugo hooked his finger around the ignitor. At the same time she took a step forward to try and intervene, All Might’s voice came pouring through the speaker in her ear. 

“Young Bakugo, no! You’ll kill him.”

“He’ll be fine,” The blonde said with wide, crazed eyes. “As long as he dodges!”

Time seemed to slow as Bakugo pulled the trigger. Noa’s eyes widened, watching his palm spark, grenade gearing up for the huge incoming blast. Her heart pounded once. Twice. 

Panic surged, and her concern for Izuku outweighed any self-preservation. Her feet moved on their own. 

When the smoke from the explosion cleared, Noa was standing in front of Midoriya, shielding him. A huge hole had been blown through the wall behind her, and she could hear the cement crumbling. Her chest was heaving, limbs burning so intensely she thought her skin was melted off. 

The blast blew out all the windows, and shards of glass had cut small gashes along her arms and stomach. Blood pooled in her mouth, and from the warm trickle running down her neck, she suspected her ears were bleeding as well. They were certainly ringing loudly. 

“Is that… even allowed?” Midoriya said from behind her, dazed. He was rubbing his head, and he yelped when he looked up, springing back. He hadn’t noticed Noa’s rescue till then.

“What?” He said absently. “How-”

“These things are awesome .” Noa heard a few feet away, the voice high and elated. It almost seemed like he was giggling. 

Smoke was still gathering on the other side of the hallway. Noa and Izuku watched Bakugo step out of the grey cloud, looking at his palm in complete awe. The sun pouring through the hole in the building illuminated his hair, his eyes, highlighting the danger he possessed in his very sweat glands. 

“The more nitro-sweat that’s stored in here, the bigger the explosion is.” He laughed again. “Go ahead, use your stupid quirk on me Dek-”

When he looked up, seeing Noa help Midoriya stand, he stopped in his tracks. She was scorched, her skin red, but she was glaring at him with the most intensity he’d ever seen.

“What the fuck?” Bakugo said loudly, shocked and angry. “You’re on the wrong side.”

“Murder wasn't part of the exercise.” Noa said through grit teeth. “Heroes aren't supposed to kill their enemies.”

“We’re not playing heroes, idiot.” He said, reaching over. 

Before she could stop it, he grabbed Noa’s wrist and yanked her over, pushing her behind him. His calloused, nitro-sweat covered fingers dug into her raw flesh, and burned so hotly she had to wrench her arm out of his grasp before she burst into flames. 

If every nerve was on fire before, now she was an inferno.

“Even if you give me everything you’ve got, you’ll never beat me.” Bakugo yelled. The sound hurt Noa’s ringing ears. She stepped away from him, standing against the wall. 

Midoriya was on the ground, not acknowledging his opponent.

“What’s the matter? You look scared.” The blonde taunted. “Fuck-face took the blast for you, right? That means you can still fight, doesn't it? So? Come and get me!”

Noa had to resist the urge to cover her ears. Izuku still didn’t respond.

“Are you ignoring me?” Bakugo said angrily, reaching for his other arm. “ I’ll get your attention. ”

“Young Bakugo!” All Might shouted through the earpiece. “Use that stored-up power again and I’ll have to stop the fight; you’ll lose. To deploy such a strong attack indoors is destroying the stronghold you’re supposed to protect.”

Remembering the bomb upstairs, Noa silently thanked Principal Nezu for keeping it fake. They’d all be dead if it’d been real.

“That’s a poor strategy, whether you’re a hero or a villain.”

Bakugo looked upset at the warning critique. 

“He’s right.” Noa said, grabbing her roll of capture tape and throwing it at him. It hit him square in the face, and Bakugo looked at her quickly, eyes seething. 

“Use that instead of aggravated assault.”

“ Agh , FINE!” The blonde yelled as he threw it back at her, eyes not moving from Midoriya. “We’ll fight hand-to-hand.”

Noa’s forehead hit her palm as Izuku shakily stood up. He grit his teeth and got into a somewhat feeble fighting stance. 

“Here it comes, nerd!” Bakugo screamed as he lunged forward. “That famous right hook you were whining about!”

The hit connected. Noa winced as Midoriya’s face flew to the side, and she inconspicuously shuffled against the wall, getting closer to the fight.

“Deku,” The blonde seethed as he took hold of his arm, wrenching him over his shoulder. “Don't you ever forget what you are. YOU’RE A WEAKLING! ” 

Midoriya was slammed down on the concrete back first, the move he first pulled being replicated by his apparent bully. Noa winced again, but kept shuffling closer.

Bakugo was towering over Izuku with a violent glint in his eyes. “Why won’t you use your damn quirk against me, huh? Still think you can stop me without it?”

By then, she was in between the fight, but standing far enough away that neither of the distracted boys noticed her presence. 

“That’s not it.” Midoriya breathed, his voice intense. 

“You’ve been hiding your true power from me for years !” The blonde yelled back. “What’s the deal, Deku? Did you think you were better than me this whole time?”

“That’s what you think?” Izuku said, growing irritated. “You idiot . You’ve always been stronger, Kacchan. I know you’re better than me!” He was panting, eyes wide and shiny. “Can't you see? That’s why I wanna beat you. Because you’re amazing !”

Noa inched closer. Adrenaline made her hands tremble around the roll of tape.

“You’re even more of an idiot than I realized.” Bakugo seethed. “COME AT ME!” 

Again, he lunged at Midoriya, palms crackling. Noa stared at the green-haired boy, and time slowed once more. 

His eyes flicked up to the ceiling, where Uraraka was on the floor above them. Noa looked between him, the ceiling, and Bakugo. Her eyes widened as the dots connected. 

“Uraraka, now!”

“No, stop!”

For a split second, two pairs of matching eyes met, and widened in alarm. 

Then the building blew up.

Instead of countering, Midoriya had changed direction and thrusted his arm upward. It happened so quickly Noa hardly even felt the strange sensation that had become common with his power. 

The wind force of his punch was strong enough to blow a huge hole through the ceiling. Noa was thrown back, her spine hitting the concrete hard. Her head bounced off the wall as she hazily watched debris start to rain down. 

A chunk of concrete was directly above her, soaring down fast. There was no time to move. Noa was too stunned to react properly. All she could do was brace for impact.

Before she realized it, she was being tackled, her head thudding against the floor. All she could see before losing consciousness was a pair of red eyes searching hers. 

𖤐✰

The first thing Noa was aware of was the sensation of rolling.

From the sound of it, she was outside, and laying on some sort of cot, being transported. A sharp ache in the back of her head made her wince, and her eyes opened reflexively at the pain. It was bright out, and she had to blink the spots out of her eyes.

Two robots were facing forward, wheeling her out of ground beta. 

“Hey.” Noa rasped, trying to get their attention. They didn't respond.

“Hey,” She tried again. “I'm fine, get me off this thing.”

Still no response.

“Hello?” Noa said, louder. 

She tried sitting up, and the movement created a tugging sensation on the inside of her elbow. The feeling was familiar enough that Noa immediately knew what it was. 

Her eyes blew wide open, back flattening to the cot. Her mouth went dry, hands trembling. Her heart was pounding. She knew if she saw or touched that needle, she would likely pass out. 

She started to panic. Hebi rose to the surface of her skin— they didn't like the needle either. It felt like they were writhing beneath her organs.

“Please get this thing out of me.” She pleaded to the thoughtless machines, tears building. “I can’t- please.”

A shadow stretched over her, and a sharp pain in her arm made her gasp. The needle had been yanked out.

“You okay?” Kaminari asked, leaning over her with wide eyes. 

Noa looked at him, startled. She didn't know what to say. Yet another person had witnessed her fragility. It was humiliating, but she was grateful that the thing was out of her skin. 

“Here,” He said, holding a hand out. “If you’re feelin’ up for it, let’s get you back to our classmates.”

Noa took a deep breath in, hesitant, before nodding once and letting Denki help her off the cot. Her legs wobbled when they touched the ground, and it took a few seconds to solidify her standing. When she did, more pain shot through her skull and traveled all the way down her spine.

“Aw, fuck.” She cursed, placing a hand on the back of her head.

Kaminari sucked air through his teeth. “Yeah, it looked like you hit your head pretty hard back there. Is everything okay?” He asked, seeming like he was resisting the urge to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Do you feel dizzy?”

“A little.” Noa admitted, hazily starting to make her way to the viewing room. “But I’m fine. Don't worry about it.”

“That was a huge fight.” Denki said, walking next to her. “I’m gonna worry.”

“Oh.” She said absently, before blinking in remembrance. “Oh shit. Is Midoriya okay? Uraraka? What happened?”

“They’re okay.” He responded with a small smile. “Bakugo is too.”

“Yeah, I don't care.” Noa said quickly. “What happened? We lost, right? Uraraka got the bomb?”

“Yeah.” Kaminari nodded solemnly. “It all went by pretty fast, but I think what happened is that Mido’ threw that big ol’ punch, which made ‘Raka be able to get to the missile-thingy. A bunch of stuff fell from the ceiling and was about to crush you, but… uh, Bakugo, like, kinda saved you.”

“He what? ” Noa said, appalled. “I thought I hallucinated that.”

Denki shrugged. “It was pretty heroic, awful as the guy is.”

“Yeah, right.” She responded bitterly. “He probably just did it to save his own ass. Killing me and Midoriya would've gotten him kicked out.”

Kaminari snorted. “True.”

By then, they were at the building, and they entered quickly, going up the stairs to join the rest of the class. They slipped in behind the group wordlessly.

Noa’s own battle was in the middle of being critiqued. All Might declared that Uraraka was the strongest in the exercise, and asked the class if anyone knew why. 

Momo’s hand shot up. All Might nodded. 

“Midoriya and Bakugo both deployed strong attacks indoors, which was idiotic, and reckless.” She started. “Todoroki’s emotions clouded her judgement, and her concern for those two let Uraraka get to the bomb. Ochako adapted to the situation, and used her best abilities to win the exercise. She is the MVP.”

Noa’s mouth shot off before she could stop it.

“I’m sorry.” She said loudly. “Was I supposed to let him die ?”

Momo turned around, looking at her with disinterest. 

“You were supposed to guard the bomb.”

It was silent for a moment. Both girls stared at each other, Noa bordering more on a glare. Then All Might coughed, and continued his analysis. 

Noa didn't even try to pay attention anymore. There was so much on her mind.

The battle kept playing over and over in her head, and she was going in circles trying to put the pieces together. It didn't make sense. Bakugo and Midoriya clearly knew each other, that much was obvious from the first day. But the story evidently went much, much deeper than anyone knew. 

Bakugo thought he’d been quirkless. By his own admission, he’d been ‘fooled’ by Izuku for years. But the only thing that explained was why he was angry. The level to which he went, the cruelty he reserved specifically for the other boy, was largely disproportional to anything that could’ve realistically happened. 

Did you think you were better than me this whole time?

That puzzled Noa, too. Was it insecurity making him react like that? Was it because his insatiable desire for victory was thwarted by Midoriya’s supposedly new power? He wanted to be the best, right? And Izuku becoming strong threw a wrench in that. He’d lost, and it clearly caught him by surprise.

It didn't make sense. Quirks didn’t just appear, with the exception of Hebi. Or with the possession of All for One’s power. And he was dead. 

Midoriya, on the other hand, was equally as perplexing. It was the complete opposite. He seemed to worship the blonde, looked up to him just as much as he did the pro heroes. He’d studied him, analyzed him for years.

It was all in the notebook *you* burned and threw away!

You can call me Deku, but I’m not the same defenseless kid anymore.

The nickname was an insult, possibly from childhood. It was evident that the kid had been bullied by Bakugo for some time. Even after all of that, after all the violence he’d faced, Izuku still respected and looked up to him. 

That’s why I wanna beat you. Because you’re amazing!

Noa’s jaw clenched, her eyes searching the ground as she thought. Not knowing the full story was irritating. She made as much inferences as she could with what she heard and saw, but there were so many layers that didn’t fit together. 

She needed to know what the hell was going on. 

Turning her head over her shoulder, she saw a blonde standing at the back of the group next to a wall. Bakugo was staring at the ground, eyes wide, pupils tiny. He was shaking all over. 

He’d been bested, and Noa was a conductor of his failure. He felt her eyes on him, and when he looked up, the energy between the two was palpable. It looked like he legitimately wanted to pummel her. 

Noa felt the same. He was a bully, an asshole, and prone to excessive acts of violence. She had every reason to hate him. She wanted to get revenge for Midoriya and kick the shit out of him.

They glared at each other for at least a minute. Neither of them wanted to surrender, and the anger passing between the both of them grew with every second. Both their expressions progressed into stronger and stronger disgust with the other. 

Bakugo’s face scrunched up, and he rolled his eyes, looking away. Noa’s upper lip twitched as she turned back around. 

It was Shoto’s first match. He and Shoji, a laid back guy with an interesting quirk, were against Oijiro, the guy with the tail, and Hagakure, the girl no one could see. 

Seeing the gloves of her costume on screen made Noa realize that she was the third and final girl from the locker room. She hadn't noticed it at first, but the third voice belonged to a transparent body. 

She tried to pay attention to the fight— really, she did. But the Midoriya and Bakugo situation made it impossible. Every thirty seconds, she would snap out of it and force herself to watch Shoto’s round, and it would fail instantly. 

You’re shaking in your boots, you’re so scared. But you wanna fight me anyway. That’s why I hate you!

Noa was just barely able to retain the fact that Shoto dominated his match. The rest of the groups went, but Noa’s mind didn't leave the subject of the boy behind her. She couldn't stop thinking about it. What was going on?

By the end, Shoto won the second match as well. It was embarrassing for the others, how fast he’d defeated them. Noa almost felt bad.

When class was dismissed, she separated from the group silently. Instead of returning to the classroom, she walked the other direction toward the nurse’s office. She needed to see if Midoriya was okay for herself.

What she wasn't expecting, when she opened the door, was the dishelveld form of All Might sitting in front of the green-haired boy, Recovery Girl scolding the both of them. All three of them looked up at the sound of the door opening.

Noa’s brows raised halfway up her forehead. It was silent for a good few seconds, the awkwardness growing with every tick of the clock. The four people took turns looking at one another. 

Noa cleared her throat. “I just came by to check on Midoriya, here.” She started, feigning casualty. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

Izuku didn't say anything. His eyes were saucers. 

Noa dipped her head toward the frail hero, fighting a smile. “Sorry for the interruption, All Might.”

Before they could react at all, she left the room and closed the door behind her. Loud sounds of confusion came through the piece of wood, and Noa smiled to herself as she walked back down the hall. None of them expected her to recognize him.

It made her think more, though, which she honestly didn't need. 

If All Might hid his other form from the public, why was he around Midoriya like that? What did he know? What was the relationship between the two, and could it possibly explain that odd feeling Noa experienced from the both of them?

All the confusion was incredibly frustrating. She was starting to hate this stupid school.

𖤐✰

At the end of the day, when Noa went back to the classroom, she found that neither Izuku or Bakugo were there. When she asked, Jirou said Midoriya had gone looking for him.

“Oh my god.” Noa groaned as she walked back out the door. “Please, not again.”

It felt like an obligation, at this point. She was now the buffer between the bully and his victim. From now on, she would step in front of Midoriya if she needed to. 

Noa walked down the hall, searching for a head of green hair. When she looked out the window, the gates of UA sparkled underneath the early setting sun. She saw a blonde figure exiting through them, backpack slung over one shoulder. Her jaw ticked.

Before she could make her way down there, Izuku came running up to him, his arm in a sling.

Noa watched the conversation from the window, trying to read their lips and failing. All she was able to see was the back of Midoriya’s head as he waved his hands around, clearly trying to explain something. Bakugo was yelling at him, which was typical.

What she would've never expected were the angry tears that started brimming in the blonde’s eyes. He wiped his wrist over his face, still yelling as he cried. 

Noa felt frozen. Every interaction between them gave her more and more to think about, more information that didn't make sense. Since the first day, their story had continued to get deeper and deeper, the details being slowly revealed as time went on. 

And that was only the beginning.

All Might came speeding up to the two boys, and Noa sighed, leaning her head back. She walked away, going back to the classroom now that they were supervised. Whatever fight that would potentially happen wasn't hers to worry about anymore now thanks to All Might. She went on with her day and tried to brush off that weird intrigue.

It didn't work. For the next twelve hours, their relationship and complexities inside of it were all Noa could focus on. When she trained with Shoto, her mind was elsewhere, and her sparring was sub-par. When she went up to the rooftop, there wasn’t any room to think about the stars. They faded into the background. 

There was a small reprieve there— though reprieve might’ve been a stretch. 

When the moon was at its height in the sky, she remembered what’d happened before the battle exercise and ensuing disaster. She remembered her conversation with Aizawa, and her eyes widened. 

She had letters to find. 

Noa bolted upright, mind turning. She’d been too distracted to even think about it. 

Looking around, she slowly stood up and made her way off the roof and to her room. When she closed the door behind her, she paused for a minute, listening intently. She didn’t hear a sound. 

Slowly, she tiptoed out, sliding the door open as quietly as possible. She held her breath as she padded down the hallway, carefully stepping on the floorboards she knew wouldn’t creak. 

Her heart was pounding by the time she made it to Endeavor’s office. Her hand inched toward the door painstakingly, fingers softly closing around the handle. When she turned it, there was a dim click, but no give. She flinched at the sound, squeezing her eyes shut. 

She waited another minute. Nothing stirred. 

The door was locked. Noa mouthed a string of curses, willing her mind to come up with a solution. 

Just as irritatingly slow and painstaking as before, she creeped to the bathroom, grabbed one of Fuyumi’s bobby pins off the floor, and returned to the office. It took nearly three minutes, but when she made it back to the door, she took a deep, silent breath in, focusing intently when she exhaled. 

Her heart was thundering in her ears as she reached her hand up and gingerly slid the pin into the keyhole. She squeezed her eyes closed when it hit the end with a soft tick. 

Picking the lock took another five excruciating minutes. She’d never done it before, and her inexperience made for a noisy venture. Every sound seemed five times louder than it was. 

When the lock finally clicked, Noa sighed in relief as quietly as possible. Centimeter by centimeter, she creaked the door open until she was just barely able to slide through. 

It felt safe enough to at least breathe normally in the confines of the four walls. She took a few seconds to compose herself before walking across the large room, making her way to an expansive wooden desk near the back wall. It had framed pictures of Endeavor in action, and a fancy gold plaque with his name on it that Noa had frequently wanted to use as a projectile. 

She stepped around the desk, pushing the chair out of its spot. Drawers lined either side, and when she reached out to open them, she half expected them to be locked, but the light tug she gave on the handle made the first drawer give. Noa’s eyes widened, then she squinted as she fully opened it, straining to see in the darkness. 

It was a bunch of old files. Every paper she flipped through was stupid and unimportant and had to do with heroes. 

Business fees, she thought in annoyance as she threw the paper behind her. No. Personnel salaries, no. Latex dry cleaning- oh fuck off.

It continued like this for the next four drawers, and Noa was ready to give up by the time she got to the last one. She stared at it for a second, dispirited. It was larger than the others. She didn't even want to waste her time, but when she tugged on it, she was met with resistance. 

This one was locked. 

Noa’s brows creased. She reached into her pocket and grabbed the pin she had used on the door, struggling with the lock for a second before forcing it to click open. Inside was a shallow tray for pens and pencils, sticky notes and paper clips and such. It wasn't more than five inches deep. 

Her brows creased even more. She leaned closer, squinting, and reached up, sliding her nail across the top of the wall. When it slipped between two surfaces, and Noa pushed her thumb up, the tray rose out of the drawer. 

Her expression slackened, brows raising. She was shaking as she lifted the tray up, revealing the admittedly obvious false bottom. 

It was full of envelopes. 

Noa had to use every ounce of self control not to fling the pens across the room. Slowly, like she was controlled by a puppeteer, she set the tray down and reached into the drawer, pulling out the stack of papers. 

Her eyes doubled in size when she saw her name printed in spidery half-cursive on the top envelope. She was so blinded by excitement and a strange sense of hope that it took a few seconds to notice the torn edges at the top. 

When she did, her entire face dropped. Her fingers rushed to pry open the pieces of paper, and when she looked inside the envelope, it was empty. 

Noa’s blood went cold. She frantically threw the envelope down, grabbing the next one. It looked the same. When she opened it, it was empty too. 

No .

Again. The next envelope was the same. And the next, and the next. The whole pile was empty envelopes with her name and address, but no notes. 

No .

The return address only made the knife cut deeper. Her eyes started filling with hot, angry tears until she couldn't see Aizawa’s name anymore. She threw the stack of envelopes on the floor and pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes. 

No, no, no, no, no—

Indignation made her entire body tremble. She let herself fall back from the drawer and sat on the carpet, utterly defeated. It was confirmed that Aizawa had sent letters, and that they had been received, but not by Noa. Of course Endeavor went the extra mile to only keep the envelopes. 

What was the point? Just to torment her? To dangle a plastic carrot in front of her face?

The most likely possibility was that he’d disposed of what was inside them. How was a mystery. He could’ve done anything, but if he went through the trouble of hiding the envelopes in a locked false-bottom-drawer, he most likely would have kept the letters there as well. 

They were gone. All she had was their limp carcasses.

It felt like Noa weighed four hundred pounds as she wiped the back of her hand over her face and gathered the papers and envelopes. She could hardly see the drawers when she reorganized them, moving as slowly as if she’d been underwater. 

That was all for nothing. 

She shut the drawers, stood up, pushed the chair back in, and walked away from the desk. Her feet dragged over the ground as she trudged back through the door, closing it behind her slowly, but normally, not caring about the sound it made. 

The door remained unlocked, the hairpin on the carpet underneath Endeavor’s chair.

She didn't notice her mistake. She didn't even really try to. Her emotions were clouding up her mind like a cluster of tornadoes, and the distress made her careless.

She went back to her room and threw herself on her bed, sinking down into the hard mat as far as it would let her. The Eraserhead nightlight blinked on the wall across from her.

Noa allowed herself one full minute to cry. Her entire body tensed as it curled in on itself, every muscle being wound to the point of snapping. Her nails dug into her palms, fists clenched so hard they shook. Blood seeped out of the bottom of her hands. The tears rolling down her face were hot and angry. 

It hurt, but it passed quickly. She had a habit of counting fast. 

The release of emotion was minimal, but it was enough to let her lie down without completely falling apart. A deep, unnurtured place inside her chest ached. It was where she harbored all the memories before she was adopted. Aizawa was there, too, even though he was the only dim light in the swath of darkness.

It took time, and effort, but Noa was very slowly able to force her thoughts elsewhere. The letters were gone. She legitimately wanted to slaughter Endeavor in cold blood for it, but there wasn't anything she could do to change the fact that they weren't there anymore. 

Like it’d done frequently since the battle groups, Noa’s mind drifted off to the relationship between Midoriya and Bakugo. She replayed the fight again, over and over, and then the ball throw, and the talk the boys had with All Might outside of the school. The hospital room with the hero’s disheveled figure. 

Noa turned on her side, face puffy but dry. Something seriously strange was going on with that place.

For reasons she couldn't explain, she had an intense, foreboding sense of dread that the next day would be disastrously, catastrophically horrible. It was a feeling that stemmed deep in her gut, and she couldn't shake it, even as she drifted off into troubled sleep.

𖤐✰

When Noa’s eyes opened, she wasn't in her room.

She wasn't anywhere. She was floating in a light, colorless void. She squinted, blinking away the bright spots as she let her eyes adjust.

A pair of red irises met hers. 

Noa flinched, and stumbled back on the floor she hadn’t realized was beneath her. Her silver eyes were saucers. 

“Tomura?”

It was just like she remembered him. Light, soft tufts of powder blue hair curled around his face, skin dry and cracked. His eyes were kind though, in his childlike state. Not hurt and betrayed like the very last time she’d ever seen them.

He didn't say anything, didn't make any sign that he recognized his name being called. He just stared at her.  

Tentatively, Noa reached out, lifting a hand toward the boy three feet away. 

“Tommy?” She tried again. When her hand moved close enough to brush his hair, the figure shimmered and disappeared. 

Noa’s breath caught, and her hand retracted. She looked around the blank area surrounding her, frantic. 

Tomura popped up ten feet away, his hand stretching out toward her. His eyes were wide in that same devastated expression he had when Noa jumped out of the window. When he called out for help, his voice was cracked and hoarse. 

Noa stumbled forward, rushing toward the boy. As soon as she got close, he would disappear again, and materialize further away, pleading for her to help him. 

Noa couldn't stop. She kept running and running, until she was leaping for him, tears streaming down her face as her arms wrapped around air. No matter what she did, she couldn't save him.

She’d never been able to save him.

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

When the Todoroki siblings arrived at the gates of UA, they were met with a swarm of reporters throwing questions in every direction possible. 

Noa immediately shrunk in on herself and took a step back, attempting to make a retreat. It would be better to just skip school altogether. 

Gently, Shoto grabbed her arm and ushered her through the crowd as fast as he could. “It’s okay,” He muttered, low enough so only she could hear. “Just ignore them.”

Noa wished it were that easy. Every person they passed by had the same reaction when they saw the siblings— eyes widening in recognition, mouths opening to start rattling questions off about Endeavor and what he knew about All Might’s involvement in the school. Noa ducked her head and followed Shoto as he brushed past them without a word. 

Once they were inside the safety of UA’s gates, she took a deep, shaky breath in as she and Shoto paused to recollect themselves. Noa looked through the entrance, at the swarm of news reporters that had already moved on to the next unsuspecting student. 

The same feeling from the night before— that intense, unshakable sense of malevolent foreboding— came back. It wasn't the usual anxiety she got around people (which she was surely experiencing at the moment) but something else alongside it, something more severe. 

There wasn’t an explanation for her certainty that someone in that crowd wasn't there to ask questions. Somebody was there for a completely different reason. Noa could feel the animosity flowing past the open gates all the way in the marrow of her bones.

“Come on.” Shoto said from beside her, snapping her out of her thoughts. 

Noa blinked, startled. They both turned and made their way toward the main building, walking up the stairs and to their classroom. When they entered, about half of the other students were there. Most of them were talking about the reporters they’d also encountered. The siblings headed to their seats quietly.

Noa had the urge to lay her head down and try to relax like she’d done the previous two days— she still hadn’t slept much— but she couldn't settle down enough to even close her eyes. Her hands were shaking, and she shoved them under her knees, pressing them against the seat of her chair. Her body was rigid as she sat in her seat, staring straight ahead, but not seeing the room around her at all. This time, she truly didn't notice Bakugo turning around and staring. 

Thin, pale brows creased when the boy noticed her vacancy. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. 

Noa’s mind slipped out of reality while the rest of the students filed in. She was far from UA, once again thrown into the dark, cloudy memories of her past. 

It was something that'd happened throughout her whole life. Her memories were often all she could ever think about. Everything about her revolved around her past— every personality trait was a result of some sort of post traumatic stress response. 

She took frequent showers because being dirty reminded her of the cell. She enjoyed being on the roof all the time because she hadn't seen the world until she was six. She was sensitive to loud sounds because of what she went through with All For One. She was quiet on her feet because living in Endeavor’s house required it. 

There wasn't ever a way to escape her past— not for any substantial amount of time. Her brain was able to make everything a reminder, and once she was reminded, she was hit with the full memory. She experienced it all over again. All she could do was try to put it off with whatever distraction she could find. Cigarettes, music, fighting. Pain. But the reprieve never lasted long. 

No escape, only endurance. 

At the front of the swath of memories was a head of light blue hair and red eyes. The nightmare from hours earlier, combined with the odd feeling she’d been experiencing, made her get lost in the mental image. 

“Decent work on yesterday's combat training, you guys.” Aizawa said from the front of the room minutes later.

Noa flinched, and the world came back to her in a flash. She blinked against the bright fluorescent lights as she struggled to compose herself. The scars on her palms had reopened in a line of stinging red crescents.

“I saw the video feeds and went over each of your team’s results.” The teacher was saying. He looked at the top left corner of the room. 

“Bakugo.” 

The blonde tch’d and crossed his arms. Noa struggled to compose herself, loosening her fists. 

“You're talented, so don't sulk like a child about your loss, okay?” He advised him. 

The backhanded nature of the compliment helped break Noa from her trance. Bakugo scoffed and looked away. 

“Yeah, whatever.”

Aizawa glanced at the desk behind him. “And Midoriya,”

Next to her, Izuku flinched. 

“I see the only way you won the match was by messing up your arm again.” He reprimanded. “Work harder, and don't give me the excuse that you don't have control over your quirk. That line’s already getting old. You can't keep breaking your body while training here.”

With every word, the green haired boy’s expression grew more and more sheepish. 

“But,” Aizawa sighed. “Your quirk will be really useful if you can get a handle on it.”

Midoriya’s face lit up. Noa, now caught back up in the present, felt a small sense of pride for him. 

“So show a little urgency, huh?”

The boy nodded, a determined expression overtaking his features. “Right.”

“Todoroki.” Aizawa said, turning to Noa. She shrunk in on herself.

“You did good.” He nodded solemnly. “But you should put your own needs and successes above those of your peers. You could've had a better chance of winning had you focused on your objective instead of your teammate and opponents.” 

Noa looked down, face heating. Her fingers twisted together underneath her desk.

“Don't let yourself become a shield at your own expense.”

It was silent for a moment. Noa could feel the truth, the importance of his words. She hated that everyone else could hear the critique, that they were all looking at her, listening to such a personally directed statement. 

“Now,” Aizawa said, addressing the entire class. “Let’s get down to business. Our first task… will decide your future.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the intensity.

“You need to pick a class representative.” 

A collective sigh rang through the room. Seemingly at once, a large chunk of the students rose out of their seats, giving loud examples and pleas of why they should be voted president. Aizawa sighed and slipped into his sleeping bag. 

Noa stayed silent. There wasn't much of a decision for her to make. It was obvious she would vote for Shoto. 

After a few minutes of chaos, Iida stood up and projected his voice above everybody. He passionately declared the reasons why it should be a democratic vote, that people’s selections should be private and organized. 

Noa’s brow twitched. If it was just by numbers, the only thing the others would know was that she didn't vote for herself. If she wanted to, she could vote for anyone. 

The first person her eyes flicked to was Jirou, who had said calmly that she should be picked. Noa really liked her, but didn’t necessarily see her as a leader. 

The unlikely one her mind drifted to was the boy sitting next to her. Izuku looked intrigued, but doubtful. Amongst all the chatter, he felt her eyes on him, and returned her gaze. Another one of those odd moments passed between them. Noa remembered the awkward meeting in the hospital. 

“Are you okay?” She asked quietly, trying to hide their conversation from the rows behind them. 

Izuku gave her a small smile and dipped his chin. “Are you?”

Noa’s face didn't move, but she returned the nod and looked back at her desk. 

The move he pulled during training the day before was one of the smartest things she’d seen in a long time. He was nervous and scrambly on the outside, but his mind was analytical and perceptive. He may not be ‘leader material,’ but he certainly had the potential— and brains— for class representative. 

Noa covered her paper with her arm and ticked the box next to Midoriya’s name. While she waited for the rest of the students to finish, she looked back and forth between him and the blonde in front of him.

She’d done a relentless amount of thinking about what was going on with them, but still found it hard to form an opinion. It was clear, even from their body languages and her own, that things between the three of them were still tense.

After a few more minutes of deciding, the votes were tallied. Izuku Midoriya won the majority, with Momo Yayarouzu as the runner up.

Noa had to conceal her smile. When she looked at the new class rep, though, he looked miserable. Noa felt a little bad.

Bakugo stood up, slamming his hands on his desk. “Alright you idiots, who voted for him?”

A few seats away from her, Sero snickered. “What, did you honestly think anyone was gonna vote for you?”

Noa huffed a laugh. Her and Sero shared an amused look as Bakugo started yelling at him. 

When Noa looked back at the screen, she noticed a tick mark by her name. Next to everyone else, it just looked like she used her vote on herself, but she knew that wasn't the case. 

Who would’ve voted for her?

Midoriya was shaking in place as he stood up and made his way to the front of the classroom, Momo slowly trailing after. Aizawa arose from his cocoon and declared their positions, resulting in a distressed Izuku and miffed Yayarouzu. 

Majority of the rest were dismayed that they didn't win. Noa was still perplexed by the vote she received. 

𖤐✰

Noa had finally managed to pin Shoto before he rushed out at the sound of the lunch bell. They both sat at a table alone, and were mostly quiet as they ate. Noa was still distracted by the feeling that’d been growing since the night before. Something was very wrong with the whole day. She really should’ve skipped school at the gates when she had the chance. 

When lunch was almost over, Shoto tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. They both stood from the table and walked over to the trashcan, the cafeteria bustling around them. Noa was dumping her full cup of fruit into the dumpster when the alarms started going off. 

It was immediate pandemonium. The entirety of the lunchroom got up in a panic and stampeded to the door, which immediately caused a hold up. 

The moment the sirens blared, and the red lights started flashing, Noa completely froze. Her pupils constricted and enlarged, irises flickering red. She crumpled to the floor, pressing her hands over her ears.

Shoto was startled by the alarms for a second, but quickly noticed his sister's shutdown. His eyes grew wide, and he bent down to help her. For a moment, people swarmed around them like parting waters. Then Shoto got swept up in the wave of bodies, and rubber soles started trampling over Noa’s back. 

She didn't even notice. She was on the floor next to the trash can, pressing her forehead against the linoleum. 

The lights, the sirens, the panic— it was all too familiar. She was transported right back into the tunnel she’d squeezed herself out of. 

UA was gone. All she could see was a stone hallway closing around her, red lights flashing brightly. She was being born again, bursting into the air like a chick breaking through the glass shell of its egg. 

Her hyperventilating breaths created steam on the floor underneath her. Her eyes squeezed tighter, a sound of helplessness whining from her throat.

A shoe hit her side, and someone toppled over her. 

“What the-”

Noa could hardly hear or feel anything. She stayed on the floor with her hands pressed hard over her ears. 

The same shoe nudged her shoulder. “Hey.”

Nothing registered.

“Hey,” The person tried again, tapping their shoe harder. “The hell’s wrong with you?”

At the very end of the hallway, someone slammed against the wall above the exit. Iida quickly assured everyone it was only the reporters, and that all was fine. The students soon calmed down. 

Bakugo was a few feet away from the edge of the crowd that was very slowly starting to disperse. He’d fallen on his butt after tripping over Noa, and was looking at her with bewilderment, his arms bracing his weight. 

Behind him, the crowd parted as Shoto pushed his way through. 

“Noa,” He said frantically when he saw her on the floor, rushing forward. He crouched down and put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay? What happened? I got-”

“What’s she doing?” Bakugo said in disgust, still on the floor behind them. 

Shoto glared at him. “Leave.”

“Whatever.” Bakugo said, looking at them with a grimace as he stood up and walked away. “Freaks.”

Noa was trembling still, completely unreceptive to the outside world. The alarms had stopped by then, but she could still hear them echoing in her head. She could still see Tomura’s eyes staring at her in betrayal as she fell through the air. She could feel the wind pushing against her back as the concrete came closer.

“Noa.” Shoto tried again, voice growing frantic. “It’s okay, you’re okay. Please get up.”

Aizawa, who had walked into the lunchroom to investigate the disturbance, noticed the two siblings on the floor quickly. 

“What happened?” He said, impatient with concern as he rushed toward them. He bent down on the floor as well, placing a hand on Noa’s other shoulder. 

“I don't know.” Shoto said helplessly. “The lights, and the sirens, maybe-” 

“Right.” Aizawa nodded, cursing under his breath. “I’ll handle this. Get Recovery Girl.”

Shoto compiled quickly, rushing out of the lunchroom. 

“Everybody out.” He said loudly to the students surrounding them, who had gathered around the commotion. “Go to class.”

They all listened and exited quickly. When the room was empty, he looked at Noa again, placing his other hand on her shoulder. 

“Noa, hey.” He said softly. “Can you hear me?”

There was a break in the waves. Noa’s trembling dulled to a slight shiver. 

He’d found her again. 

“It’s okay.” Aizawa told her. “You’re safe. It was just an alarm.”

Piece by piece, reality came back. She became aware of her skin on the cool floor, her rapid breath puffing against the linoleum. Her hands stayed by her ears, but Noa loosened the grip just enough to hear. 

“Think you can look at me for a sec’?” 

The sound of his voice was just as comforting as the first time she’d ever heard it. Slowly, Noa removed her hands from her ears. She looked up, and met Aizawa’s wide, concerned eyes. Her own were filled with tears. 

“Hey, kiddo.” The man said when they looked at each other, smiling sadly. “How you feeling?”

Noa was still breathing hard, but it was gradually beginning to slow as she sat up and moved her arms away from her ears. Her heart was thundering in her chest, feet tucked underneath her. Her hands fisted tightly on top of her bent knees. 

Aizawa still had a hand on her shoulder, and he dipped his head a little, getting her attention. “Do you want to stand up? We can move somewhere private.”

In a catatonic state, Noa let herself be helped off the floor, and leaned on Aizawa as he halfway carried her to Recovery Girl’s office. The elderly woman met them halfway there, helping as much as she could, making exclamations of worry. When they arrived at the office, she opened the door and ushered them through.  

Aizawa set her on the cot gently. Noa immediately backed up against the wall behind her and drew her knees to her chest. Her arms wrapped around herself tightly. She rested her chin on her knees and stared straight ahead, letting her eyes unfocus until she was blinded.

“Oh dear,” Recovery Girl said with worry. “What happened?”

“Panic attack, I think.” Aizawa responded, his eyes not leaving the girl. “Her brother said something about the alarm.”

“Yes,” The old woman hummed, nodding as she appraised Noa. “There’s usually at least one. Let’s see… history of trauma?”

Noa was too out of it to see Aizawa give Recovery Girl a slow, affirmative nod. The tightness of her arms around her legs made her shake. She wasn’t blinking, still completely catatonic. 

“Do we just… wait it out? Can your quirk help?”

“Of course it can.” She responded, hobbling over to the cot. 

It didn't register until after the lips were already on her cheek that the woman kissed her. When the pair of wrinkled lips popped off with a loud smooching noise, Noa jumped, blinking hard. 

It took a few seconds for reality to register. The room slowly came back, as well as the pair of teachers staring at her intently. 

Immediately, Noa let out a long, suffering groan and slammed her eyes shut, letting herself fall down onto the hard mattress. Her entire body grew fifteen degrees hotter. 

A huff of laughter came out of Aizawa’s nose. “Well you seem better.”

“No.” Noa whined in embarrassment, burying her face into the sheet. “I’m worse. Expel me before anyone else sees.”

“Not gonna happen.” The man said, trying to be stern. He leaned over and gently lifted Noa so she was sitting up. Her face was beet red, and she physically couldn't move her eyes from the ground. 

“You’re okay?” 

Noa didn't say anything. Her lips felt like they were glued together. She took a deep, miserable breath in and dipped her chin.

“Okay enough to go back to class?” Aizawa asked, brows raised. “If you need to sit out for a few minutes, you can take as long as you-”

She was standing up before he finished his sentence. There would already be enough attention on her for being an absolute freak in front of everybody— it would only be worse if she had to skip class for it. 

“Alright then.” Aizawa said in amusement as he followed her to the door. 

Before Noa walked through, she turned back, glancing at Recovery Girl. Embarrassment still flooded her system.

“Thank you.” She muttered, turning around and walking out. 

Regardless of the fact that they were going to the same place, Noa tried to walk fast enough to evade Aizawa. It didn't work— the man had long legs.

“You wanna talk about what just happened?” He asked, catching up to her and staying at her side as they walked to class 1A. 

“I don't know what you’re talking about.” Noa said, struggling to keep her voice even.

“Save it, Todoroki.” 

His clipped tone surprised her. Noa looked at him, his expression serious but concerned. Her face grew red again when she looked back at the ground, scuffing her shoe against the floor.

“I’m fine.” She said tiredly. “It just- I don’t-” 

It continued like that for a few more broken words, Noa failing to get out the reason for her episode. Aizawa showed mercy soon enough.

“You need to look into a therapist,” was all he said. 

They arrived at the classroom door, and the man followed her inside as he opened it. 

Noa didn't look up from the ground as she walked to her seat quickly as possible, her hair covering her burning face. Only a single glance was spared ahead of her, at Shoto, before she shoved herself in the chair and slunk down until she was halfway under the desk.

She wasted no time in grabbing her headphones out of her backpack (which Shoto had graciously brought her from the lunchroom), and cramming them in her ears, turning the volume up as far as it could go. She didn't even hear the song that was playing, but knew it was something loud. 

Noa didn't let herself see anything as she stared intently at the whiteboard. She pretended not to see the heads turning toward her, the confused anxious glances in her direction. The red eyes in the corner, the purple head of hair in front of her, the concerned green in the corner of her eye. 

When the class representatives went to the front of the room, and Midoriya gave his position over to Iida, she didn't register any of it. She put every ounce of focus into the song blaring in her ears. Every memory that threatened to surface bounced off the shield of sound surrounding her. 

𖤐✰

“Today's training will be a little different.” Aizawa said at the front of the class later that afternoon.

Noa had calmed down by then, but was still shaken by her meltdown. She was mentally present, but still avoiding everybody’s eyes, not saying a word.

“You’ll have three instructors.” The teacher continued. “Me, All Might, and another faculty member will be keeping tabs on you.”

Many of the students’ brows raised. Noa had a suspicion the extra supervision might’ve been a result of the morning's disruptions. Possibly even because of her meltdown— they thought someone had to keep an extra eye on her. Guilt blossomed at the thought. 

Sero raised his hand. “Sir, what kind of training is this?” 

Aizawa held out a card with yellow lettering. “Rescue. You’ll be dealing with natural disasters, shipwrecks, stuff like that.”

The class's reactions were almost unanimously intrigued. Noa herself was glad to get a break from all the teamwork, be able to focus on something doable. She still couldn't shake her unsettlement, though, regardless of the temporary distraction. 

Students around her talked to each other excitedly about what they wanted to do, the powers they wanted to finally use. Absently, Noa listened to their musings.

“Guys, I’m not finished yet.” Aizawa said impatiently from the front of the room. 

“What you wear in this exercise is up to you. I know you’re excited about costumes…” He clicked a button and the suitcases with their outfits came out of the wall. “But keep in mind that you haven't gotten used to them yet— they might limit your abilities.” 

Majority of the class was excited to suit up again. Looking sideways at Midoriya, Noa wondered if his costume was even intact after yesterday. She herself was undecided on what she would wear.

“This special training’s at an off campus facility, so we’ll be taking a bus to get there.” Aizawa closed with, still clearly tired. “That’s all. Start getting ready.” 

The feeling only grew stronger. They would be outside of UA’s fortress. Even with the extra staff, there was a greater probability of something going wrong if they were leaving campus. 

Everyone started grabbing their suitcases off the wall. Noa fisted her shaking hands and stood up. 

Ten minutes later, the class was gathering on the sidewalk outside, a big shuttle bus waiting by the curb. 

Noa was irritated with how long Shoto’s ridiculous hero costume took to put on. He was almost always running behind because of that mound of fake ice. 

She had ultimately decided on wearing her costume as well. Strong as her dislike for the exposure of her arms and stomach may have been, the coverage of her legs was more important. She wrapped her arms around her waist tightly, which had become a frequent stance when wearing what she was. Her fingers picked at the traces of lint gathered on the red and black sleeve. 

The students on the sidewalk chattered amongst themselves, talking about costumes and seating arrangements. Iida was somewhere loudly shouting specific instructions on how to board the bus most efficiently. 

Standing a few feet away from Uraraka and Midoriya, Bakugo was by himself, waiting with his hand on his hip, the weight making his posterior stick out a little. Noa couldn't help but snort, trying to hide the chuckle with her hand.

“What’s so funny?” Someone asked in amusement. 

Jirou walked up next to Noa, and she was trying so hard not to laugh that all she could do was point. When the girl’s gaze followed her finger, she snorted and put a hand over her mouth as well. “The fag stance is insane.”

They both cracked up. Noa had to fight to catch her breath. 

“Is that not a slur?” She said between laughs, wiping a finger under her eye.

“Yeah,” Jirou shrugged. “One I can use, though.’”

Noa’s laughter ceased. Her smile dropped, mouth opening and closing.

“Oh, you’re…?” She struggled out, face still red. Her lack of coherent response was humiliating. “That’s- yeah, sorry, I didn’t-”

“Have you not met a gay person before?” The girl smiled at her wryly, raising a brow. 

Noa was still a bumbling mess as she shook her head. She was worried her confusion would be interpreted as prejudice. “I never- I haven’t really, uh, thought about it, I guess-”

“Look around you, babe.” Jirou said jokingly, gesturing to their classmates. “You’re about to meet a lot more.”

Noa blinked, caught off guard by the speed and nature of the conversation. She looked at the students around her as well. 

“You mean-”

“Oh, yeah.” Jirou said, nodding. “This place is full of twinks.”

“And you think..?” Her eyes flicked to Bakugo for a second, who was still standing with his hip out. 

Jirou looked over at him too, squinting. 

“Dunno,” She said, puzzled. “By looks and stance alone I would say yeah, plus whatever’s going on with what’s-his-name, but he’s definitely not cool enough to be on that spectrum. It’s breaking my gaydar.”

Again, Noa held back a laugh. 

Sexuality wasn’t something that’d ever crossed her mind— she’d never had anything close to the time or space to consider romance of any form. It made her head hurt trying to think about it. She shoved the thoughts away and looked at Bakugo again, smirking. 

“Watch,” Noa whispered, taking a step forward. She walked right up to him, joining him at his side and replicating his stance. It was extremely exaggerated, her side bent so far over her hip that her ribs ached.  

At her approach, Bakugo turned and grimaced. The sneer turned to disgusted confusion as he looked at her, slowly taking in her pose. 

Watching the realization dawn was hilarious. At once, his face dropped, turning bright red. Shame-tinted rage contorted his features. He threw his arm down and stood normally, then reached over to shove Noa six feet away. 

She stumbled back, doubling over with laughter as she returned to Jirou. Both of them were inconsolable, high fiving and taking minutes to settle their amusement. 

When their laughter died down, the rest of the students arrived in front of the bus, and Iida started his carefully thought-out boarding procedure, shouting for the students to get in a line. It took a minute to find Shoto, and by the time she did, they were stuck at the end of the herd. 

Shoto followed her onto the bus, but when they climbed aboard, her face dropped. Almost all the seats were taken up— there were no open doubles for and and her brother to sit at. The only two available seats were either next to Tokoyami, the boy with the head of a bird, or Mineta, the perverted child she’d quickly come to despise. 

She grimaced at the latter option, and shot Shoto an apologetic look as she sat next to Tokoyami. Her brothers face was unchanging as he sat in the seat next to Mineta, as far away as the chair would let him go.

Tokoyami didn't say anything when Noa sat down. They simply looked at each other and gave a small nod, then turned forward. Staring at the back of Shoto’s head, Noa rubbed her sweaty palms over the knees of her cargo pants. 

That uneasy feeling was still there. For a second, she thought maybe her anxiety was just a precursor to the panic attack, but when the feeling came back during class, she was certain. It wasn't just her typical worrying— something bad was going to happen. It was as inevitable as the earth turning on its axis.

She tried to focus on the evenly split white and red sides of Shoto’s hair to take her mind off it. Her hands continued to slide against her knees. 

“The darkness becomes you.” A stoic voice said on her right.

Noa’s brows creased, and she looked at Tokoyami. “Sorry?”

“Don't apologize,” He responded. “I see in you what lies within myself.”

Noa’s mouth opened and closed a few times. She was utterly confused, and caught off guard by the intense language. “Darkness?”

“Indeed.” Tokoyami said, nodding. “You too, have seen the abyss.”

She had no idea what he was talking about. There was a general melancholic vibe to the boy, and it took a second for her to make sense of his comment. She could see, from a symbolic point, where darkness had been present in her life.

“You know what?” She said, fighting a smile. “Hell yeah. Abyss.”

The line of his beak lifted in a small sign of camaraderie, and he dipped his head at her before looking out the window. Noa blinked a little as the interaction registered. She liked his strangeness.

“Normally I’d be grothed out by thomeone with your body type.” Someone said from the other side of her. 

Immediately, Noa physically recoiled, sneering at the purple-headed freak who’d climbed out of his seat and approached her. 

“But your legth make up for it.” Mineta continued, his eyes raking up and down her body. “Even through your cothtume, I can tell you’ve got a great thet of thigth.” 

Noa’s expression crinkled in disgust. She wanted to vomit. Her eyes flicked up anxiously, but Shoto’s head was leaned against the back of the seat. The one time she actually needed his interference, he was out cold— she was on her own.

Leaning away with an appalled grimace, Noa apologetically bumped into Tokoyami. Her initial goal was to ignore Mineta till he went away, but his perversions were persistent.

“I mean, come on .” He whined, reaching for her pants. “You couldn't’ve made them a little tighter?”

Noa’s stomach lurched. When she bat his hand away like a fly, it was reflexive. When she made a snake coil around him and let him dangle from the ceiling for the rest of the bus ride, it was malicious.

For the next few minutes, Noa leaned her head back, closing her eyes to try and drown out the sounds of conversation around her. When Tsuyu, a girl with a frog quirk, piped up, though, one of Noa’s eyes opened. 

“If we're stating the obvious, there's something I wanna say. About you, actually.” She said, turning to Midoriya. The boy immediately got anxious, green eyes widening.

“That power of yours, isn't it a lot like All Might’s?”

Izuku flew into a panic, waving his hands around frantically as the other students started to agree. Then Kirishima chimed in, saying that since Midoriya’s hurts him, there's no way the two can be connected. 

Noa raised a brow at the conversation, but it ended soon after, and they returned to talking about other trivial things. She closed her eyes again, but her mind was turning. 

Izuku’s reaction was certainly incriminating. She doubted that the different repercussions of their powers had anything to do with the relation between them, though. After the past two days, she knew personally that whatever they had was the same. She just didn't know how or why.

“If anyone has pro quirks, it’s Bakugo and both the Todoroki’s.” Kirishima said.

At the sound of her name, Noa’s eyes fully opened. Shoto was still fast asleep, but in the row in front of him, the blonde’s head perked up. 

“Yeah, but Bakugo’s always angry, so he’ll never be that popular.” Asui said bluntly.

It was an effort not to laugh at the insult, and ensuing reaction. Bakugo stood up in his seat and— predictably— started yelling at her, threatening to kick her ass.

“See?” She said to the others tiredly. 

“You know, we basically just met you,” Kaminari drawled, looking at Katsuki with amusement. “So it’s kinda telling that we all know your personality is flaming crap mixed with garbage.”

That got Noa to crack. A small snort broke from her lips as Bakugo started screaming again. 

The class was really ridiculing him, something she suspected had been a long time coming. When Bakugo heard her laugh, he stopped short, whipping around with a sneer. He already knew it was her.

“What’re you laughing at, Snake-Face?”

Noa raised a bored eyebrow, and shrugged. “Just appreciate his honesty, is all.”

“ Hah? ” Bakugo’s face contorted with rage, hands sparking. “YOU’RE GONNA REGRET THE DAY YOU APPLIED TO THIS SCHOOL, YOU LOSERS! I’LL KILL BOTH OF YOU.”

She and Kaminari laughed at him, and the others joined in. Jirou, who had the extremely unfortunate luck of having to sit beside him, looked behind her and smiled at Noa. She returned it.

Other than Bakugo, things slowly started to calm down. It wasn't a minute before the bus came to a halt.

“Hey, hey.” Aizawa said from the doors. “We’re here. Stop messing around.”

Noa’s smile dropped. The students filed out of the bus, and she eventually followed, fingers shaking at her sides. That feeling only got stronger the closer they got to the USJ. She balled her hands into fists. 

The building was a huge, expansive dome with a glass ceiling. Many of the students were taken aback by the size of it. Noa would’ve been too, if she’d been able to pay enough attention. 

Thirteen, the space hero, met them at the front of the building. The people around Noa gushed their praises, and she tried to focus as the staff members led them through the doors. 

The inside of the USJ was enough to snap her out of her trance for a moment. It was filled with multiple disaster-simulators— cityscapes and various terrains like lakes, mountains and mudslides, domed sections with different weather situations. It was a hero’s themepark.

All the students around her had loud, excited reactions upon stepping inside. Everyone was quick to notice the similarities to Universal Studios Japan, down to the abbreviated name. 

While everyone chattered, Noa noticed Aizawa and Thirteen standing slightly off to the side, having a hushed conversation. She didn't catch much, other than All Might’s name from an irritated Aizawa, and the space hero holding up three fingers in response. 

That’s right, Noa thought. All Might was supposed to be there. 

Her brows creased. What did the three mean? Was it the reason for his absence?

Aizawa shook his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He and Thirteen addressed the students then, beginning the pre-exercise lecture. 

“Before we start, I just wanna say one thing,” The space hero said in a bright, chipper voice. “Well, maybe two. Or three! Possibly four…“

The class groaned for them to get on with it. 

Thirteen went on a long spiel that Noa really did try to listen to. All she was able to gather was the general consensus that quirks can be dangerous and they should all make sure not to hurt anybody. She had the half baked thought that her quirk could easily be lethal, but was too distracted to give the idea any time to formulate. 

There was a buzzing inside the dome, like the drone of electricity, but stronger. It made the feeling she’d been having all day go haywire. The hair on her arms stood on end, eyes darting around the USJ frantically. 

What was that sound?

Aizawa was wrapping up Thirteen's lecture for them when a loud sputtering in the pit made his sentence falter, brows creasing. The lights in the dome flickered.

He turned around, and at once, everyone looked at the fountain below as it gurgled and bubbled. The water sparked and expanded until a smoky, opaque purple substance started forming outside of it. 

The students watching gasped, most scared, all of them confused. Some wondered if it was part of the exercise. 

Noa’s entire body went numb. Her heart stood completely still in her chest, blood running ice cold. Her pupils had shrunk down to pinpricks, eyes wide and round. She was a statue as she watched the mass grow, watched a hand shove itself out of the purple swath like a zombie from a grave. 

Before he even emerged, Noa knew who she would see. The familiar purple was enough of an indicator. It was confirmation that the bad feeling she’d had all day wasn’t in her head. 

It was standing a hundred yards away. 

Tomura Shigaraki stepped out of the portal and onto the dirt of the USJ floor. Hands all over his body, small black clothes, dusty hair, red shoes. The only thing different was his height. 

Noa was too shell-shocked to even tremble. She was made of stone, her eyes locked on the dead man walking. 

That’s what he was— dead. To Noa, it’d been that way ever since she escaped. She grouped his demise in with All For One’s and didn't allow herself to consider his survival. It wasn't even an option, wasn’t a possibility, until just then. There, on the steps of the training facility, the awful truth came back screaming so loudly her ears started ringing. 

He never died. The only person he was ever a ghost to was her. 

Noa should’ve known better— nothing in her past ever stayed dead. History was never fully erased.

“Stay together.” Aizawa said defensively, reaching for his goggles. Three seconds had passed since Shigaraki came through the warp gate. “Don't move, don't do anything.”

Noa heard him, but she couldn't look away from the young man on the floor, surveying the inside of the dome as he scratched at his neck. She couldn't even blink. Her breath was caught in her throat, mouth having gone dry moments ago. If her heart was beating, she couldn't hear or feel it. Every second felt like an hour.

“Where is he?" His hoarse, raspy voice demanded from below. "We went through the trouble of bringing all these friends, who’re so eager to meet him.”

As he looked around, a large number of villains started pouring out of the portal behind him, quickly filling up the area below the staircase. 

“They want All Might.” He said, slowly holding his arms out. “The great symbol of peace. I can't believe he’s not here.

The relief was as insignificant as a drop of rain in the ocean. Noa wasn’t the target, and he didn’t know she was here. He hadn’t seen her.

Yet. 

She still couldn't breathe. She knew as soon as he laid those laser beam eyes on her, she’d evaporate on the spot. 

The last villain through the portal didn't look human at all. It was a huge black creature with a large beak, exposed brain and the physique of a giant bodybuilder.

Shigaraki smiled. “Maybe if I kill a few kids, he'll come out to play."

Aizawa’s scarf rose in the air, billowing around him. Next to Noa, Shoto analyzed the situation aloud, not noticing his sister’s statuesque figure. He pointed out the villains' strategy, noting that they specifically planned the attack for when they were out of school, wondering what could be jamming the signal. 

Noa didn’t hear any of it. 

“Whatever their plan, they must have a concrete objective in mind.” Shoto said when he was finished, brows creased. “But what is it?”

The students listening were alarmed at the deductions, but when his sister didn’t respond, Shoto turned to her with his brows furrowed. 

“Noa?” Shoto asked. He put a hand on her shoulder when she stayed silent. “Noa, can you hear me?”

He got no response. He was about to shake her gently when a voice came from the front of the group.

“Thirteen, protect the students.” Aizawa instructed sternly, pulling his goggles over his eyes.

For the first time since she saw Tomura, Noa blinked, and her eyes darted to her teacher. He was grabbing onto the ropes of his scarf as he talked over his shoulder. 

“Kaminari, try using your quirk to contact the school. See if you can figure out what or who is jamming the signal."

Wide-eyed, the blonde nodded and obliged quickly. 

Noa’s eyes expanded as Aizawa took stance, about to launch himself off the staircase. It was like she got struck by lightning. 

“Wait!” 

In an instant, she was behind Aizawa, grabbing his hand in desperation. He turned around, face filled with shock. The expression quickly morphed into concern when he saw her state. 

“You can’t.” She breathed, pupils blown. “That guy-“

“Slow down.” Aizawa said calmly. “What is it?”

Noa took multiple rapid breaths. “Down there.” Her arm was shaking as she pointed down the staircase. “The hands. I know him.” 

Aizawa’s face dropped. “What?”

“All For One.” She struggled out, her voice breaking. “He’s- he was with him.”

The man was a quick thinker in disasters, always had been— but even he struggled to maintain his composure. All he let himself do was blink three times as he registered the words, mind turning like semi-truck wheels. It took two seconds for him to nod and give her a short, comforting-as-possible look before flicking his eyes to Shoto.

“Go with your brother.” Aizawa told her quietly. “Do not leave his side. You’ll be okay, you hear me? I’m gonna do everything I can.”

He gently ushered her behind him, out of Shigaraki’s line of view. Noa’s eyes grew wide as he turned back around, tightening the ropes of his scarf.

“His quirk!” She called out frantically. “Don't let him touch you.”

If he heard her, he made no sign of it. 

Misery clouded Noa’s mind as Shoto grabbed her gently, leading her back to the group and keeping her steady. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked frantically, looking between her eyes. “What’s going on?”

Seemingly snapped out of her stoic trance, Noa bounced into rapid defense mode. She started talking three times her usual speed. “Most of these villains are weak placeholders— thugs at best. They won't be a match against Aizawa, and we won't have to worry about them.”

“Yea-”

“They’re not the problem.” She cut in. “I know that guy down there. He was with me… before. He can destroy people. There’s so much- I don't even know how-”

“Noa, Noa.” Shoto said quickly, placing a hand on either shoulder. “Slow down. You need to breathe.”

“I can’t .” She burst out, hyperventilating. “You don't get what this means, Shoto. He knows me. He’ll know my voice, my face. And once he sees me- I'm done for. Even if I survive, I don’t- I won’t-”

“What?” Her brother asked in disbelief. “What do you mean, you know him?”

“You can't fight them on your own!”

The sibling’s conversation stopped. Noa looked over to see Aizawa glancing over his shoulder, about to shoot himself off the platform.

“You can’t be a pro if you only have one trick.”

With one last glance at Noa, Aizawa leapt off the stairs and sailed down, scarf whipping around behind him. The class watched him ambush the cluster of villains with ease, expertly using his agility and capture weapon to knock them against each other, eyes flashing red behind his goggles as he took out multiple opponents at a time. 

Under different circumstances, Noa would've been in awe of her teacher. His skill was refined and effective— he was an amazing fighter. The talent wasn’t enough to distract her from the dire situation at hand, though. Her eyes bounced anxiously between him and Shigaraki, growing more and more terrified the closer Aizawa got. 

While the villains were distracted, Thirteen used the opening to move the class forward, rushing them to the doors. Everyone started running to the entrance, and Noa was left behind for a few seconds, still staring at the fight happening on the ground, hands trembling. If Shouta got hurt…

Someone grabbed her arm and started pulling her, snapping Noa out of her trance. She blinked hard, and she and Shoto started sprinting, following the rest of the group to the exit. 

Noa felt it before anything happened. Dread pooled in her stomach, goosebumps blooming on her arms. Her sprint slowed, and the class skidded to a halt as a purple mass started swirling in front of them. 

“There is no escape for you.” A deep robotic voice said from the swarm.

Everybody’s eyes widened. Noa couldn't even blink. She stared at Kurogiri, watching in horror as his shape started to take form.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, we are the League of Villains.” He said in a deep, robotic voice. “I know it's impolite, but we've decided to invite ourselves into this haven of justice and say hello. Besides, this seems like quite a fitting place, doesn't it? For All Might, the symbol of peace, to take his last breath."

The class gasped at the threat as they watched the warp gates stretch toward them. Noa’s legs grew unsteady, her entire body beginning to shake. 

When she was imprisoned, she hardly saw Kurogiri more than a handful of times. The memories were all faint, but what she could recall of him was sophisticated and proper. Seeing him that close, feeling his presence again, threw her right back into her past. Noa’s breath caught in her throat.

“He was supposed to be here today, yet I see no sign of him. There must have been something we cannot have foreseen.” A short moment passed before the swirls of purple continued stretching toward the group like giant arms. “No matter, I still have work to do.”

The reactions of the students around her were all different, but with the same theme— utterly afraid. Most of them were petrified where they stood. 

Not half a second passed before Noa’s feet stumbled back, ready to turn and bolt as soon as the mist started growing.

It all happened very fast. Thirteen stepped forward, raising an arm to activate their quirk. Noa took another step back. Kurogiri’s warp gates wrapped around the entire group. 

“Wait, no!” The space hero yelled in panic. Before they were able to use black hole, Kirishima and Bakugo had launched themselves at Kurogiri, letting out huge attacks that made smoke billow around the villain.

Noa’s face paled. She knew before anything moved that the attacks did nothing. 

“You live up to your school's reputation,” Kurogiri said from inside the cloud of dust as it cleared. “But you should be more careful. You wouldn't want-”

“You two, get out of the way right now!” Thirteen yelled. 

The interruption to his sentence made the villain hesitate, and the yellow shapes of his eyes flicked to the left. When they landed on Noa, her entire body grew completely frozen, pupils constricting. 

It seemed like Kurogiri did a bit of a double take before fully turning to her. The recognition dawning on him made Noa’s stomach plummet. 

“What a surprise to see a familiar face.” He hummed in amusement. “My master didn’t notify me about your presence, Seventeen, but I’m sure he knew you would be here. He knows everything about you.”

Noa’s heart stopped beating in her chest. Time completely halted. 

He knows everything about you.

She didn't notice the warp gate enveloping the class, didn't register everyone growing frantic and huddling together.

“I will scatter you across this facility to meet my comrades— and your death.”

Noa didn't hear the words. She didn't hear Shoto calling out her name, reaching for her. She didn't feel when he grabbed her hand and it slipped away, the warp gates separating them before the siblings could connect. 

When the purple consumed her, and she couldn’t see anything else, the silence made her ears ring.

He knows everything about you. 

Noa’s greatest nightmare had come glaringly true. Master was back. 

This time, he truly never died in the first place. 

Every single part of her past was coming back to haunt her in the most literal sense. It never, ever dies. 

𖤐✰

Noa’s most primordial memory was of the first time she woke up in the cell. 

Nothing existed before that— her mind was a completely blank slate. She was five, but had no way of knowing it. For reasons she couldn't explain, she had the ability to speak and understand words, but no other knowledge of the outside world.

It was agony from there. Noa endured countless procedures and punishments for resisting. 

After about a month of being in Master’s captivity, she was laying on the floor of her cell, having recently woken up after healing from an appendix surgery. Goosebumps bloomed on her skin, and she shivered. Her eyes were trained on a dead bug lying on the floor a yard away. 

Out of the corner of her eyes, Noa saw a blue head of hair walk past her cell, stopping for a moment when he noticed her figure slumped on the ground. 

When he turned to her, Noa jumped, scrambling up and instinctively scooting away, bumping the back of her head against the wall. Wide red eyes peered at her curiously. 

“Who are you?”

His voice was rough and scratchy, but still youthful. Noa blinked at him a few times, taking in the array of hands covering his body. She didn't know what to say, and she was frightened. Everyone she’d met so far had been awful.

The boy squatted down, putting a hand on the metal bars and lifting a pinky. Trying not to spook the girl any further, he softened his voice as much as he could.

“Don't be scared. I won’t hurt you.”

Noa’s eyes scanned over him warily. Slowly, she scooted a bit closer. 

The corners of the boy's mouth lifted. “What’s your name?”

“Master…” She started out, trying to get the words right. Speaking was still difficult. “Master says Seventeen.”

His eyebrows creased. “He hasn't given you a name yet?”

Noa didn’t know how to answer correctly. She looked at the ground again, staring at the bug.

“That’s okay,” The boy forced a smile. “You’ll probably get one soon. Mine’s Tomura.”

She stared at him for a good long while, at his outstretched hand reaching through the bars. 

Tomura’s face fell at her hesitation. He started to give up— assumed she’d just shy away from his touch, shun him like all the others. 

Noa stood up shakily. Her abdomen was sore as she wobbled over, bare feet padding against the dirty concrete. A small hand reached out, tenderly wrapping around two of his fingers. 

“Hello, Tomura.”

He stared at her for a moment, red irises focusing and unfocusing. No one had willingly touched his hand like that before.

𖤐✰

Noa’s back slammed against the ground. The wind was stolen from her lung, and when she recovered, a bloody, pained cough escaped her throat. 

Her eyes flew open, red and blown. The pain reverberated down her spine, traveling back up through her neck and into her skull. 

Noa could hardly feel it. 

He was back. Both of them were back and alive. 

The air that had just returned started exiting rapidly. Her entire body began to tremble as she was thrown into a bout of hyperventilation. She curled in on herself, kneeling on the ground with her head in her hands. 

He’s back. 

She couldn't even process what happened during the previous five minutes. Everything in her life had been turned upside down in the horrified blink of an eye. She couldn’t breathe. She choked on every breath she forced in. 

Tears started forming between her squeezed eyelids as she kept gagging on air. It got too much- the asphyxiation, the pain radiating through her, the ghosts. 

He’s back. 

Her stomach lurched, and a dreadful feeling brewed at the sensation. It wasn’t more than a second until she removed her hands from her face and retched onto the concrete floor. 

All that came out was thin green bile. There wasn’t anything in her stomach to purge. 

The nerves got the best of her, though. She coughed and sputtered as she dry heaved, still gasping for breath between waves of nausea. 

He’s back. The mantra repeated with every desperate breath, every seize of her stomach. He’s back, he’s back, he’s back. 

“Noa?” Someone said, voice laced with concern. 

She completely froze. The empty vomiting stopped.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” They tried again, a gentle hand grazing her shoulder. 

Noa flinched at the contact, a pathetic sound of helplessness escaping her. A tiny, almost mute part of her rationality told her that this person was trying to help her. The omnipotent panic enveloped that, though, and she was irrationally convinced it was one of the villains, or worse, Tomura or All For One. 

“I swear, this bitch is mental.”

“Dude!”

The panic left Noa quickly. The first voice was familiar and irritating enough to snap her back to reality. Definitely not All For One.

She still didn't move. Now she was aware of the fact that she was sick in front of others, and paralyzed with embarrassment instead of fear. 

The sound of quiet steps registered in the very back of her mind. 

“Aw crap,” Kirishima muttered, reaching over to shake her arm. “Noa, you need to get up. We’ve got company.”

The presence of a group of people made Noa go on high alert. She sprung up on her feet, refusing to meet the eyes of Bakugo and Kirishima as she wiped the back of her wrist over her mouth. The bitter taste of her sick still lingered, and she spit on the floor. 

Wordlessly, they moved away from the spoiled corner and grouped together, the three of their backs touching as they formed a defensive triangle. Their fists raised in preparation for the oncoming villains. The adrenaline of fighting made Noa able to put her horror at the very back of her mind for a few blissful seconds. 

Her and the two boys quickly took on the group, each of them taking the villains down one by one with loud explosions and stony punches and venomous snakes. By the time they got through them all, Noa was breathing heavy with exertion. The trio separated as Bakugo threw the only remaining villain to the side.

“I think that’s the last of these guys.” He said in slight disgust. “Bunch’a weaklings.”

As the adrenaline started to dissipate, everything returned. He’s back. 

Noa’s breathing picked up again. Her eyes widened as she stared at the ground blankly, not blinking, not hearing Kirishima talking until the last sentence.

“We better keep them safe, especially since we screwed things over with that warp villain.”

Her head snapped up. “We?”

Both boys looked over at Noa, at the hostility in her voice. Her face hardened as she took a step toward them. 

“Don’t group me in with your completely idiotic decision.” She said, crossing her arms to keep them from shaking. “If you hadn’t gotten in the way, Thirteen would've been able to stop Kurogiri in no time, and we would’ve all been out of here already. You think a couple juvenile attacks worked better than a pro’s would’ve?”

Kirishima looked at the ground in shame. Bakugo’s lip curled.

“It was irrational.” Noa said, her eyes tightening. “You shouldn't have attacked.”

The redhead was genuine when he apologized. Noa felt bad about lecturing them for a second— she knew that she was right, but placing all the blame on them was unfair. Her heightened emotions were making her reactions exaggerated.

“Don’t act so innocent.” Bakugo said cruelly. 

Noa’s eyes snapped to him. He was looking straight through her. 

“Seventeen?” He questioned, taking a step forward. “What’s that about, Snake-Eyes? Why do you know the purple bastard’s name, huh? He clearly knows you. What kind of history with a couple of villains are you hiding?”

Noa’s entire body grew piping hot. Her limbs stiffened.

“Come on, man, seriously?” Kirshima cut in, grabbing Bakugo’s arm. 

“Fuck off,” He said, wrenching away from him and taking another step toward Noa. He crossed his arms. “She’s gonna tell me how she knows them.”

Noa’s clenched fists were shaking as he approached, standing less than a foot away. Her jaw was wound so tightly her teeth ached. 

“Bakugo, just let her be.”

“Shut up!” He snapped. “She could be working with them. She’s been acting weird all day.”

Kirishima stepped forward, trying to intervene again. “This clearly isn't the time, dude-”

The blonde evaded his grip and reached forward, grabbing the collar of Noa’s costume and pulling her closer, sneering. 

“Spill it, bones.” He demanded, eyes blazing. “The fuck you doin’ here, huh? Spying?”

The proximity, the accusation, the smell of the nitroglycerin on his hands— it was entirely too much. The taunt rubber band holding Noa’s sanity snapped.

She leaned her head back and threw it forward, slamming her face against Bakugo’s. When he released her and stumbled away, she pulled her arm back and let it fly, connecting with the middle of his face. 

There was barely any time for Bakugo to react. She swung her other arm and punched him in the jaw, and when he stumbled again, he fell back. She climbed on top of him at the same time Kirishima snapped into action and took a step forward to break up the fight. 

Noa’s knees were pinning Bakugo’s arms to the ground, her eyes filling with angry tears as she reached back to hit him again. She couldn’t even see. All For One was alive, Shigaraki was here and coming for her, and Bakugo just accused her of working with him at quite literally the most inconvenient time possible.

She wasn't able to get more than two wails in before Kirishima pulled her off. She tried to get away, limbs flailing to get another hit in, but the redhead was strong. The fight in her dissipated fast. 

“What is wrong with you?” Bakugo said loudly, spitting blood on the ground as he stood up, glaring daggers at Noa. 

She was breathing heavy, shrugging Kirishima off, hands shaking. Her knuckles ached, but adrenaline made it hardly noticeable.

“I cannot fucking deal with him right now, Kirishima. Keep him away from me.”

“Alright,” The redhead said cautiously, looking back and forth between the two teens, ready to intervene if needed. “Let’s all just settle down, ‘kay? We have more important things to worry about.”

Bakugo was wiping his hand over his cheek. “So we’re just gonna ignore-”

“It doesn't matter what happened in the past.” Kirishima cut in calmly. “All we need to focus on is getting to our classmates and keeping them safe.”

“You’re right,” Noa said, nodding, snapping out of her anger and throwing herself into finding a solution. “With everyone separated, they're all in danger. We need to keep them as far away from the main two as possible.”

The truth was that every fiber of her being was screaming at her to put miles of distance between herself and Shigaraki. But there was no way she’d let them know that.

“If you two wanna track everyone down, go ahead. Have fun.” Bakugo said from a few feet away. “I’m gonna destroy that warpy bastard.”

Kirishima looked at him like he was crazy. “Our physical attacks didn’t work on that guy. Don’t be stupid, man.”

“You won’t get past him alive.” Noa said distantly. “He’s their way in and out, their most crucial member. He’ll be protected.”

“Shut up!” The blonde yells. “I know that, that’s why I’m gonna take him down. If I cut off their escape route, they’ll be stuck here and have to pay for what they've done. We’ll just have to figure it out.”

In the middle of their argument, a stray villain started crawling on the ceiling, making their way towards them invisible and silent. Without even looking up, or breaking their conversation, Noa and Bakugo both raised a hand and let out attacks, an explosion scorching the villain and a snake wrapping around it, throwing them against the wall. 

“Anyway,” Bakugo said as they all watched the amphibian-like being slump to the ground unconscious. “If all the villains are small fries like these guys were, then our classmates can handle them.”

“Dude!” Kirishima gushed, looking at the both of them. “Those reaction times are insane!”

Noa looked at the ground. Bakugo grinned.

“Also, since when do you always act so calm and rational, Bakugo? Usually you’re all ‘DIE DIE, DIE!”

“I AM CALM AND RATIONAL YOU RED-HAIRED LOSER!”

“There he is.” Noa and Kirishima both said in sync, snickering.

Bakugo grimaced at their teasing and walked to the door. “Go find the others if you want to. I’m not letting these bastards get anywhere close to escaping.”

Kirishima started following him out. Dreading every step, Noa joined them as they walked down the stairs. Regardless of what Bakugo said, she hoped with all her might that they would decide on going through with Kirishima’s rescue mission.

“I think what he’s really trying to say here is that he believes in our classmates.” The redhead said as they quickly walked down the stairs in a line. “And that’s thinking like a man, Bakugo!”

He rolled his eyes, but continued down the staircase stoically. 

“You’re, like, the Bakugo whisperer.” Noa told Kirishima quietly as they walked out the exit. “How do you decipher what he says like that?”

“You just gotta listen.” The redhead replied in a normal volume, smiling widely. “He hides everything he says behind insults and stuff, but if you pay attention, he can make a little bit of sense sometimes.”

“Huh,” Noa said, her brows creasing as she thought. “Sense is a bit of a stretch, but I get what you’re saying, I think.”

“If you idiots are done theorizing, we have somewhere to be.” Bakugo said in front of them. “Let’s go, or I’m leaving you behind.”

“You’re right.” Kirishima said, jogging to catch up. “Sorry, man.” 

Noa blinked for a second, then followed, her brows creasing. “I thought we were gonna help the others.”

“Yeah, but Bakugo’s right— they can handle themselves.” Kirishima said over his shoulder. “Helping out with the main villains is the better choice.”

Noa’s eyes grew wide. “But-”

“If you’re gonna be a pussy about it, then leave. Don't waste my time.”

“Fine with me.” Noa said. She stopped walking and crossed her arms, glaring at Bakugo. “I didn’t wanna be here in the first place.”

Both boys looked behind them, and paused when they saw her standing there. They turned around, Kirishima’s expression a bit concerned, Bakugo’s predictably annoyed, but pensive. 

“What do you mean?” The redhead asked, brows creased. “Why not?”

“I’d rather die than be anywhere near those two.” She said firmly, refusing to be embarrassed of her cowardice.

“And why is that?” Bakugo asked accusingly, taking a step forward.

Noa grit her teeth. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

The blonde’s eye twitched as he squinted at her. He reached over and grabbed her wrist, turning around. 

“Yeah, you’re coming whether you like it or not.” 

Noa ripped her arm away before he got two steps. “Like hell I am.”

Bakugo turned and glared, crossing his arms. 

“You’re pathetic.” He told her, sneering. “First you were too scared to tell us anything about these bastards, and now you’re too much of a little bitch to even face them.”

Noa’s teeth grinded together. 

“Keep lying about wanting to save the extras if you want to, but you’re not fooling anybody.” Bakugo said, his face hard and cruel. “You’re just a coward, and you’re hiding from whatever fucked up shit you went through. It’s obvious to everyone here.”

Noa took a step back. Usually, she could let his insults roll right off of her, but the truth in this one hurt. It confirmed everything she feared about herself, everything she tried to hide. 

“That was out of line, Bakugo.” Kirishima said from next to him, stern. “Even for you.” 

The redhead took a few steps forward, gently grabbing Noa by the hand. 

“I know you’re scared.” He said sympathetically, his expression soft. “I won’t ask you about what happened, but I will ask you to come with us. I know that you’re stronger than this, than running away. You’re one of the best in the class. We need your help.”

Noa blinked as she looked at him, slowly withdrawing her hand. 

“It’s just-” She stammered, eyes shining. “There’s so much I can’t-”

“There’s a lot that I don’t know,” Kirishima said, understanding. “But I do know that you can do this. You’re the strongest chick I’ve ever met, remember?”

It was an effort for Noa to choke back her emotion. Her mouth opened and closed. This was too much. She’d never been told something so kind, and never been so scared of what would happen. 

“Aizawa needs our help, Noa.” He told her, eyes wide and pleading. “He’s super good, but I’m not sure he can hold all those guys off forever.”

Shock ran through Noa’s body. The size of her eyes doubled. She’d been so caught up in everything that she nearly forgot. 

She had more than her classmates to worry about. 

“You’re right.” Noa breathed. “Aizawa’s- yeah. Let’s go.”

“That’s more like it.” Kirishima said with a smile. “See? I knew you had it in you.”

Noa took a deep breath in and followed Kirishima as he turned around. She blinked slowly, terrified of what was to come. Aizawa was in danger. As little as she could do to help, she had to try. Before leaping off the staircase, he told her he would do everything he could— Noa needed to do the same. 

When she opened her eyes, she saw that Bakugo was multiple yards away, having left soon after Noa and Kirishima’s conversation started. Kirishima started jogging to catch up to him, and Noa picked up her pace, but lingered behind. 

What the blonde said to her still rang through her head. She was a coward. Noa knew that well, but hearing it was a punch in the gut. The fact that he was able to tell she was hiding from her past, that everyone else could see it too, was humiliating. She couldn't stand the thought of being considered as weak or unstable, of people seeing right through her.

Then she remembered what Kirishima said. You just gotta listen.

It took some effort to shove the anger aside, but when she did, the truth of Bakugo’s words registered. She needed to buck up. She needed to face them, and quit running. 

Noa’s jaw set, brows flattening in determination. She picked up her pace, and caught up to the two boys walking ahead of her. 

“The one with the blue hair and the hands is Shigaraki.” She told them as she fell in line, looking at the ground. “His quirk lets him destroy anything he touches. He can turn people to dust. Stay away from him as much as you can.”

“Hah- The truth comes out.” Bakugo laughed bitterly from the other side of Kirishima. “That bastard doesn't scare me.”

Noa grit her teeth and ignored him. “Kurogiri is that purple guy— which, again, you guys stupidly attacked. I don't know much about him, but obviously he can transport people using his warp gates. I think underneath it all is some kind of metal body, though. That could be a way to restrain him.”

If she approached it from an analytical standpoint, it was easier to talk about. She shut off the part of her brain containing all the memories and focused on relaying as much information as possible.

“Okay.” Kirishima said, nodding as he thought. “Okay, we can do something with that.”

“What about the freaky black thing?” Bakugo asked, leaning past the redhead to look at her. “What’s that about?”

“I have no idea.” Noa replied, shaking her head. “I’ve never seen it before, but it’s obviously some kind of weapon. If they plan on beating All Might, I bet that thing is what they’re gonna use to do it.”

Both the boys’ eyes grew wide. Bakugo schooled his expression quickly, though, and there was a twinge of disappointment inside it. 

“That’s it? You don’t know its powers or anything?”

“No.” Noa replied, blinking. “I just said I’ve never seen it.”

Bakugo made a face and looked at the ground. “Thought you’d be more useful.”

Noa’s teeth mashed together. “I’m the only one here that knows anything at all about what’s happening.”

“Yeah, well what you know sucks.” He retorted stubbornly. “We need more.”

“It’s more than you had a minute ago.”

“Whatever.” Bakugo grumbled to himself, making another face as he kicked at a rock. 

Noa shook her head, irritated at the blonde, as usual. It didn't take long for the annoyance to ebb, though, and dread quickly creeped in. The rest of the walk continued quietly, the two boys having occasional light conversation, but she didn’t listen. She didn't say a word as she stepped next to them, hands in her pockets, eyes trained on the ground. 

She was still completely terrified. Knowing that she would come face to face with Tomura was more than she could handle, and it made every step feel like it weighed a hundred pounds. The closer they got, the stronger she could sense his presence, sense more danger approaching every second. 

Bakugo pretended to be halfway engaged in whatever Kirishima was saying. His mind was elsewhere, thinking hard about everything that’d happened, every suspicious thing he’d seen involving Noa that day. It was all weird. The lunchroom, the way she reacted when the villains appeared, how she was behaving just before in the building, attacking him and very likely breaking his nose.

Bakugo’s brows creased, resisting the urge to lift a hand to his face and check. His jaw ached as he kept thinking about the girl walking on the other side of Kirishima, about what was going on with her. He didn’t understand it, and he didn’t trust it.

𖤐✰

The scene the three teenagers walked into was harrowing, at the very least. 

They trudged up a grassy hill, coming up behind a tree to see Shigaraki in the middle of a dirt clearing, Kurogiri looming behind him. All Might was there, too, having arrived sometime after the students had been dispersed. The strange bird creature had his arms wrapped tightly around the hero’s waist in a wrestler's hold, the other half of All Might's body caught between Kurogiri’s gates, his legs sticking up in the air yards away.

Kirishima and Bakugo’s faces quickly grew horrified. There weren't words to accurately describe the dread flooding through Noa’s system. Shigaraki was still standing by the warp gate, scratching at his neck incessantly as he mumbled to himself. Noa’s eyes flicked back and forth between him and the halves of All Might. 

The huge villain had gotten the best of him. As strong as the legend was, the weapon the villains had was stronger. If even the likes of him were stopped by it, the rest of them would all be killed in a matter of minutes.

Noa stayed there crouched on the top of the hill, just out of Shigaraki’s line of view, paralyzed. He was so close— no more than a hundred feet away. The two boys next to her very slowly started to raise themselves up, preparing to launch forward at any moment. 

“Get away from All Might, you stupid villain!”

The three of them looked across the clearing to see Izuku Midoriya sprinting toward the group arranged in the middle. Noa watched in horror as he launched himself forward, aiming for Kurogiri. His hands were inches away from the purple warp gates when she noticed the people at her side were no longer there. 

“Get the hell out of my way, Deku!” Bakugo yelled as he swooped in and attacked Kurogiri, tackling him by the metal body. 

Everything happened very fast. He and Kirishima had jumped into action as soon as they saw Izuku, and the blonde saved him just in the nick of time. He was on the ground, pinning the warp villain down with all his body weight, palms sparking, a twisted smile on his face. 

“Guess I found your body that time, ya smoky bastard.”

At the same time, Kirishima had dived toward Shigaraki. There was a horrifying second where it looked like they might’ve connected, but the redhead luckily ended up missing. When he skid across the dirt, though, he whined that his attack didn't work.

Noa was still paralyzed on the back of the hill, dreadfully watching the scene unfold. Staying behind like a coward made her filled with self-inflicted anger, but every time she tried to move, her eyes would fall on Tomura again, and she would sink back behind the line of grass. She couldn’t let him see her, couldn't bear the thought of coming face to face with his ghost. 

Not three seconds after the two boys attacked, ice spread across the clearing. Noa’s stomach plummeted.

As if things couldn't get any worse, Shoto ran over to join the group. His ice spread over the creature and stopped right at All Might’s limbs. With a pained grunt, the man slowly reached up and pried the clawed black hands off, hopping out of the beast’s grasp and jumping back. He landed next to the students heavily, clouds of dust forming under his skidding feet. He glared at the villains across from him as he clutched his bleeding abdomen.

Shigaraki stood a few yards away, staring at the group and failing to restrain his anger. Shoto, Midoriya, and Kirishima were all behind All Might in defensive stances. Being there put them in danger already, but they were as safe as they could be at the moment. 

Bakugo was still pinning down Kurogiri between the two groups, though. If he would just get out of the way, there would be less of a chance of anyone getting hurt. Throughout all the fear, a stab of annoyance ran through Noa’s psyche. It was the slightest bit steadying. 

He needed to move, or he would die.

“Kurogiri,” Tomura seethed, scratching at his neck again. “How could you let this brat get the best of you? You’ve gotten us into a real jam, here.”

“You got careless, ya stupid villain.” Bakugo laughed at them like an idiot, still pinning Kurogiri down. “It wasn't hard to figure you out. Only parts of you turn into that smoking warp gate, and you use that mist to cover your actual body as some sort of distraction.” 

“As if that would keep you safe.” He added sadistically, putting more pressure on the metal body. “That’s why we missed. If you didn't have a body, you wouldn't be wearing this neck armour, isn't that right? You’re not immune to physical attacks if they're well aimed .”

Kurogiri grunted under the blonde’s weight, trying to escape.

“Don't move!” Katsuki screamed at him, sending small explosions into the metal. “You try anything funny and I'll blow your ass up so bad they’ll be piecing you back together for weeks .”

From beside him, Kirishima snickered, making a joke about not sounding heroic. 

Noa was too frightened to laugh. Shigaraki was still standing away from the others, watching the scene go down and getting angrier with each action. Noa’s stomach turned as she watched him scratch at his neck. Her jaw clenched. If Bakugo would just move-

“Nomu.” Shigaraki called, his voice closer to a growl than a command. 

Immediately, the creature started moving, breaking free of the ground, the ice, regenerating the limbs that’d been frozen off. It let out a demonic groan as the bones and muscles popped. Noa felt sick to her stomach just seeing it move. 

“What is this?” All Might asked in horror, throwing a protective arm over the students behind him. “I thought you said his power was shock absorption.”

“I didn't say that was his only quirk.” Shigaraki said in dark amusement. “He also has super-regeneration.”

Behind the hill, Noa’s eyes widened. The creature had multiple quirks. There was only one explanation for why.

All Might glared at the villain, clutching the bleeding abdomen at his side, but he didn't say anything.

“Nomu has been specially modified to take you on, even at 100% of your power.” The villain said, holding his arms out in a way of presenting the beast. “He’s basically a highly efficient punching bag that hits back.” 

Despite every fiber of her being screaming at her not to, Noa still tried to force some strength into her legs. She needed to get up, needed to help out All Might and the others. If this thing was strong enough to take the number one hero out, then he would need all the support he could get.   

But her muscles still wouldn't budge. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't force herself off the ground.

“First we need to free our method of escape.” Shigaraki said, looking over at Kurogiri still on the ground. 

Noa’s eyes widened. Bakugo needed to fucking move. He was in the way, and now in inevitable danger. 

It was just like the battle training yesterday. That same feeling, like everything was trapped underwater, registered. Time slowed in its place. At the same moment Shigaraki’s lips opened to speak, electricity shot into Noa’s legs. 

“Get him, Nomu.” 

The dark creature, now standing upright, obeyed instantly and launched itself at Bakugo. The second All Might saw the movement, he bolted forward, meeting the Nomu in the middle.

They collided with a loud, booming impact and fell to the floor. When All Might felt nothing between them, he panicked. His eyes grew wide, thinking his student had been squashed by the Nomu. Everyone looked around frantically.

Behind the hero, two students slammed onto the ground, skidding across the dirt, huge clouds of dust kicking up behind them. All heads turned to see the air slowly clearing, a heap of bodies coming into view. 

Noa was on the ground with her arms wrapped around Katsuki’s shoulders.

She’d suspected the attack before it was coming. As soon as she knew Shigaraki was going to give the order, she launched herself forward without knowing how or why. Her body had moved on its own, and she flew toward Bakugo like a zip of light. When she slammed into him, All Might and the Nomu were milimeters away. She’d just barely made it in time. 

Now, as the dust finished dissipating, Noa was pushing herself off the ground, and Bakugo followed suit. They stood quickly, coming face to face with the circle of heroes and villains before them. 

Everyone was looking at Noa. Even Bakugo, after noticing all the intent stares, glanced beside him, at the girl who’d just saved his life. 

Noa was a statue again. She didn't notice anything around her. The stares disappeared. Not a single look registered, except for one. 

The moment Shigaraki’s eyes locked on hers, Noa’s irises turned the same deep red. Two pairs of rubies caught in a standstill. 

Shigaraki’s hands froze at his neck, fingers bent. Both sets of pupils dilated simultaneously.

Another flood of memories washed over her. Grasping Tomura’s fingers and saying hello. Listening to him talk while he leaned against the other side of the bars. Him bringing her a pretty white flower and demonstrating his quirk on it. 

Crazed, bubbling laughter snapped Noa out of her past. Behind the fingers of his father, the same boy stared at her with wide, manic eyes. Shigaraki descended into a bout of sick, warped giggles as his fingers resumed their scraping.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.” He said after the fit was over, his expression dropping completely. His voice was like sandpaper. “What a disgusting surprise to hear from Kurogiri that you were here with us, Seventeen. Of course you had to make an irritating entrance.”

Noa’s fists were shaking uncontrollably at her sides. She was fighting like hell to keep her jaw from wavering.

“Turns out I’m lucky, though.” Shigaraki said, smiling maliciously as he held his arms out. “Now I get to kill you and All Might. I bet Master planned this all along.”

“He’s not alive.” Noa replied, her voice shaking pathetically. “Neither of you are supposed to be.”

Yards away, Shigaraki’s eyes flicked to All Might, and he laughed again. “Is that what he told you?”

Noa’s wobbly lips pressed together.

“Your so-called symbol doesn't know anything.” He said harshly. “There is no killing Master.”

Horrified at the confirmation, Noa looked frantically at the hero still clutching his side. All Might’s eyes widened, and he took a step forward, intervening.

“These are kids and you didn't hold back?”

“I didn’t have much choice.” Shigaraki countered angrily, glaring. “He was threatening my companion.” 

Then he looked at the students behind All Might. “Besides, these kids are no angels.” He said with a sneer, pointing at Izuku. “The plain looking one? He tried to kill me with a maxed-out punch. What kind of ‘hero’ does something like that?”

Midoriya’s eyes grew three times as large. Then Shigaraki’s gaze switched, and his face contorted. A thin arm stretched forward, a scarred, slender finger pointing directly at Noa. 

“Don’t get me started on her .” 

It felt like he could’ve incinerated her where she stood. His destructive finger was a flamethrower. 

An inferno would’ve likely been preferable to whatever this was. 

Face burning in shame, Noa gaze fell to the dirt at her feet. This is it, she thought. Shigaraki’d seen her. The moment she’d dreaded most happened, and now there was nothing left to do but wait. Any minute, the blue-haired villain would lose it and put her out of her misery in the blink of an eye. Maybe he would use his quirk. Maybe he would kill her with nothing but spite and strength. 

At least she would die making contact with him one last time. Maybe it would make up for her desertion. 

As Shigaraki started diving into a monologue about violence and the disproportionate way it was viewed between heroes and villains, Noa’s eyes unfocused. None of the words registered. 

The sound of his voice, different as it may have been, brought to mind the white flower he’d disintegrated. 

‘Everything dies.’ He told her then, leaning against the other side of the iron bars. Both of them stared at the ashes in his palm. ‘Everything rots, and decays, and can be made into nothing.’  

Something so pure, so beautiful, destroyed in an instant by a minute act of violence.

Hot fingers wrapping around her wrist brought Noa back to the present. She was dazed as Bakugo dragged her away from the face off between Shigaraki and All Might, pulling her to the group of students quickly and silently. When he let go of her, that usual nauseating feeling of coming in contact with him didn't surface. For the first time, his touch was as normal as everyone else’s. 

Noa was too distracted by everything going on in her head, everything going on right in front of her, to notice it much. 

“Noa?” Someone said as they quickly came in front of her. “Noa, are you okay? Why are you here? It’s not safe.”

She could hardly hear Shoto trying to get her attention. She didn't feel it when he placed a hand on her shoulder and gently shook.

She was staring wide eyed at Shigaraki and All Might, who were still standing across from each other, talking. The villain was getting more irritated by the second.

“Admit it.” All Might told him. “You’re only doing this because you like it. Isn't that right?”

Shigaraki’s eyes widened, caught.

“We’ve got them outnumbered.” Shoto said from beside Noa.

She blinked, finally snapped out of her trance just enough to listen to the voices around her. 

“And Kacchan found the mist guy’s weakness.” Midoriya added in a hushed voice, making sure the villains couldn't hear.

“These guys may act really tough, but we can take ‘em down with All Might’s help.” Kirishima said, smashing his hardened fists together. “Let’s do this.”

“You’ll get yourselves killed.” 

Noa was staring at the ground vacantly, hair falling over her face, her voice hollow.  All four of them turned to her, surprised she was finally speaking.

“She’s right,” All Might said, striding past the group before they could argue. “Don't attack. Get out of here.”

Shoto’s eyes narrowed. “You would’ve been in trouble earlier if it weren't for me, remember? You need our help.”

“I thank you for your assistance,” The hero told him gratefully, before giving him an important look. “But this is different. You know it is.”

Shoto glanced over at Noa for a moment, eyes widening in remembrance. All Might held a fist out to his students, trying to comfort them with his confidence.

“It’s gonna be alright. Just sit back and watch a pro at work.”

“But you’re too hurt!” Izuku cried frantically. “You’re bleeding, and you’re almost out of ti-”

When he caught his slip-up, Midoriya glanced at each of his classmates to see if they’d noticed, eyes wide. Noa flicked her eyes up, but looked back at the dirt numbly. Whatever was going on between them wasn't important right now.

All Might turned his fist into a thumb, making one last attempt at reassurance. 

“Nomu, Kurogiri.” Shigaraki seethed as the hero walked forward. “Kill him. I’ll handle the children.”

He looked at Noa and glared, setting his jaw. “Let’s clear this level and go home.”

The villain started toward the group of students, target locked. Noa’s blood ran cold. She braced herself. Here it comes, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. She just hoped it wouldn’t hurt.

A booming collision made her look up, stunned. All Might and the Nomu had collided inbetween Shigaraki and the students, the force generated from the strike creating enough wind to blow both groups backward. 

Shigaraki flipped through the air, skidding against the dirt when he landed. “Weren't you listening? One of his powers is shock absorption.”

“Yeah?” All Might taunted as he punched the Nomu. “What about it?”

More punches flew. The hero blocked the creatures incoming strike, and the blows started speeding up enough to make wind gather all around them. Shigaraki and the students had to brace themselves just to stay upright. Noa watched the battle with wide eyes, distracted enough by the gravity of the situation to put Tomura aside for even a few minutes.

“He’s really gonna fight that brain guy head-on?” Midoriya said from beside her, yelling over the wind.

“They’re so fast!” Kirishima exclaimed, losing his footing.

No one could move much from the air force whipping around them. Dirt and leaves twisted in the gusts and flew past their eyes. 

Somehow, through the midst of all those punches, All Might smiled through gritted teeth. “You said the power was shock absorption, not nullification. That means there’s a limit to how much he can take, right?”

Both opponents were evenly matched, but with effort, the hero tipped the fight in his favor, pushing Nomu on the defensive. His hits started to fully connect, outpowering the creature’s. In a desperate act of retaliation, the Nomu landed a blow to All Might’s already injured side. 

He flew back, but changed his momentum midair and flipped around, sailing forward. He crashed into the Nomu and they sailed into a line of trees, crashing through trunks of wood. The fight continued, everyone watching frozen as All Might and the Nomu sailed across the USJ. It looked like the hero had the upper hand, but the creature still fought back. When All Might slammed it into the ground from several feet up, making a crater in the cement, it got up and soared right back at him. All Might grabbed it by it’s arm and spun around, throwing it back into the crater with godly strength. The walls of the USJ shook.

“Now for a lesson…” He said, standing up. “You may have heard these words before, but I’ll teach you what they really mean!”

All Might’s arm pulled back, and his power went surging through the limb, glowing that same pink as Midoirya’s finger. The most strength he’d ever accessed gathered in his muscles as he let his fist fly forward.

“PLUS… ULTRA!”

The hit connected for a long moment, the amount of force taking time to register. The Nomu pushed against his fist before bouncing off with a deafening boom. It soared through the air, smashing through the dome ceiling and crash-landing in a nearby forest. 

Every student in the arena felt the impact of the collision. The entire building rattled. Everyone stared at the hole in the ceiling for a stunned moment before erupting in cheers.

“That was like the finishing move in a video game!” Kirishima gushed from a few feet away. “I’ve never seen that kind of brute strength.”

“Imagine having power like that,” Bakugo mused beside him. “He must’ve been punching that villain so fast it couldn’t regenerate.” 

Shoto clenched his jaw, reluctantly admiring the hero. Next to him, Noa was staring at the cloud of dust yards away, eyes blown wide open. The sensation she felt all around her made her skin feel like it was connected to a power line. Experiencing such a degree of his power was like a shot of electricity. 

Then her eyes flicked to the left. Midoriya was next to her, staring at the dust cloud as well, his face panic-stricken. Even though All Might won the fight, Izuku was still worried. Something was wrong. 

The hero came into view, dust clearing around him slowly. Thick, opaque tendrils of smoke rose from his hunched figure. He took a deep breath in before rising, pounding his fist on the other side of his chest.

“I really have gotten weaker. Back in my hayday, five hits would've been enough to knock that guy out.” His fist pounded again. “But today it took more than three-hundred mighty blows.”

There was still a smile on his face, but it twitched as he slid his foot against the dirt, turning toward the villains. They’d been frozen in place for the duration of the fight, much like everyone else. Shigaraki’s eyes were wide and crazed, his hands shaking.

“You’ve been bested, villains.” All Might said, strained. “Surrender, we all want to get this over with quickly.”

The sound of his voice made Shigaraki start to completely tremble. He reached up to start tearing at his neck again, seething over and over that the hero cheated. 

“What’s going on here?” He said frustratedly. “He’s just as fast and strong as he’s always been. Damn it.” The fingers continue to scrape against his dry, damaged skin. “Don’t tell me I’ve been lied to.”

“What’s wrong?” All Might taunted, getting his attention. “Not attacking me? Weren’t you saying you were gonna clear this level earlier? Well come and get me.” His shadowed blue eyes narrowed. “If you dare.” 

Shigaraki gasped at his intensity, taking half a step back. Noa’s eyes frantically bounced between the two. Nothing that was happening felt real. It was all so fast, so much. Her brain was having trouble processing it. She couldn't stop thinking about All For One as she stared at Shigaraki, couldn't help but fall into a quick, helpless spiral of worst-case scenarios.

“Man, this is… intense.” Bakugo said from a few feet away from her. 

The calm, cautious tone in his voice was enough to snap Noa out of her anxiety for just a moment. At her other side, Shoto began speaking quickly, seemingly running on auto-pilot as he assessed the situation again. He said he’d expected this much, and that All Might could handle this. They should all leave. 

In moments like those, when his hero mode took over, it always reminded Noa of Endeavor. The smarter side of their father, rather than the violent. The part of him that’s actually suited for his job. Shoto was quick, observant, and solution-oriented because of it— some of the only positive traits Endeavor had to offer. 

Her brother’s voice was monotone and even, but Noa could tell something was off. She’d spent her entire life listening to him, studying his vocal inflections like the back of her eyelids. Even in her state, she noticed the slight change. He was worried.

Shoto reached over and held her wrist. Noa turned her head, and they looked at each other for a few seconds. Another one of those silent conversations took place, his wide, mismatched irises pleading for Noa to go with him, to let him take her away from this place filled with so many of her ghosts. 

Next to them, Bakugo and Kirishima agreed with what he said before. Slowly, the group started to retreat, backing down the path and away from the group of villains. Noa followed behind Shoto slowly, not able to think much of anything other than the fact that she was relieved to be getting away from Tomura. 

Noa's feet stopped in their tracks when a crucial detail of the situation finally caught up to her. When her hand left his, Shoto turned around in confusion, noticing his sister’s stillness. She whipped around, her eyes scanning the area frantically. 

Shigaraki was there, Kurogiri, All Might, the unconscious villains that had been defeated in less than five minutes. But the person who’d knocked them out was nowhere in sight. 

Aizawa was missing. 

Noa’s heart sank to the soles of her boots. What happened to him? The only possible reason for his absence is that he’d been hurt. He wouldn't leave his students unattended otherwise. Where was he? What was going on?

Kirishima called out for Midoriya, who was standing near the commotion, still staring at All Might’s hunched figure. Distracted, Noa looked at him, at the gym outfit on his back, the green curls at the nape of his neck. How could she have forgotten? 

Shoto was wrong. All Might couldn’t handle those guys by himself. Not at the moment. 

The hero’d been bluffing the whole time. 

Before her brother could stop her, she walked away from him, watching the tendrils of smoke continue to rise off of All Might. When she stopped at Midoriya’s side, neither of them looked at each other, both too distracted and frightened by the situation at hand.

“He can’t go on, can he?” Noa said, her voice hollow. She knew the answer without having to see the dip of Midoriya’s chin. 

“What, are you scared?” All Might taunted Shigaraki again, still keeping up his confident facade. 

The dry, brittle nails on the villain’s hands were starting to cake with blood. His head was turned to the ceiling, exposing the red marks on the torn skin. 

“If only Nomu were here.” He seethed. “He’d rush you right now, pound you into the ground without giving it a second thought.”

The yellow shapes of Kurogiri’s eyes narrowed against the purple mist. “Tomura Shigaraki, please, do not fret. Look at him— he has definitely weakened. Nomu’s attacks were successful.”

The sound of scraping skin halted. Shigaraki’s fingers froze.

“He’s on his own. The children appear to be frozen in fear.”

They were. Each one of them had stopped walking and were now facing the clearing. None of them seemed to be able to move. Noa was back to being a statue, limbs immobilized by terror as she stood next to Izuku. She couldn't blink, couldn't manage to breathe. All she could think about was the boy behind the bars.

He’d offered a helping hand to her. He’d sat with her when her injuries were too painful to bear. He’d talked to her and taught her about things she’d never heard of. 

And she’d left him with a monster. 

Look at what she’d done. Look what he’d become.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Shigaraki said, his voice calmer, but still raspy and hoarse. His hands slowly fell to his side. Kurogiri had given him more words of reassurance, stating that there was still time until reinforcements arrived, and that the unconscious underlings were starting to recover. They could still kill All Might.

“This is it. We have no choice— we have to do it now.” Shigaraki said intensely. A small, twisted smile spread across his cracked lips. 

“I mean, the big end-boss is right here.”

Noa gasped, reflexively grasping Midoriya’s wrist. With every waking villain, the situation grew more dire. As they fully stood, the three students behind Noa and Izuku gasped as well, eyes widening. 

“I think All Might can hold his own against the two main ones.” Kirishima said, activating his quirk and sharpening his arms. “Let’s make sure these dudes don’t hurt anyone else.”

When Shoto turned to respond, he noticed Noa and Midoriya standing next to each other, watching. Kirishima and Bakugo prepared themselves to fight. 

“Consider this revenge for what you did to Nomu!” 

Everyone stopped in their tracks as they watched Shigaraki launch himself across the clearing. 

Electricity bloomed throughout Noa’s body at the sound of his voice. Time slowed as she watched him soar toward All Might. The pounding of her heart slowed to a long, dragged out pulse. 

Tomura Shigaraki was halfway to his target when his eyes flicked to the side, just for a second. They landed on the wide, expansive silver of Noa’s irises. Time slowed for him too. 

Numerous memories flashed through his mind. A little girl huddled on the floor of a cell, him stopping and peering at her curiously. Reaching through the bars, her fingers wrapping around his. Her screams echoing through the halls of Master’s facility. The sirens. The sound of the boots slamming against the floor, of a window breaking. Seeing half a glimpse of her before she plummeted to the ground. 

Something in him shifted. The direction he jumped in became blurry. He didn't know who he was aiming for anymore. He just knew someone was going to die.

Noa felt the change in the air. As soon as his eyes met hers, the danger flooded through her, and her irises flashed red. A strong, concentrated bolt of electricity shot through her legs, and the next time she blinked, she was at All Might’s side. She didn't know how or why, but she knew that if Shigaraki was coming at her, she needed to be as far away from everybody else as possible. 

She would rather die a horrifically gruesome death than have anyone get hurt because of her.

It’d been a second since Shigaraki leapt forward. When he noticed Noa appearing at All Might’s side, he grinned. She’d just made both of his targets easier to access. Kurogiri was on his tail, warp gates at the ready. 

There was a strange sense of peace as Noa braced herself for the impact. She’d already come to terms with her death. She wasn't scared of it, but of the young man sailing toward her. She turned her head to the side and winced, preparing for the pain. 

Before her eyes closed, she saw that Midoriya was missing. A small cloud of dust and a pair of footprints were in his place. 

“Don’t you touch them, you stupid villain!”

Noa’s stomach dropped, dread coming back in an instant. She looked up just in time to see Izuku flying toward Kurogiri, legs flailing limply behind him. 

It all happened incredibly fast, but in the moment, the spinning of the earth slowed. Time decreased to a dragging pace like it had many times that day. 

Shigaraki leapt forward and stuck his hand through one of Kurogiri’s portals, giggling maniacally. It was transported to where Izuku was attacking, the dry, cracked surface of his palm centimeters away from the boy’s face. 

Noa moved at the exact time Shigaraki did. The instant she saw his feet lift, lighting shot through her again. In the blink of an eye, she was slamming into the stiff frame of her living ghost. 

The two of them soared through the air, Noa’s arms wrapped tightly around Shigaraki’s shoulders. Feeling him against her was the most surreal thing of the entire cursed day. His arms, the gaunt, bony frame of his body in her grasp. It was proof that he was here. He was real. Alive. A heart was beating inside his ribcage.

Through the haze of adrenaline, gunshots rang around the USJ. The heroes had arrived.

Noa and Shigaraki crashed to the ground, the impact breaking them apart. Noa tumbled across the dirt, rolling on her back hard. The breath was caught in her throat. She blinked up at the ceiling, at the sunlight shining through the windows of the roof. Her ears were ringing. 

The pain didn’t register until she felt a thick, warm trickle running down the side of her waist. 

Black spots bloomed in her vision. Piercing agony seared in her abdomen, her entire body lurching at the reactionary pain. 

Noa’s head fell to the side, her vision blooming red. A skinny black silhouette with frail arms came into view against the swath of color. Shigaraki’s figure stalked toward her, shoulders swaying with his footsteps. 

She should’ve been scared. There was a bullet in her stomach, Shigaraki was only a few feet away, and the edges of her mind were fading. The end was coming. It was so near she could taste it. She should’ve been scared. 

But all she felt was comfort. 

Her time was here. The suffering would finally end. She’d been able to touch Tomura on her way out, to see him one last time, to make contact with him, just like their relationship started. That was enough. It was more closure than she’d ever expected. 

She just hoped he’d be able to forgive her once she was gone. Maybe her death would compensate for the pain she caused him. 

The dark spots took over. More gunshots echoed as Noa faded into unconsciousness.

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

A pool of blood slowly spread around Noa’s limp body. 

When she opened her eyes, she couldn't see anything at all. She was laying on a dark, invisible floor. Pain seared hotly through her abdomen, spreading down to her lower back. She drew her limbs in, and startled when she didn't recognize the skeletal frame. It was too small to be her. 

A child’s hand appeared in front of her face. Noa’s eyes widened. She was six again.

The sound of footsteps startled her. She flinched, and looked across the black abyss to see Tomura walking toward her, clutching his wrist. He was younger, too. Older than she was, of course, but still a child all the same. Blood dripped from his fingers as he limped forward. 

“What happened?” He asked absently, swaying. “You’re bleeding.”

His voice was so youthful— so kind. Noa couldn’t blink as he stopped beside her, crouching down. She didn’t know what was happening. 

“Tomura,” She pleaded, her childish voice hoarse. “Tomura, I'm sorry.”

Tears of regret built in her eyes. “I shouldn't have left you. I'm sorry, I’m so s-”

The words died in her throat when she saw him morphing. His face warped and contorted, hardening until he was caught up with his current age and trained cruelty. 

Malice glinted in Shigaraki’s shrunken eyes as he leaned over her. A piercing shriek echoed against the invisible walls as his thumb pressed into the wound on her side. The sound got cut off abruptly when a dry, flaky palm clamped over her mouth. 

“Shut up,” Shigaraki seethed, nails digging into her face. “You deserve every bit of this.”

His thumb twisted in her flesh, and another scream was muffled by his hand. The pain that was hot before now burned like hellfire. Tears poured down the sides of Noa’s face as blood seeped out of her stomach by the pint. 

Her vision started to fade, and she looked up at Shigaraki, thinking he’d be the last thing she ever saw. The micro expression of his eyes tightening made her stomach turn. There was nothing in him but contempt.

“Next time I get to kill you, I’ll do it right.” 

His power spread out through her stomach, breaking down the molecules of her being one by one. She felt herself slip away. 

“Promise.”

𖤐✰

The next time she opened her eyes, she was staring at the street from twenty feet up, a birds-eye view of an empty, familiar sidewalk. 

Movement on the pavement caught Noa’s eye. She squinted, trying to make the figure out. Her eyes widened when she saw a little girl in a dirty white dress, black hair blowing in the breeze as she hazily made her way down the street. 

The air around Noa seemed to grow still. The child down there was her, after she’d escaped the building she was born in. She was floating, watching her six year old self experience the world for the first time. Her little head moved side to side, eyes wide as she surveyed the trees. 

The sight of herself took a few seconds to register. Noa stared down at her small figure on the sidewalk, not blinking. 

That was when she noticed what looked so different about the memory, why she didn’t immediately recognize it. A leaf on a tree blinked at her. 

Noa startled, brows drawing together. She looked at the area harder, noticing the shapes of eyeballs everywhere. They were like chameleons- she didn’t see them until she tried, and then the eye would open, peering at her, red and strained and bloodshot. Everywhere she looked, something stared back. 

As little-her walked down the street, hundreds of irises watched her make her way into the city. They were in the bark, in the pavement, in the grass. The tiny black beads of a crow flying overhead seemed eerily mechanical. 

Everything had eyes. The entire world was watching. 

Then, the scene switched in a wild blur of technicolor. Noa watched herself standing in an alleyway, staring at a dog, terrified. The gaping wound in its side blinked at her, flies buzzing around the rotten flesh. The brick walls peered at her hunched figure. The trash bags in the dumpster squinted in the darkness. 

When Aizawa appeared, the eyes all widened at once. Interest peaked in the ruby irises. 

It continued like that for a number of her memories. Eyes on the x-ray in the hospital, between her ribcage and the holes of her missing organs. In the backseat of Endeavor’s car, his icy blue glare showing backward through the headrest. 

The eyes were everywhere. 

She watched herself in the training room with Endeavor and Shoto, ten years old, getting into an intense bout of fist fighting that left her with a broken nose. A framed picture of Touya sitting atop a shrine. Her, sitting on the roof before school started, smoke puffing into the air. She watched herself and Shoto walk to UA, watched them participate in the benchmark test. 

Every single place she went, the eyes were there. They were omnipotent— every corner, every surface, every recess of her mind. Eyes. Eyes and eyes and eyes. She couldn’t escape them. 

Then it all zoomed out. She looked at her life as a whole, and realized that what she was seeing wasn’t her vision at all. When she looked down, it was a large pair of masculine hands that stared back, strings twisted around the thick fingers. 

She was both the puppeteer and the stalker. She was looking at herself through the eyes of All For One. 

He’d always been there, watching. Every move she’d ever made had been under surveillance. He knew everything about her. 

You think the choice to leave was your own?

𖤐✰

The sound of liquid being sucked through a drain made Noa’s eyes open. 

Water was receding down the tub, and tainted with thick ribbons that stained the floor scarlet. There was a small but deep cut on the inside of her elbow that was still fresh and oozing more of the thick burgundy substance. It was a straight, neat line, no longer than three inches. It was uniform. Intentional. 

Noa recognized the memory, but it was still tainted with that fuzzy feeling that the rest had. 

It was a few months before school. The day had started rough, and only gotten worse. Endeavor was particularly cruel, and she could feel it on her face, could feel Shoto’s reluctant strikes on her limbs. After finishing training, she ran to the bathroom and locked the door. She turned the shower to the hotting setting and let the water burn her as it washed over her shoulders. 

Her mind was all over the place. She could still feel the anger and adrenaline from Endeavor, and the heightened emotions quickly led to a meltdown. The laceration was nearly a side effect. A twisted coping mechanism. 

When the blood started flowing, her breathing started picking up. She was choking on the steam that filled the room, hyperventilating too much to stay conscious. The blood loss and asphyxiation caused her to pass out and topple over.

Now she was laying on the floor of the tub, cheek pressed against the wet plaster, strings of sopping hair strewn across her pale face. The blood was still running. 

Just like the memories before, this one changed. A movement in the corner of her eye caught Noa’s attention. A pair of thin antennas peeked up through the drain, followed by legs and a small arthropod. 

Noa screamed, scrambling back. More bugs followed, pouring out of the drain and scouring toward her. Noa couldn't help the continuous shrieking as the bathtub filled with insects and they started crawling up her legs, covering her arms and shoulders. 

The scream died in her throat. Something wriggled on her tongue, and Noa gagged, coughing. They’d crawled down her mouth and gotten to her lung. She was suffocating on them. 

Panic filled Noa. When black spots took over her vision, and she faded into unconsciousness, she saw a vision of a single dead cockroach on the floor of a cell, belly up, legs frozen in post-mortem rigidity. 

𖤐✰

The next time Noa awoke, her eyes opened to find nothing but complete darkness. 

She blinked hard, squinting to try and make her eyes adjust. Nothing changed. It was still black emptiness. 

Then a hand shot out of the invisible floor below her. Noa stumbled back, gasping at the twisted, gnarly fingers. A faceless, colorless body rose after it, warped with decay and infested with flies. 

Noa took multiple horrified steps back, eyes wide as she watched more humanoid shapes follow and start to chase after her. She turned and ran, desperate to get away from the dead. 

A brittle, bony hand grasped her ankle. Noa screamed and toppled forward, her face slamming against the ground. 

Silver eyes widened unimaginably. She tried to scramble up and keep running, but her legs wouldn't move. The weight of everyone on her was too much. Frantically, she started dragging herself across the floor, nails scraping against the black abyss in desperation. When another hand clasped around her ankle and yanked her back, she shrieked. 

She couldn't escape. She wasn't strong enough. Hundreds of bodies surrounded her, washing over like a tsunami. She screamed again as the wave of deceased limbs crashed against her, suffocating her. A loud chorus of groans came from each of their mouths like an undead choir. 

Just before she squeezed her eyes shut, she caught a glimpse of one figure that was different from the others. It had a face— one she recognized. 

Torn, decayed skin rimmed Touya’s thirteen-year-old cerulean eyes. A hand reached out to her, his expression pleading. 

Noa grasped for it, but her hand passed right through like it was made of smoke. Her eyes widened. She tried again, and it failed. She couldn't grab him.

More figures appeared with faces of her past. All For One came crawling through the wall of people, an unhinged smile on his face as he used long arms to pull himself over the bodies. Tomura came after, still young but with a palpable sense of malice. A young woman with black hair appeared and reached for her. Beside her, a man with green eyes did the same, expression vacant. She didn't recognize them. 

Endeavor. Fuyumi. Rei. Aizawa. Shoto. 

Everyone was there, everyone she knew or cared about was dead and out for vengeance. 

The buzzing of flies grew louder until it was all she could hear. The weight of the decaying bodies started to crush her ribcage. Rotting flesh filled her nostrils.

𖤐✰

“Out with you. I need a word with your sidekick.”

Noa blinked, quickly becoming aware of her surroundings. She was in the training room, Shoto on her right. She watched with dread as her brother shrugged indifferently and left the room, not looking behind him.  

She knew what was coming when she looked up at Endeavor. The memory was fresh enough. She startled when her eyes lifted, though. It wasn't her father that stood before her. 

A slap rang around the walls of the training room. Noa’s head flew to the side, hair covering her face. Her cheek stung, handprint-shaped blood vessels peaking through the skin. 

“The way you behave is disgraceful.” Bakugo told her loudly, sneering. “If you ever speak to me the way you did this morning, much more than this will be waiting for you. Do not disrespect me again.”

The blonde’s voice was a twisted, demonic mixture between his own and Endeavor’s. Noa stared at the floor, eyes wide and filling with tears. 

“Yes, sir.”

It was silent for a moment, the sound of their breathing bouncing off the walls.

“Get out.” Bakugo snapped at her. “Don't leave your room until the sun is up.”

Noa rushed out of the training room and sped down the hall, wiping her hand roughly over her burning cheek. Angry adrenaline made her shake.

At the end of the hallway, Shoto was leaning against a wall, watching her with his arms crossed. He didn't move when she passed by, not saying a word, his face remaining impassive. He was completely unphased.

𖤐✰

A soft, spongy material surrounded Noa. It was dark, but warm, and the comforting color of flesh. She felt her heart beating, and heard a similar, slower beat echoing near her, felt a vessel attached to her that she couldn't exactly recognize. Distantly, she heard a woman’s voice. It was soft and melodic, but full of personality. A warm feeling bloomed at the sound. 

Then a piercing scream echoed all around her. The beating stopped, and everything went dark. A violent red slash broke through the wall encasing her, and she was yanked out of the comforting shield. 

Strong, bony hands wrapped tightly around her, squeezing. Air rushed into her throat and burned like it was tainted by acid. A strangled, infantile cry left her lips, and everything went dark.

𖤐✰

Noa’s eyes opened, and she sprung up, hands grasping the railings at her sides. Bright fluorescent lights blinded her, and she squinted, blinking harshly. 

A consistent beeping registered. As the rest of the room came into view, Noa quickly noticed she was in the hospital. Her eyes widened, darting around. Was she still dreaming? Was she actually in a hospital, or was she captured by All For One again, awaiting her torment?

In front of her, a door opened quietly. A tall, thin man with a receding hairline walked in with a clipboard, skimming over it intently. He startled when he looked up and saw Noa awake, staring at him in fear. 

“Hello,” He said pleasantly, closing the door behind him and stepping forward. “I’m Dr. Nagasaki, I’ve been taking care of you the past few days. How are you feeling?”

Noa blinked at him, unsure of what to say. She was still scared, and skeptical. 

Nagasaki didn't seem phased by her lack of response. “Could I give you a quick exam?”

Her heart was thundering in her chest. Hesitant, she nodded, untrusting of the doctor but willing to obey regardless. Doing so was ingrained into her very being. As he checked her eyes and ears and elbows, she fell back into that lull she used to have with All For One, letting her mind slip away as she let herself become the test subject. 

“Everything looks good.” Nagasaki said with a nod when he finished. Then his voice started to warp. 

“Just one more thing.”

Noa snapped out of the acquiescent haze, looking at the doctor frantically. He was older than before, pale and wrinkled and hunched over next to her. When he turned, round yellow goggles were pulled over his eyes, a syringe with a long, shiny needle in his hand. 

Before Noa could react, All For One’s doctor grinned and slammed the needle into her inner elbow. She cried out in pain, keeling over. As the elderly man pushed his thumb over the dispenser, clear liquid drained into her veins. 

A piercing scream made her ears ring. It took a second to realize it was her own. 

The chemical burned like hellfire. She could feel it spreading through her arteries, traveling to her heart and limbs and brain. Her blood vessels tore apart and put themselves back together. The flesh corroded away and regenerated, every atom being set ablaze by the transformation. 

The smell of burning sugar flooded her nostrils. Everything faded to black.

𖤐✰

With a strangled gasp, Noa’s eyes flew open. She bolted upright, clutching the railings of the cot so tightly her knuckles turned white. 

She was still in the hospital. She blinked as she looked around in confusion, noting the different layout of the room. What was going on? 

“Oh my-” Someone exclaimed in front of her. Noa looked up to see a small, squat woman with a tight blonde ponytail and blue scrubs. 

“You’re awake! How are you feeling?”

The first doctor had asked the same thing. Noa didn't blink as she stared at her, petrified. 

“Noa?” 

She startled at the sound of her name. Footsteps rushed toward her, and she looked to the left to see Shoto walking quickly to the side of her cot. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, exhaling deeply into the back of her hair.

“You’re okay.” He whispered in relief. “You’re alive.”

Noa, still stunned, slowly reached her arms up over his shoulders to return the hug. She could feel him in her arms, could see the tufts of hair in front of her eyes. She felt the cool air of the hospital, the scratchy sheets underneath her legs. But she still didn't trust her own mind.

“Are you real?” She asked in a hollow voice. 

“Yes,” Shoto assured breathlessly, releasing her as he scanned her face. “Yes, I’m real. I’m here. It’s Shoto.”

Noa’s eyes were still blank with shock. The relief of seeing Shoto, though, of seeing his face, feeling his presence again, helped to stabilize her. 

The second she was able to form a coherent thought, everything came rushing back. Noa’s stomach plummeted. 

“What happened?” She asked frantically. “Is everyone alive? Did anyone get hurt?”

All she could remember was tackling Shigaraki, and having a stomach ache as she watched him stalk toward her.

“They’re all alive.” Shoto assured. “No one but the pro’s and Midoriya got hurt, and they’re all in recovery.”

A miniscule iota of relief flooded her. She closed her eyes, and winced slightly. “Shigaraki?”

“Escaped.” Shoto responded glumly, looking at the floor. “Snipe got him with a few bullets, but the warp villain helped him get away. The police haven't been able to find them.”

Noa’s eyes widened. They were both out there somewhere, waiting to make another attempt on her life. It could happen at any time. 

“How long was I out?” She asked, trying to dismiss her thoughts.

“The attack only happened yesterday.” Shoto told her. “It’s been a little more than twenty-four hours.”

“You’re healing remarkably well.” The nurse chimed in. Both siblings looked up, having forgotten she was there. 

“Once we removed the bullet, your quirk started repairing your stomach on its own. We hardly had to do any stitching.”

Noa blinked. She’d forgotten about her injury. The mention of it made a pang of agony run through her entire abdomen. She drew a breath in through her teeth and hunched over. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it. Other than the blood loss and a little bit of pain, you got off relatively fine from being shot.”

“A little bit?” She asked, bitter, voice strained from the wound. She took a deep breath in, brows creasing as the information caught up to her. She’d also forgotten about Hebi’s healing abilities. 

Snakes being the universal symbol of health, combined with the medicinal value of the reptile in general, provided Hebi with minor regenerative powers. It’d always been apparent that she healed fast, but it hadn't been as glaringly obvious as it was then. She remembered how often she underestimated her own power, simply because it wasn’t hers. 

“While you’re up, I’ve gotta run a few tests, okay?” The nurse said.

Noa looked up, blinking. Her eyes were saucers. Her breath was caught in her throat. 

“What kind of tests?”

“Oh, nothing out of the norm. Just some checkups and whatnot.”

Noa looked at Shoto fearfully. The nightmare she just had, the state she was in— she knew it wouldn’t go well. 

Shoto’s expression turned sympathetic, but he dipped his chin, giving her the go ahead. Noa obliged, ducking her head as the nurse came over to her. The woman’s hands were cold and hard as she leaned Noa back on the cot.

“I need to not think right now, Sho.” She said pleadingly, her eyes finding a spot on the ceiling and staying there. 

“Okay.” Her brother said, taking her hand in his as he sat on the edge of the mattress. The clunky plastic heart monitor on her finger made it somewhat awkward, but she was grateful for the act of comfort. 

“I have questions.” He said quietly. 

Noa closed her eyes, but nodded. The conversation would have to happen eventually, and she’d take any distraction she could get. The ghost of All For One’s hands was starting to blend in and out with the nurses. 

“You said that you knew the people who attacked us.” Shoto muttered. 

Noa’s eyes opened, suspecting as much. She found the same spot on the ceiling as she waited for the question. 

“How? You said from before, right? Before you were adopted?”

Slowly, Noa nodded. Her throat was dry, and she had to force down a swallow to get the words out. 

“I’m not sure how much you know about what happened before.” She started. “But it’s obvious it wasn’t good. There’s a lot that I can’t talk about, but… Shigaraki- he was there with me, as a kid.”

Mismatched eyes blinked at her repeatedly as Shoto took in the information. “Oh.”

Noa nodded numbly. She opened her mouth to speak, but winced as she felt the bandage being peeled off her stomach. The nurse whispered an apology as she cleaned the wound and redressed it. 

“Yeah.” Noa nodded, forcing herself not to look. “He was supposed to be dead.”

Shoto’s brows creased. 

“The man who held us captive was called All For One.” She continued. “After I escaped, when I saw All Might in the hospital, he told me that he killed him. I just… I assumed that meant Tomura too-“

“And seeing him yesterday disproved that.” He finished, nodding in understanding. 

Noa nodded back slowly. Her eyes went out of focus as she stared at the ceiling, waiting for the nurse to finish the exam. 

“They wanted All Might though, right?” Her brother asked curiously. “Maybe it has nothing to do with you.”

Noa was thankful for the optimism, but shook her head. “I’d never be that lucky. Maybe All Might was the initial objective, but now that Shigaraki’s seen me, now that he knows where I am, he could come for me at any time.”

Worry flashed in Shoto’s eyes. He reached over and grabbed her hand gently. 

“We're going to keep you safe.” He assured her. “Me and Aizawa, the staff here, even the old man can protect you. Shigaraki won’t get close.”

“It’s not just him.” Noa said quietly, her voice breaking. She turned her head to the side, face burning in shame as tears brewed. 

“It’s All For One, too. He made that Nomu thing. He’s alive. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to torment me again, Shoto. If him and Shigaraki are out there, it is quite literally a matter of time.”

She sounded pathetic. She couldn’t bear to look at Shoto with her face crumpled like that. Finding out had been a beast within itself, but admitting it, saying the truth out loud, made it real. Goosebumps bloomed on her skin as the information completely sank in. 

All For One would make a reappearance in her life soon enough. All she could do was wait. 

Nausea bubbled in Noa’s stomach. She couldn’t bear the thought. 

“We’ll still do everything we can.” Shoto said, gently squeezing her hand. Noa looked over, and his expression was compassionately determined. “I promise.” 

She returned the squeeze and gave him a small, doubtful smile. “Thanks, Sho.”

The nurse was starting to finish with her exam. Noa grit her teeth as she placed an octoscope at her ear. The hospital set-up was still messing with her. It’s not him, she told herself. Shoto’s here, you’re fine.  

“What happened after they got away?” She asked, eager to distract herself and find out the missing holes in the story. 

Shoto blinked as he remembered hearing the gunshots stop. Flashes came back, memories of the panic, of the concern that flooded him as he ran to her limp body. He remembered the three boys behind him, remembered the blood surrounding her, the mangled skin oozing red all over the dirt. A flash of her being lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled into an ambulance.

“They rounded up and arrested all the other villains, and found that Nomu thing in the forest somewhere. They still don't know what happened.”

“And everyone else?”

“They’re all fine.” Shoto assured her. “Scared, but fine. Seeing everyone on the stretchers worried them, I think. Some of the girls were crying.”

“Oh.” Noa blinked hazily. “Huh.”

The nurse finished and jotted a few things down on her clipboard before stepping quietly out of the room. 

“Oh my god.” Noa gasped. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. Her limbs grew numb. The stretchers. 

Again, she’d forgotten about the most important person there. Remembering his absence had been such a terrifying but fleeting thought in the midst of everything happening. 

“Aizawa.” She breathed, eyes wide. “What happened? Is he okay? Where-”

“He’s okay.” Shoto assured, giving her hand another small squeeze. “Hurt, but okay. He’s here in the hospital somewhere.”

“What happened?” She asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer. 

“From what Asui said, it was bad.” Shoto replied, looking down. “Shigaraki got to him, and the Nomu- something with his eyes, maybe. I’m not sure. Her and Mineta were really shaken up.”

Both of Noa’s hands covered her face, pressing the heels of her palms into her eye sockets. 

The whole thing was her fault. All For One planned the attack because of her. Shigaraki was a villain because of the lie she told All Might in the hospital. The Nomu was created to take out the only person with a chance at protecting her. Aizawa got caught in the crossfire because of it.

“Noa, lay down.” Shoto said, putting a worried hand on her shoulder as she tried to sit up. “You’re still healing.”

“I need you to take me to him.” She grunted, pressing a hand against her side as she painfully swung her legs over the edge of the cot.

“I can’t-” He started. “You’ve been shot, Noa. Aizawa’s okay. Please, you need to lay down.”

“You won't be able to stop me.” Noa said between grit teeth. Her bare feet pressed against the cold linoleum, and she hissed. The action made her abdomen sear in pain. “You can either help me or let me find him myself.”

“Okay, okay.” Shoto rushed out, reaching to help her stand up. “Be careful, please. Go slow.”

“Whatever.” She breathed, panting. The exertion of standing made her neck bloom with heat. 

As Shoto slowly led her out of the room, pulling an arm over his shoulder to halfway carry her, Noa pathetically limped next to him. When she felt a cool breeze on her rear, her face burned, and she reached back to yank her hospital gown closed.  

The walk down the hall was short, but so dizzying it felt like a mile. Her vision went in and out of focus, stomach lurching with nausea every time she stepped. Nurses passed by, but were luckily so distracted they let the siblings pass without interruption. 

When they finally slowed to a stop in front of a closed door, Noa held her breath. Shoto’s hand moved slowly to the knob. Every turn of the handle felt like a bomb ticking down. She had no idea what to expect. 

It took a few seconds for her to realize the heap of bandages on the cot was a person. Her eyes doubled in size, and she let go of Shoto, hobbling over to Aizawa as fast as her body would allow. Her pain was numbed by the emotions, but still there. It felt deserved, looking at the plaster casts. 

There was a chair near his cot, and Noa pulled it up, slowly, painfully sitting down. She couldn’t blink. She stared at his unrecognizable figure, at the holes around his closed eyes, the bandages wrapping all around him. He was mummified. 

Noa felt frozen. She couldn't breathe. 

“I know it looks bad, but he’s gonna be okay soon.” Shoto said gently, stepping behind her. When he saw her trembling hands, his brows slackened in concern. “What’s wrong? The nurses said he should be fine in just a few days.”

“It’s my fault.” Noa muttered, staring at his bandaged hands. “He’s like this because of me.”

“What?” He asked, confused. “Of course it’s not, you had no way of knowing-”

“I need a few minutes, Shoto.” She interrupted gently, voice strained. “I’m sorry.”

His mouth opened, and for a moment it seemed like he might object. Then he looked down and nodded, silently retreating, letting the door shut behind him softly. 

As soon as he was gone, Noa’s face crumpled. She put her head down over her crossed arms, and broke like a bursting dam. All the emotions came pouring out of her. Her entire world was flooding. 

In the past twenty four hours, a million things had happened, and a million parts of her life had been upturned. Seeing Shigaraki and Kurogiri, hearing about All For One. The terror of fighting them with All Might, the pain of getting shot, the nightmares, the hospital, seeing Shoto again, and now Aizawa. It was all too much. She felt like she might explode where she sat. She wanted to scream until her voice was gone. 

Sobs racked her body, shoulders shaking uncontrollably as her emotions continued to flow like a raging river. The sheets on the hospital bed were quickly soaked with tears. Her chest hurt, the rib cage around it aching with every sob. The hands holding her elbows tightened until her nails were digging into the skin. She held herself as tightly as she could, tensing her muscles till it hurt. The sound of her grief drowned out the monotonous beeping of the heart monitor.

Noa didn't know how long she stayed like that. It felt like hours. When the tsunami finally passed, she lifted her head up, wiping the back of her wrist over her face. Aizawa’s scarf was coiled neatly on a silver tray beside him. 

Noa stared at it, unblinking. It stared back. 

The thing was tattered, covered in dirt and blood, folded pathetically over itself. Noa’s throat grew tight. She pressed her lips together tightly as the tears slipped back out. 

She remembered burying her face in the soft white material when Aizawa carried her to the hospital. She remembered seeing a miniature version of it on her nightlight when she would stare at it before bed. She remembered watching him wrap it around Bakugo to restrain him from attacking Midoriya. 

The scarf was a symbol of peace and light and hope, of some of the only kindness she’d ever been shown. Sometimes, the memory of it was the only thing that kept her going. Seeing it in such a state, so ruined and dirty and tainted by the consequences of her existence, made her filled with self loathing. She was terrible. She was the reason for all of this.

The tears rolling down her cheeks turned into being fueled by anger rather than sorrow. What was wrong with her? Why was she like this? Why was she even born in the first place? It’s not like whoever her parents were decided to stick around, so why was she here? 

What was her purpose in life outside of being a useless catalyst for destruction? 

Noa’s hands were balled into fists now, white-knuckled and shaking. She put her head back on her arms and grit her teeth, letting the emotions come back, letting the pain of what she did act as punishment. 

You deserve every bit of this.

𖤐✰

Noa didn't even realize she’d fallen asleep. When she was awoken by a pained, startled gasp, she sprung up, eyes wide as she looked up at Aizawa frantically. The beeping of his heart monitor increased. 

“Shouta?” 

Movement on his bandaged face got her attention. Aizawa's eyes slowly opened, and Noa breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing him, seeing that he was okay, awake, was a small but meaningful consolation. 

Dark grey irises flicked to her, becoming startled at her presence. An awkward, silent moment passed between them. Noa couldn’t help but smile. 

“Hey.”

Aizawa blinked at her, and after a few seconds, air puffed through his nose. She got the sense he might’ve been smiling underneath the bandages. Or at least trying to. 

When Noa noticed his eyes flicking around the room, she remembered how scared she’d been when she woke up. 

“You’re in the hospital.” She hurried to explain. “USJ was yesterday. The nurses say you’re fine, except-“

Her eyes intently searched his for a moment, making sure he was looking at her, that his vision worked properly. 

“How many fingers?” 

Aizawa stared at her for a moment. His voice was hoarse the first few attempts, but he was eventually able to speak. 

“You aren’t holding up any.”

Noa nodded, serious. “Good.” 

A brief moment of silence passed as the rest of reality caught up to Aizawa. He blinked at her slowly. 

“Why are you in a hospital gown.”

Noa startled a little. 

“Oh, uh…” She said, reaching up to scratch her ear. “Yeah. I got shot.” 

“ What ?” Aizawa exclaimed loudly, eyes widening. It seemed like he tried to sit up, but the casts restrained him. “What do you mean, shot? What the hell happened?”

Noa took a deep breath in, dragging a hand down her face. She recounted the sequence of events best she could, letting her eyes unfocus, trying like hell to detach herself. She explained what happened with All Might and the Nomu, when Shigaraki attacked Midoriya and she jumped in. When the heroes arrived and Noa’s save put her in the way of Snipe’s bullet. From there, all she had to go off of was what Shoto told her.

Aizawa took a few long moments to take in the information. Surprise shown in his eyes, which turned to reluctant acceptance, then pity. 

“I’m so sorry.” He said, looking right at her. “I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for you.”

“For me?” Noa asked, dumbfounded. “Compared to you, I got off with a bandaid.”

“For a bullet wound.” Aizawa replied smartly. “Don’t diminish your experience. Just because my pain is purely physical doesn’t make it any worse than yours. Seeing them couldn’t have been easy.” 

Noa’s throat went dry. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she was able to formulate words.

“It wasn’t easy.” She admitted, shaking her head. “That’s not what I meant. The Nomu- I mean, it almost took out All Might. Even using your quirk, it had to have been awful. And Shigaraki- what did he do to you?”

“Got my elbow.” Aizawa said, trying to look at his arm. “Hurt like hell, but I guess it’s fine now. And the Nomu just- kicked my ass, really.”

“You put up a fucking fight, though.” Noa replied with a nearly undetectable smile. “I know it just by the way you took on the other villains.” 

He looked at her sideways, as if he might reprimand her language. Then the chastising edge faded, and it seemed like he would’ve shrugged if he could. “I tried.”

Noa pursed her lips at his humility. She was so, so grateful he was alive. 

When she looked down, she saw her fingernails lined with dried blood. A strange, numb feeling entered her body as she picked at them, scraping the flakes off. It reminded her of the gunshot wound, laying on the dirt, Shigaraki stalking toward her. It reminded her of the nightmares, all the blood and gore her brain showed her in its unconscious state. 

Her nail stopped abruptly, scraping against her cuticle. Shigaraki. 

Noa looked up, eyes wide. When she saw Aizawa, she got the sense that his mind was headed in the same direction. The lie she told. The secret she kept.

“It’s my fault.” She said quietly, not able to meet his eyes any longer. “I’m a liar. It’s because of my mistake he turned out the way he did.” 

Noa’s head fell into her hands, voice wavering pathetically. Regardless of how much she tried to hold them back, tears came cascading down her cheeks. Saying the words out loud always made them more real than she could handle. 

“I’m sorry.”

She startled when she felt a cast brush over the back of her hair. When she looked up, Aizawa was straining to keep his arm up before letting it fall. 

“It’s not your fault, kid.” He said gently. “They were there to kill All Might. You had no way of knowing-”

“Maybe.” Noa interrupted, the hatred starting to project. Her voice was shaking, hot, angry tears still falling. “But my presence made it worse. If I wasn’t there, half of it wouldn’t have happened. If I didn’t lie like a coward, someone could’ve saved him. If I’d taken my time escaping, I could’ve brought him with me.”

Noa’s chest was heaving. Her nails dug into her palms. “My lie is the reason he turned out the way he did.”

“If there would’ve been any chance at saving him, it would’ve been done already.” Aizawa said sternly. The edge to his tone caught Noa off guard just enough to dim her anger. She looked up, eyes wide.

“You were six, Noa. You were traumatized, and you were in shock. Don’t blame yourself for how you reacted in that state.”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times, the words caught in her throat. “But-”

“I don’t wanna hear it.” He interrupted sharply. “Nothing you could’ve done would’ve changed the outcome. Torturing yourself with this will only make it worse, and it’s the last thing you need after that fucked-up reunion.”

Noa blinked at his language. The rest of what he said meant more, though. As much sense as it made, Noa still wasn’t convinced. She was to blame. She was weak, and she was a coward.

She looked down at the pilling sheet on his cot, picking at it with her fingers. 

“All For One made the Nomu.” She said blankly. 

It was silent for a moment. Aizawa blinked multiple times. 

“What?”

“It’s the only explanation for the multiple quirks.” Noa shrugged. “Kurogiri and Shigaraki confirmed that he’s alive.”

“I thought All Might-”

“Me too.” She interrupted. “Which means he either failed or lied.”

It was silent again. Noa could hear Aizawa’s breathing start to pick up, could hear the beeping of the heart monitor increasing in tempo. Noa’s hands were shaking.

“He won’t get past UA. We’ll do everything we can to prevent him from coming back. You’re gonna be safe.”

“Shoto said the same thing.” She said, still picking at the sheets. “But there’s no guarantee-”

The door opening cut Noa’s sentence short. Her and Aizawa both looked to the front of the room to see the same nurse from before. She jumped when she saw Noa next to the mummified form of Aizawa.

“Miss Todoroki!” She exclaimed. “You should be back in your room! Both of you are injured, you need your rest.”

Noa waved her off with a slight roll of her eyes. “I'll be fine.”

“Uh-uh.” The nurse tutted stubbornly. “Go.”

She huffed in annoyance, standing up from the chair. “Fine, I'm leaving.”

Her and Aizawa shared one last look. The emotional charge in the eye contact lingered for a few moments. Noa’s throat grew tight. Just as her lash line was about to dampen, Aizawa dipped his head. 

Noa did the same and left the room. The subtle communication meant more than any words could. 

When the door clicked shut behind her, she stopped for a moment, blinking. The sound of the latch echoed down the hallway. Her head whipped side to side. She couldn’t remember which direction she came from. 

There was a brief moment of panic, the staff bustling around the hallway, Noa overwhelmed by the noise and clueless on where to go. 

She swallowed and took a deep breath, resolving on just starting to walk. She went blindly to the left, yanking her gown tighter again when she felt the air conditioning. The pain in her abdomen returned, and grew with every step. By the time she made it to the end of the hallway, she was limping and sweaty. 

She paused in front of a door, leaning against the opposite wall to catch her breath. The hospital felt like it was ninety degrees. Her side was burning . 

When she looked up, though, she saw a small window at the top of the door. Inside the room were two heads of hair, blonde and bright viridian. 

𖤐✰

“Noa! Thank god you’re okay!”

Even through the pain, Noa couldn't resist a small smile at Midoriya’s enthusiasm. 

“I’m glad you made it, too.” 

Izuku smiled, but it faltered when his eyes flicked nervously to the disheveled hero next to him. 

“Feeling better, All Might?” She asked, a brow raised. 

The man laughed uneasily, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. “I’m still surprised you remember that far back.”

Noa just stared at him. Every line in his face reminded her of his lie. Every beat of her heart she remembered that All For One was alive. 

“How are you?” Noa asked, turning to Izuku as she walked over and sat down on the edge of his cot. “How’s recovery?”

“Good.” He said with a nod and a smile. “My legs are healing pretty fast, thanks to Recovery Girl.”

Noa huffed fondly. “The woman is a saint.”

Midoriya smiled at her, then gestured to her stomach. “And you? How’s your…”

Pain bloomed at the reminder. Air hissed through Noa’s teeth, and she gingerly pressed a hand against her abdomen. “Fine, if I stop thinking about it.”

“Sorry!” He said frantically. Then his face turned analytical, curious. “I still can’t believe that happened— Snipe never misses. Actually, how are you even walking?”

“My quirk helps with the healing.” Noa shrugged. “And I jumped in front of the bullet, remember? It’s my own fault.”

Izuku looked down at his lap, face warm. “Thank you.” He said softly. “You saved my life, and you saved Kacchan’s, too. I can’t tell you how much that means.”

A small, sad smile made Noa’s lips twitch. She looked at her fingers. “I’m afraid I was more hurtful than helpful.”

“What?” Midoriya said in surprise. “What do you mean? There’s no telling what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

Noa shrugged. “A lot less, probably.”

“He’s right, young Noa.” All Might cut in. “You risked a lot, for everyone. More than any of us will ever know.”

Her face warmed. She looked back at her hands and started scraping at the dried blood again. She didn’t know what to say. She was scared that if she spoke to him again, the paranoia relating to All For One would come tumbling out. She’d end up verbally berating the man.

Fortunately, the same nurse opened the door, red in the face and panting. Her hand was tight against the handle. “Miss Todoroki!”

Noa threw her hands up, palms out. “I got lost.”

“Bed! Now!”

“Yeah, yeah.” She groaned, rolling her eyes as she stood up again and pulled her gown closed. 

“What you saw, Noa…” All Might started as she walked out the door.

“Won’t tell a soul.” She finished. 

Just for extra measure, she grinned and threw a wink at Izuku. Sounds of confusion traveled through the door when she closed it. She smiled to herself as she walked down the hallway.

Her mind was turning, though. Whatever was going on between All Might and Midoriya had been put on the back burner in the wake of everything else. Now that she had time to process it just a little bit, the confusion returned. They were still suspicious. Something was going on. 

She blinked as she came to a realization. Or more, a remembrance. 

Everyone had something to hide. Everyone had some kind of secret they kept close to their chest like a winning hand in poker. Noa had plenty herself. Worrying about All Might’s cards was a waste of time, and it had nothing to do with her. 

She made a decision. She would let them have their secret. No more trying to decipher their coded language, no more debating their strange relationship. She was done worrying. It wasn’t her business. 

After a few minutes of searching, she found her room again. When she laid back down on her cot, the nurse came in, still irritated. She checked her wound, and found that blood was starting to soak through the bandage. 

No one was there to distract her while the wound got redressed. Noa closed her eyes and prepared herself to feel the cold fingers against her stomach. 

She jumped when her arm was touched instead. Her eyes opened at the cold sensation rubbing across the inside of her elbow, and dread filled her in an instant. The scent of isopropyl alcohol stung her nostrils and activated a deep rooted memory. 

“What are you doing?”

“I have to put your IV back in, since you aggravated your injury. Hold still.”

A panicked whine escaped her. Noa drew her arm away and backed into the edge of the cot. “No.” 

The nurse's brows creased in confusion, needle still in hand. 

“You need-”

“I need you to get that thing away from me right now.”

The woman huffed, but a twinge of concern seeped into her voice. “Is there something wrong?” 

She stepped forward again, holding the needle out. Noa gently shoved her arm away, staring at the shiny point like it was an active explosive.  

“I’m sorry, dear.” The nurse said softly as she reached for her wrist. “I know it’s scary. I need to do this, though, okay? You’re still healing, and you need fluids.”

“I’ll be fine without them.” Noa protested, leaning further into the railing. 

The nurse pursed her lips in what seemed like sorrow. With reluctant force, she reached down and took hold of Noa’s arm, holding just tight enough that she couldn't wrench it away. 

Noa pulled it back anyway. When it didn't budge, her stomach lurched. 

“Get off! Don’t touch me!”

“I’m sorry, dear.” The nurse repeated, lowering the needle. 

Noa screamed, and thrashed again the hands clamped around her wrist. Her vision went white as she felt the metal peirce her vein and sink into her arm. 

The nurse flinched at the scream, and rushed to push the sedation button on the heart monitor. Soon, Noa’s body went limp against the mattress, and steady beeping rang through the room.

𖤐✰

Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shoto were all there when she woke up.

“Oh my god!” Her sister cried when she saw Noa’s eyes open. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her shoulders tightly. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

The abrupt contact made Noa freeze. Fuyumi let go, holding Noa in front of her as she scanned her face, pressing the back of her hand on her forehead. Streaks of dried tears ran in lines down her face. 

“I’ve been worried sick. How are you feeling? Is everything good? You’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Noa answered quietly, reaching up to very gently remove Fuyumi’s hands from her shoulders.

“You’re in the hospital.” Natsuo added as he stepped forward, standing next to Fuyumi. “Of course you're not fine.” 

A small smile crossed Noa’s face at the sight of him, and he gave her a quick hug as well. 

“You left school?” She asked as he stepped back. 

“Nah, I had a free day.” He said with a shrug, smiling. “Next time you feel like getting shot, do it before an exam.”

Noa smiled back. “Noted.”

“Are you feeling better?” Shoto asked, joining his siblings at the side of her cot. “Is everything okay with Mr. Aizawa?”

Noa nodded. “He’s good. I’m good.”

A sigh of relief made Shoto’s chest rise and fall. It was silent between the siblings for a moment, each of them caught off guard by the realization that they were all in the same room at once, which hardly ever happened. It was strange, but peaceful. For just a second, it almost seemed like they could pretend to be a real family.

Then the door opened. All their smiles dropped. The energy got sucked out of the room.

“Good, you’re awake.” Endeavor said as he walked in. He was in his civilian clothes— a black, long-sleeved sweater and dark jeans— which should’ve made him seem less threatening. It just made his cruelty more mundane, though. It humanized him. 

In hero mode, his bullshit could almost be rationalized. Like this, he was just a man. A wolf in its own clothing instead of a bears. His actions were worse when he couldn't hide behind the shield of heroism. 

Enji looked at each of his children, who stared back blankly. His eyes fell on Noa, and held no trace of emotion.

“You’ve just been cleared for discharge. We’ve already wasted two days at this hospital, lets get a move on.”

Noa blinked, stunned. 

“Are you kidding?” Natuso objected angrily. “She’s been shot. Two days isn’t nearly enough time-”

“The nurses say it’s fine.” Endeavor interrupted. “Her quirk is healing her. We’re going home.”

Getting discharged from the hospital was a blur of last minute checkups and instructions for care and a wheelchair squealing across linoleum. In a catatonic state, Noa let her brothers lift her into the backseat of the car and buckle her in. They filed into the seats beside her, Endeavor and Fuyumi in the front with the driver. As the car started rolling, deafening silence filled the vehicle. Nobody said a word the entire car ride.

Noa hardly noticed. Her mind was fuzzy as the tires rolled over the pavement. She dissociated until the vehicle came to a stop. 

Natsuo and Shoto helped her out of the car and up the stairs to her room. When they laid her on her bed, they each lingered for a few moments. 

“You gonna be okay?” Natsuo asked. “I can stay, if you want.”

The corners of Noa’s mouth lifted. She looked at the streaks of red sticking up above his ears. Being here with Endeavor was already hard enough for him. 

“Don’t worry about me.” She told him, trying to sound convincing. “Get back to school. Say hi to the girlfriend for me.”

Natsuo grinned, and he nodded at her as he turned and walked quickly out the door. Noa didn’t blame his urgency to escape the house. 

“Do you need anything?” Shoto asked when the door closed. “Is there something I can do to help?”

“Thanks, Sho.” She told him pitifully, shaking her head. “But there’s not much to be done. I’ll be okay, I think. I just need to sleep for a while.”

“Okay,” Her brother nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “I’ll sit with you until then.”

Another sad, small smile lifted the corners of Noa’s mouth. The idea and gesture was sickeningly sweet, but she just couldn’t deal right now. “Don’t. I’ll be okay.”

Shoto seemed reluctant to leave her alone, but he gave her a small nod and a smile before walking out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

As soon as she was by herself, her entire body deflated. Her expression flattened, letting the pain come back full force. It felt like she’d been impaled. A whine came muffled and strangled from Noa’s throat, and she turned on her good side, burying her face in her pillow. 

It was the first time she’d been alone since waking up. Now that she didn’t have to hold herself together, she cracked like porcelain. Every emotion that’d been stockpiled inside of her came pouring at once. The pain, the events of the last three days, it was too much to bear. Everything crashed over her like she was caught in a riptide. 

Sobs racked her body. The pillowcase quickly became drenched with tears.

In the darkness of her eyelids, flashes of it all came back. Shigaraki, both old and young. Aizawa and All Might in the same way. All For One. Shoto. Touya. Endeavor. All For One.

All For One.

All For One.

When a specific memory surfaced, Noa had to bury her face into her pillow to muffle a scream. The feeling of a cold knob pressing against the skin of her temple made her seize with electricity. 

It continued like that for hours, Noa coming in and out of her memories, in and out of helplessly sobbing. She couldn’t tell how much time passed. She didn't even notice when sleep finally took over. 

𖤐✰

The UA students had the rest of the week off to recuperate from the attack. Noa spent all of it in her bed. She didn’t get up once. 

Fuyumi came in to check on her every now and then, Shoto trailing behind and staying after to try and coax something out of Noa. She was completely unreceptive. She didn't speak, hardly looked at them, and any time they tried to reach out, she would turn on her other side, shying away from their touch. 

She was a prisoner to her own mind for over thirty six hours. Nothing could penetrate the shield of memories swirling all around her. Everything kept coming in and out in flashes. Needles. Chemicals. Leather restraints. Fire. Bugs. Deceased people covered in flies. Shigaraki stalking toward her. His hand sticking out of the warp gate. His thumb digging into her wound. Bakugo in the place of Endeavor, reaching back to strike her.  

Needles. Bugs. Tomura. Leather. Flies.

Needles. Tomura. Flies.

Tomura. 

Tomura.

Tomura.

Sometime, in the midst of her zombified state, the sound of his name ringing through her head made Noa’s breath catch. She fell quickly back into the endless loop of blame, pressing her hands over her eyes hard enough to hurt.

It was her fault. It was her lie. Her stupid decision to gamble instead of telling the truth. Instead of doing the right thing, she did what was easy. She chose her own safety over his. She was the reason he was like this. She was just as awful as he was, if not worse. 

She was a horrible, rotten person. Some piece of her, deep down in her chest, was rotting her from the inside out. Day by day, the abandoned, forgotten space where her fleeting light used to be was festering with sickness.

It needed to be carved out. The rot needed to be purged. If it’s what made her lie, she needed to gouge it out and destroy it. She deserved to feel that pain again. 

The most effective way to do so would be to slice open her chest and scoop the decay out of her ribs with her fingernails. Her nails sharpened on impulse, and she stared at them, at the fang-like talons coming to a sharp point. She had the urge to take her finger and check, just to see if she could. 

But she was scared of what she would find. She wasn’t prepared to see the maggots crawling around inside of her, wasn’t prepared to be hit with the smell of her own decomposing flesh. As much as she needed to be rid of herself, she was too much of a coward to commit. 

The next best thing would be to bleed it out. 

My fault, she thought as she turned over, yanking up her sleeve. 

My fault, as she dragged her sharpened nail over her elbow, reopening the scar from months ago. Thick maroon droplets began to pool on the sheets. She felt the disease begin to seep out with it. 

My fault, my fault, my fault. 

It stopped sounding like a word after a while. Two more cuts joined the original in neat lines, like mechanical claw marks. By the time the blood slowed, she was dizzy, but she could breathe easier. 

The rot would never be truly gone, but disposing of part of it helped to soothe the burn. Some of the tightness in her chest eased. Her vision blurred and she faded into unconsciousness. 

When she opened her eyes again, it was to the sound of the door opening. She startled, pulling her blankets up to cover the stains. A head of bright red hair peaked through.

“It’s Sunday.” Endeavor said. “I’ve given you the weekend to mope, but the hospital said you’re cleared for school tomorrow. Be ready.”

He closed the door before she could respond. 

Later that night, Shoto came in quietly, a sleeve of crackers in his hand. Noa didn’t look up at first, but when she noticed the food, she mentally groaned. 

“I won’t make you talk to me.” He said before she could argue. He sat down on the end of her cot and opened the package. “But I am going to make you eat.”

Noa looked at him for a moment, then turned over and stared at the other wall, her back facing him. 

“I’m not letting you out of this, Noa. I’m sorry.” He said as he walked around the foot of her bed. “You’ve hardly eaten all week.”

Noa moved her face away from the cracker he was holding out, grimacing. The idea of food, the idea of doing anything at all, was dreadful. She felt nauseous. 

“I’ll make dad do it.”

Noa blinked at Shoto. His face was completely serious. She leaned forward and begrudgingly took a bite out of the saltine. 

For the next hour, Shoto coaxed half of the sleeve down her throat one by one. Her stomach felt so full by then she would’ve thrown up if she’d eaten one more. Happy she complied at all, Shoto nodded, patting her on the shoulder before leaving the room and wishing her a good night. Noa stared at the wall, feeling the gluten settle in her stomach. She resented the fullness. 

Aziawa’s night light blinked at her, and she stared back. She’d been sleeping most of the weekend, the majority of which had been filled with more nightmares. Regardless, she was still tired. She could feel it in her bones, could feel the weight of it settling on her shoulders. 

It wasn't the usual kind of tired, where she just wanted to sleep and nothing more. It was the life kind of tired. She didn’t want to deal with anything. She was done. The relentless loop of trauma was exhausting. 

Noa wasn't able to get more than a wink of sleep the entire night. When the sun peeked over the horizon and shown through her window, Noa took a deep, dreadful breath in and got up, holding the side of her stomach as she walked to the bathroom. 

Blood mixed with the water cascading down her body and tinted the bottom of the shower a dull pink color. The wound still healing on her abdomen, the cuts on her inner arm, the scrapes all over from the rocks at the USJ. It all stung as the hot water washed over. 

She didn’t have the energy to do anything other than stand under the water, staring at the drain blankly. When the steam was thick enough she couldn’t breathe, she turned the faucet off and stepped out. She didn’t even attempt a look in the mirror on the way out. 

After she changed into her uniform, Shoto met her in the hallway, and she pulled on her tie as they walked to the front door. When she swallowed, the red fabric pressed against her trachea. The sensation made her neck itch, and in turn, made her nauseous. 

The moment her and Shoto were out the door, she yanked the thing off and shoved it in her backpack, undoing the top button of her white shirt. It took everything in her not to reach up and scratch at the irritated skin. 

𖤐✰

Arms wrapped around her for what felt like the tenth time since the hospital. Noa’s body went rigid. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Jirou said, pulling away and looking at Noa with shining eyes. “I can’t believe what happened.”

The haze of the weekend's depression still clouded Noa’s mind. It was all she could do to give Jirou a pitiful smile and graze her shoulder as she walked to her seat. 

Her other classmates all had similar reactions, but thankfully didn’t try to touch her. She ignored everyone's questions and worries, and shoved herself in her chair. No time was wasted before she put her earbuds in and layed her head atop her arms. The haze still lingered as minutes passed.

“ Mr. Aizawa?”

At the sound of the twenty in-sync voices, Noa jumped, headphones flying out of her ears. A heap of bandages covered in dark green clothes was standing in the doorway.

“Morning class.”

Everyone gasped, asking if he was okay, if he should really be teaching. Similar to Noa, Aizawa brushed them off silently and limped to the front of the room. 

“My well-being is irrelevant.” He said tiredly. “What’s more important, is that your fight isn't over.”

The intensity put everyone on edge in an instant. Noa’s eyes widened. What could he possibly have planned now?

“The UA sports festival is about to start.”

Oh. Noa’s shoulders slumped with relief, and most of the others’ did the same. 

While everyone else grew excited, though, dread started to seep in. She’d forgotten about the sports festival with everything going on. On top of healing, she would have to bump up her training regimen and deal with twice the amount of Endeavor’s bullshit. 

And the festival was trivial to begin with. It was simply a chance for egotistical heroes to place bets on teenage gladiators. It was a spectacle. It was wide-scale hero propaganda. Noa didn’t want any part of it. 

“Yyyy-es!” Kirishima shouted, pumping his fist in the air. “Let’s go kick some ass!”

“Wait a second,” Kaminari cut him off, shoving a hand against his face. 

Jirou stood up to finish his thought. “Is it really a good idea to hold the sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?”

“They could attack once we’re all in the same place.”

“One of us was just shot! ”

“Are you really sure-”

“Apparently, the administration thinks that this is a good way to show that the threat has been handled, and our school is safer than ever.” Aizawa interrupted with a sigh. “They’re beefing up security, compared to last year’s. This is a monumental event at UA. It won’t get canceled just because of some villains.”

Noa’s brows furrowed. Something in her chest panged. Just some villains?

“Uh, sorry, why not?” Mineta asked in a shaky voice. “It’s just a sports festival.”  

In front of him, Midoriya turned around, brows creased. “Huh? Mineta, do you not know how important this competition is?”

“Of course I do!” He whined loudly. “I just don’t wanna get murdered.”

Noa couldn’t help the roll of her eyes. He was one to talk.

“Our sports festival is one of the most watched events in the entire world.” Aizawa said from the front of the room. “In the past, everyone obsessed over the Olympic Games, but then quirks started to appear. Now the Olympics have been drastically reduced in terms of scale and viewership. For those who care about competition, this is the only tournament that matters.”

Some of the students chimed in at that, excitedly commenting on the scouting opportunities.

“It’s true that joining a famous hero agency can garner you greater experience and popularity. That’s why this competition matters. If you wanna go pro one day, then this event could surely open a path for you.”

He looked at each of the students as he spoke, eyes lingering on Noa for a moment. 

“One chance in a year. Three chances in a lifetime. No aspiring hero can afford to miss this festival.”

The tense energy spread throughout the room. 

“Which means you better not slack off on your training.”

As motivating as his words might’ve been, as much as he tried to make them get through to Noa, she still wasn’t eager to participate. She wasn’t aspiring for anything, other than to not attend. 

Her father put that out of the question, though. All she could do was suck it up and do what she did during the quirk assessment test— stay just behind Shoto, make sure he succeeds and gets first place no matter the consequences. It wouldn’t be easy— that much was obvious. Everyone would be gunning for the top podium. All she had to do was keep up. 

“Class is dismissed.” Aizawa finished, grabbing his sleeping bag and curling up behind his desk. 

“That villain stuff sucked, sure.” Kirishima said, standing up. “But I’m pumped for these games!”

Noa stared at him, blinking a few times. Was she going crazy? She knew everyone had different experiences of the attack, but Kirishima was there with her the whole time. He of all people knew how much that ‘villain stuff’ sucked. Why was everyone acting like nothing happened?

Confusion tinted by anger made Noa close her eyes, taking a deep breath and running her hands over her face and through her hair. It was a considerable effort to shove away her thoughts and reach for her headphones, putting them back in to drown out the noise. 

She didn’t even press play before one of the earbuds was yanked from its position. 

Noa flinched at the sudden movement, and glared at the person she knew would be looking back at her. 

“You owe me an explanation, Snake-Eyes.”

“I don't owe you shit.” Noa replied, already beyond irritated. 

Bakugo scoffed. “So, what? You’re just gonna pretend like it never happened?”

“Precisely.” She said testily, wrenching the cord out of his hand and putting the earbud back in. “Though everyone’s making it a bit difficult.”

Bakugo just stared at her, ignoring the pointed nature of the comment. Noa noticed a discolored bruise ringing his left eye. His eyes tightened before she was able to feel smug about it. “Coward.” 

Noa’s face burned. Bakugo turned around quickly. 

She looked down at her fingers, picking repeatedly at the cuticles. The way you behave is disgraceful. The flash of nightmare made her flinch. The nail digging into her flesh slipped and pierced the skin. 

Noa’s eyes flicked up. She stared at the back of Bakugo’s neck, the spiky hair tapering above his collar, the broad shoulders hunched over his desk. Even his build was similar. 

A lump formed in her throat, and she struggled to swallow it. When she inhaled, she found that if she focused intently enough, she could smell traces of nitroglycerin in the air. 

Instead of holding her breath like she usually would, she welcomed it in. She let the air burn her lung, let it remind her of the shots and the restraints and the reconstruction of her veins. It felt like retribution.

𖤐✰

The hours crawled by at an agonizing pace. Every time one of the 1A students left the room, they were recognized by everybody and hounded with questions about the villain attack. Noa got up from her seat as little as possible. 

By the time the last bell rang, she was tired and irritated and ready to leave. When everyone started filing out the door, though, there was a holdup, and the entryway was soon clogged with bodies. A crowd of the other UA students gathered before them, glaring intently at each of the twenty one 1A members. 

Noa inhaled sharply, fist tightening as she took a step back. Sounds of protest and confusion came from the classmates around her, everyone wondering why there were so many people staring at them.

“They’re scouting out the competition, idiots.” Bakugo said, stepping forward with a hand in his pocket. “We’re the class that survived a real villain attack. They wanted to see us with their own eyes.”

Everyone looked at him for a few moments. He was right, obviously, in his own abrasive way. 

Then he opened his mouth again.

“At least now you know what a future pro looks like. Move it, extras.”

The cluster of teenagers in front of the door erupted in offense. Noa closed her eyes for a moment, rubbing at her brows and sighing deeply. They were all gonna hate their class now because of him. 

Iida began to chastise the blonde, before a movement in the crowd made his sentence falter. 

“So this is class 1A.”

Noa looked up to see a tall boy with wild purple hair pushing through the swarm of people. When he made it to the front, he put his hands in his pockets and looked at Bakugo boredly. 

“I heard you guys were impressive, but you just sound like an ass. Is everyone in the hero course delusional, or just you?”

An unintentional snort made Noa slap a hand over her mouth. The comment and the deadpan delivery of it, combined with the person it was aimed at, was more than satisfying, especially when she saw the anger show on Bakugo’s face. 

A violet brow raised. “How sad to come here and find a bunch of ego-maniacs.”

The boy dove into a brief monologue, and Noa took half a step forward, standing slightly behind Bakugo to get a better look at the stranger. His eyes were a light lavender color, and rimmed with heavy dark circles. Straight teeth gleamed under his lips as he spoke. A backpack was lazily slung over one shoulder, wrinkled uniform underneath the strap. The kid looked downright exhausted. 

It sort of felt like Noa was looking in the mirror.

He went on about how he had tried to get into the hero course, but was forced to settle for general studies. The sports festival gave him another chance, though. If anyone did well, they had a chance to be transferred and take one of the 1A student’s spots. 

“Scouting the competition?” The boy huffed. “Maybe some of my peers are, but I’m here to let you know that if you don’t bring your very best, I’ll steal your spot right from under you. Consider this a declaration of war.”

The majority of the class gasped at the intensity of the threat and implications of losing their spots. 

“Nice declaration, really.” Noa said boredly, stepping forward. “I need to pee.”

She pushed through the crowd of students, ignoring the shocked faces. When she passed by the war general, she paused for a moment. 

“Take Mineta’s spot if you do.”

Without another word, she continued through the cluster of bodies and emerged with a sigh of relief. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she quickly made her way to the bathroom. 

When she left, wiping her wet hands on her blazer, she noticed a stinging on her palms. She looked down to see the red crescent shapes were still bright and angry. She’d been tense all day— all weekend, at that. 

Distracted, she walked forward without looking up, and ran into somebody’s shoulder. 

“Ah, fuck.” She cursed as she stumbled back, a hand flying up to her nose. “Sorry-“

When she looked up, she was surprised to see the same boy from before looking at her with disinterest. 

“You should watch where you’re going.”

Noa was slightly annoyed as she wiped the small trickle of blood off her upper lip. “You should too.”

He just rolled his eyes, turning to walk away. “Yeah, whatever.”

He didn’t get more than a few steps before hesitating, stopping for a moment and looking over his shoulder. He still wanted to be a hero, after all. “Your nose okay?”

Noa blinked, but nodded. He returned the gesture curtly and turned back around. 

For a moment, she stared at his retreating figure, the mess of purple waves resting on his collar. Something about his gait, his attitude, his appearance, reminded Noa for all the world of Aizawa. Without really knowing why, her feet moved forward and she followed after, catching up to him quickly. 

“That thing with the sports fest, is it true?”

The boy looked at her sideways and nodded. “With my quirk, it’s the only way.”

Noa’s brows creased in silent question. 

He rolled his eyes. “What, so you can use it against me in the festival? Give your classmates an advantage?”

Noa blinked a few times. She shook her head. “Not at all. But I get why you’d think so.”

The boy’s expression turned skeptical. His eyes tightened in a slight squint, and he slowly held out a hand, sticking his pinky up.

Noa’s brows creased as she stared at it. “What are you doing?”

His expression was shocked for a moment before he huffed a small laugh. “Pinky promise. Like you swear you won’t go running your mouth.”

She was still confused, but followed his lead and raised her hand, hesitantly holding out her pinky.

“Why the pinkies?” Noa asked. “I’d be swearing either way.”

The boy pursed his lips in a small smile as he hooked his little finger around hers for a moment. “It’s just a thing.”

“Oh.” She said, blinking. “Okay, I swear I won’t tell.”

He let go of her pinky and took a deep breath in before explaining his quirk. “It’s sort of like a hypnosis kind of thing— brainwashing, if you wanna get technical.”

“Wow.” Noa said in surprise, brows raised. “How does it work?”

The boy looked at her sideways again. It didn’t seem like he expected that reaction. 

“When someone responds to my question, their mind goes blank, and I can control what they do. The effect stops with physical contact. 

Noa’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. Try it on me.”

His brows creased. “Why?”

“It’s cool.” She answered with a shrug. “I wanna see it.”

“You sure? I don’t want you running off and telling everyone I wiped your memory or something.”

Noa blinked a few times. “Why would I do that?”

The boy seemed to hesitate for a moment, then shrugged awkwardly. 

“You’re really not pulling my leg?”

“Huh? Why would-”

Everything went silent. Noa’s mind completely vanished. It was the strangest thing she’d ever experienced. The relentless loop of thoughts, the backlit drone of Hebi’s infinite presence. It was all gone. Never in her life had she been able to clear her head like that.
A monotone voice broke through the haze. “Say ‘Hitoshi Shinso has the best quirk in the world.’” 

Noa distinctly heard herself repeat the statement. 

“Now fall on your face.”

To her horror, Noa started to topple over just as Shinso tapped her on the shoulder and released his quirk. She face-planted on the ground hard, but the pain was hardly noticeable. All the noise came rushing back. 

Regardless, she found herself laughing as she slowly pushed herself off the ground. 

“That’s fucking amazing.” Noa grinned, dusting her hands off on her blazer. “How the hell aren’t you in the hero course?”

Again, Shinso looked at her strangely. “People are scared of it. And the entrance exams were focused on physical power and strength. Robots don’t exactly have a brain to wash.”

Her brows creased. “That’s stupid. Quirks have gotten versatile enough that limiting it to strength is just irrational.”

The boy stared at her for a long moment as they walked down the hallway. Noa couldn't place the emotion lingering in his eyes. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but his mouth closed before the words came out. 

“Were you not in the public exams?” He asked instead, looking away. 

Noa shook her head. “Recommendation.”

Shinso’s brows raised. “Wow. Some hotshot you are, huh?”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “By proxy, maybe. Endeavor tends to have a bit of a reputation.”

Again, surprise shown on his face. “Endeavor?”

“Yup,” Noa nodded, bitter. “Adopted.”

It was quiet for a moment, the sound of their footsteps filling the silence. Shinso’s eyes darted to her and back to the ground. “Same.”

They both slowed to a stop. He and Noa looked at each other, seeming to measure the dynamic between them. 

“How many hours of sleep do you get on average?”

Noa blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, like three or four, on a good day.”

Shinso nodded. “Your opinion on cats?”

She smiled a bit. “One of the most misunderstood creatures out there. I want eight of them.”

“General society?”

“Sucks.”

The boy continued nodding. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and looked at her with finality. “We’re friends now.”

Noa raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know my name.”

Shinso just shrugged. “Our core values line up.”

“Sleep and cats?”

“Yup.”

Noa stared at him for a few long moments. His straight teeth shined under a lopsided grin. He had to be one of the most enjoyable people she’d met so far. She accepted her fate and stuck out her hand.

“I’m Noa.”

Shinso’s grin spread. The two teens exchanged phone numbers and left school for the day soon after. When Noa found Shoto at the gates outside, he looked at her skeptically. She just shrugged and started walking down the sidewalk. 

It felt strange, and disobedient, but nice all the same. She made a friend.

𖤐✰

The students of UA had two weeks to prepare for the sports festival. It passed by quickly for most of them as they pushed themselves to the limits, honing their skills as much as possible. 

It went relatively slowly for Noa. Predictably, she spent every waking moment outside of school training with Shoto under Endeavor's watchful eyes. Their father kicked things up a few gears at home, making them train harder and longer with less breaks and less time to sleep. When they weren't sparring, Shoto was on a relentless loop of determination. 

“We have to win this.” He would keep saying. “We have to show him we can do it our way.”

At school, when the class had free time to train during homeroom, they always partnered up and went off in their own little corner, not speaking to any of the others. 

After about a week of this, Aizawa walked to the front of the group before class started. 

“Some of you have gotten too comfortable where you’re at.” He said, his eyes finding Noa. “For the rest of the week, training will be with assigned partners to expand your opportunities.”

Noa stared at him, irritated. The change was clearly targeted. 

She didn’t want to talk to anyone. It had just started to get a shred easier since being discharged, but she was still physically and mentally recovering from the attack. She wasn’t stable enough to fight new people, let alone talk to them. 

Aizawa clicked a button, and the screen behind him lit up with their names in pairs. Noa’s annoyance ebbed when she saw Jirou’s name next to hers. It was a sufficient consolation.

She spent the afternoon with Jirou, both of them agreeing to keep it non-physical. Noa grabbed her blow darts, practicing lacing them with her venom and perfecting her aim. Jirou followed suit, making use of a dart board with her earphone jacks. It was nice, getting to talk to her as they threw the pins. Noa was able to get more of a grip on her personality— the smart, quiet side, as well as the funny, sarcastic side. 

The next day, she was paired up with Midoriya. They fought quirkless, Noa giving him pointers here and there on how to hold himself properly, how to arrange his fingers so he had a smaller chance of breaking something. Although she was ahead of him in terms of skill, he was good. He might've even had a chance at winning, if he put his mind to it. Being able to communicate with him without worrying about the feeling of his power was refreshing. 

The next two days were similar, Mina and Sero getting their turns next. Both their quirks had similar aspects to her own. She and Ashido went out to the field, using the track as a slip n’ slide. The only difference between her acid and Noa’s venom was the color and thickness. 

Her and Sero went to ground beta to use the building-scape as monkey bars, long ropes of tape and snakes leaving marks over the concrete. She got to know the flippant but laid back nature of his personality, and noticed they had similar senses of humor.

Thursday night, after Noa and Shoto had finished training, she was on the roof again, begrudgingly puffing at a cigarette. She only let it burn down a quarter of the way before stamping it out carefully and stowing back in its carton. She was getting low, and this was her last pack. Getting them in the first place was a slim chance she’d just barely happened to come by. 

Her thirteenth birthday had been a hard one. They always were, but the number itself messed with her. She was the same age Touya was when he died. 

She’d snuck out at midnight, angry and overwhelmed with Endeavor's antics and the constant training. She wandered the dark streets blindly for a while, staying close to the streetlamps. Eventually, she found a somewhat abandoned skate park. Most of it was covered in graffiti and littered with trash. 

A group of teenagers were clustered around one of the sliding rails, talking and laughing loudly, smoke rising in the air above them. Loud music played in the background. Their hair shown different colors under the moonlight, silver piercings reflecting the dim beams. Noa thought they were the coolest thing she’d ever seen. 

She watched them for a while, hiding behind a mailbox. Eventually, one of them looked over and saw her there. They pointed and laughed, getting the others’ attention. Noa’s eyes widened, and she took multiple steps back, about to retreat.

“Hold on, kid! C'mere a sec.” One of them called out with a smile, waving her over. “Don’t be scared.”  

Noa didn't trust them. She didn't trust most people. Her foot dragged against the concrete behind her before she hesitated. 

It was her birthday. She was upset, and this seemed like just the rebellious kind of thing Touya might’ve done. 

She hesitantly took a step forward. 

The group of teens welcomed her with wide smiles. At first, they asked a lot of questions, but when they realized Noa’s answers would be mostly unyielding, they stopped. Instead of talking, they offered her a white stick that smoked at the end. 

“Try this.” The person handing it to her said. They had bright blue hair. “It’s a cigarette.”

Noa looked at it for a second. She didn’t know what that was, and it scared her. When she looked back up, though, she noticed that the girl’s hair was the same color as Touya’s fire. It captivated her for a few moments. 

She reached her hand out and took the cigarette between two fingers. 

Uncontrollable coughs burst out of her as soon as she inhaled. Everyone laughed, but not maliciously. Noa’s eyes watered as her lung seized. Her throat burned, and then her head got fuzzy. She stumbled a bit, dizzy. 

Everyone was smiling at her. A dazed returning grin spread across her face. 

The group shared a few more cigarettes before deciding to go home. They left her with three of their own packs. It was the best birthday present she’d ever gotten. 

A chime broke Noa from her thoughts. She startled, reaching down to grab her phone. 

Cat Man:

‘Help.’

Her brows creased as she blinked against the blue light. 

‘What do you need?’

Cat Man:

…

Noa’s eyes widened when she got no response. Her fingers danced over the keyboard.

‘Hello?’

Cat Man:

…

She felt her heartbeat start to pick up.

‘You better be alive. Don’t make me an accomplice.’

A few more moments passed before her phone started buzzing. She quickly brought it to her ear. 

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

‘I’m awful.’ He said on the other line. ‘I suck at fighting and I have no one to practice with.’

Noa blinked a few times before exhaling in relief. “I thought it was an emergency.”

‘It is.’ Shinso insisted. ‘If I lose this thing I’ll be stuck in general.’

She pursed her lips, trying not to smile. “And you’re calling me because…”

‘Because you’re a hotshot.’ He finished. ‘And you’re so charitable that you’ll meet me at the gym in twenty minutes to help me.’

Noa’s brows raised in amusement. “Oh will I?”

‘Oh yeah,’ Shinso said on the other line. ‘You’re super giving like that.’

She lifted her phone away from her ear to check the time. “It’s midnight.” 

‘And?’ He said knowingly. 

Noa rolled her eyes, a smile growing. 

“Text me the address.”

𖤐✰

“Nice outfit.” Noa said with a crooked smile when she met Shinso outside his 24-hour gym. 

He was wearing a plain black crew neck with matching sweatpants and tennis shoes. Noa was wearing the exact same thing. The outfits and the eyebags made them look more related than any of her siblings. 

When Shinso saw their twinning outfits, he pursed his lips to fight a smile, and opened the door. As they walked in, Noa took in the neat, midsize workout area, the lifting machines and bar racks with different weights to put on them. Shinso ignored all of the equipment and led her to a room in the back with a wrestling mat and mirror-covered walls. 

“I can’t do anything in the tournament unless I get them to talk.” He said as he stepped to the center. “Once they figure out my tell, all I’ll have is hand-to-hand. Which I suck at.”

“Got it.” She nodded, taking a deep breath. “Sparring it is.”

Shinso lifted his arms, expression determined. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Noa blinked at him, at the fighting stance he already put himself in. “Right away, huh?”

“Yep.” He said quickly. “Don’t go easy on me.”

With a shrug, she reached back and threw a half strength punch. Shinso flinched to the side, just barely dodging the fist grazing his hair. 

“Good.” Noa said with a nod. 

They went through a round of light sparring, Noa mainly trying to get a feel for his skills. He wasn’t a bad fighter, really. He was strong and decently tall, and his lanky build allowed for agile movements. He just lacked a bit of coordination. When he tried to strike, it was instinctual. So were his dodges. He relied on reflex and spontaneity rather than precision.

“You’re doing good.” Noa told him when they finished the first round, sitting down on the mat to take a break. 

Shinso looked at her sideways.

“Really, you are.” She said with a smile. “You’ve got the fundamentals, you just need to focus. Once you get less sloppy you’ll really be able to use your strength to your advantage.”

“Sloppy?” He repeated, raising a brow.

Noa’s eyes widened, realizing she’d accidentally insulted him while trying to do the opposite. She shoved away her embarrassment and tried to shrug casually. 

“It’s not a bad thing. Just a lack of training.”

“Sloppy and inexperienced, then.”

Noa snorted, putting her head in her hands. She was still breathing a little heavy from the exertion, and sweat was coating her limbs. She reached up to take off her hoodie and threw it in the corner, sighing when the air conditioning hit her skin. When she looked up, she saw Shinso had done the same. Both of them were wearing black tank tops underneath.

Shinso huffed a laugh through his nose, shaking his head. Then he walked over to his bag, pulling out a pair of waters and chucking one at Noa. She caught it in front of her chest with surprise.

“Thanks.”

Shinso’s head was leaned back, chugging water thirstily. Noa followed suit, letting the crisp coldness soothe her lung, refresh the heat building up around her neck. 

“Again?” She asked when they were both finished. 

Shinso wiped the back of his hand over his forehead and nodded. 

They started another round of fighting, stepping in small circles as they threw punches and dodged blows. Other than the sound of their breathing, it was quiet, both teens focused on their movements. 

Noa could sense the change of intention in Shinso’s hits. He listened to her advice and adapted to it. Now that Noa was familiar with his fighting style, she was able to manipulate the situation to her advantage. She turned her intensity up just a notch, effectively putting Shinso on the defensive. She knew that when he got overwhelmed, that put-together-ness would crumble again. 

At one moment, he grit his teeth and drew his arm back. Noa was quick to notice, and caught it by the wrist, twisting the arm behind his back till he hissed in pain and broke away from her. 

“That’s good.” Noa said after catching her breath for a few moments. “I can already see improvement. Try making your punches less obvious, though— go for a few quick jabs before swinging wide.”

“‘Kay.” Shinso nodded, resting his hands on his knees before standing up and getting back into a fighting stance. “Again.”

Noa took a deep breath, mirroring his position. “You strike first. You’re already good at defense— we should focus on attacking. Try to overpower me.”

Shinso didn’t waste more than a second before jabbing at her. Noa dodged in time, but it was still close. Another hit came, and she blocked it with her arm, striking at him when his chest was unprotected. 

“Keep your arms up.” She instructed as they continued to spar. “If you can’t block in time, duck your head as fast as you can.” 

He listened and dodged the next fist that jabbed at the air above his head. It was quiet between the two as they fought, focus making the intensity of the sparring grow with almost every punch. Blows were exchanged faster, the adrenaline of fighting blooming in Noa’s chest.

It was similar to training with Shoto, though obviously without the added stress of Endeavor and the underlying weight of their domestic situation. It was refreshing, being able to turn her brain off and focus on the movement of her body. Getting to practice hand-to-hand fighting alone was a much-needed break from the heavy quirk training. It was sort of fun to play teacher, as well. 

At one point, Shinso was able to predict one of her hits before it came. He caught her wrist, catching her off guard for a moment. Noa was quick to react and wrenched her arm back, making him spin around and kicking the back of his knees. He fell to the ground with a huff and groaned.

“Damn it.”

They were both panting as he dragged himself off the floor. 

“You’re a fast learner.” Noa told him, breathless, her hands resting on her knees. “That was a good move.” 

“You’re holding back.” He said, irritated as he wiped his upper lip. “And still kicking my ass.” 

“But you’re putting up one hell of a fight.” Noa replied. “Quit discrediting yourself.”

Shinso looked at her for a long moment, an unnameable expression in his violet eyes. It looked like he might’ve said something, but instead he lifted his arms, returning to a fighting stance. 

“Again.”

They continued fighting in a similar manner for a long while, Noa giving him pointers and watching his skill improve as he listened. After a little over an hour, they were both sweating and in desperate need of a water break. Noa gulped down the cool liquid quickly, the condensation around the water bottle dripping down her hands and onto her face. The air conditioning of the gym blew gently on her damp limbs.

When he’d drunk enough water, Shinso sat down and leaned against one of the mirrors, resting his eyes. Noa didn’t object to the prolonged break, and sat down next to him, laying sprawled on the gym mat, staring at the ceiling.

“Does your quirk have a time limit?” She asked after a few minutes.

Shinso’s eyes opened, and he peered at her before shaking his head. “Without physical contact breaking my hold, I can turn it off whenever.”

Noa looked back at the ceiling for a few moments, thinking. 

“Could I ask you a favor?”

Shinso’s brows raised in silent question.

“Could you use it on me for a few minutes?”

He squinted at her for a while, skeptical. “What for?” 

“I just wanna try something-”

Everything in the world stopped. Noa’s brain went completely silent. It was like before, but now that she was laying down, able to absorb the stillness completely, it was so much stronger. Even her breathing she didn’t think about. The air just came and went. The bodily processes she was usually so aware of were out of sight. Hebi’s presence was undetectable. Nothing was there at all. 

When her thoughts came back, it was like the high pitched whine of a hearing aid being turned on. Noa flinched hard, her ears ringing for a moment as she winced at the sounds of the world. 

“I started getting tired after five minutes.” Shinso said next to her. 

She looked over quickly, remembering that he was there. It took a moment to realize that the air blowing on her face was cold in places. It was even more of a shock to realize that it was because her face was wet. She’d been crying. 

Noa quickly turned her face away, cursing as she wiped at her cheeks. 

Shinso was quiet for a few seconds. “Um… sorry?”

“It’s not-” She said, a wet laugh huffing out of her. “I just- it’s so loud, and your quirk-”

“Ohh.” He said knowingly, nodding. “Yeah, I get it. Makes everything disappear.”

Noa nodded back, then groaned a little, wiping at her face again. “Sorry, I don't know why I reacted so weird. Thank you for doing that.”

Shinso just shrugged. “No problem.”

Then her face set a little bit, and she looked at him seriously. “You ever mention this to anyone-”

“I don’t even wanna know what you’re capable of.” Shinso said before she could finish the threat. “You scare me.”

Noa was a bit surprised by the information. She didn’t think she was scary at all. If anything, she was pathetically fearful and perpetually unintimidating. 

The next time she blinked, a pinky was a foot in front of her. Noa looked up at Shinso and begrudgingly smiled, wrapping her pinky around his.

“What happens in training stays in training.”

Noa nodded. “That sounds like a good plan.”

Shinso smiled, too. They parted pinkies, and it was quiet for just a moment. 

Then Noa’s stomach quietly gurgled, and her amusement vanished. The thoughts were back again, but so was the physical awareness. She could feel her bones underneath her skin, the heart beating in her chest and pumping blood through her veins. 

“Was that really five minutes?” Noa asked, trying to distract herself.

Shinso nodded. “More like six. It was good to get the practice in.”

She tried to force a shrug. “Well I’m glad it was mutually beneficial.”

He just shrugged back. Noa tried not to be too embarrassed about the favor she’d asked of him, and the way she reacted to the world coming back, but the shame wouldn't go away. 

“You wanna call it a night?”

She looked over at Shinso for a moment, her eyes still shining. It made her feel like a coward to back out, but her emotions were running high by now, and she was frankly exhausted. They both stood up after an ashamed nod of Noa’s head. 

When they left the gym, they departed with a wave, Shinso quietly wishing her a good night. Noa couldn't bring herself to say anything. 

It was three AM by the time she got home. She forced herself into the shower before collapsing on her bed.

𖤐✰

The next morning was the last one before the festival. Endeavor had Noa and Shoto go to school early to get extra time with their peers and staff members before the next day. Noa was running off two hours of sleep, and extremely irritated about it (but still glad she hung out with Shinso). 

When she was sitting in the classroom, listening to music, her eyes could barely stay open, and she found herself constantly nodding off. It got to such a point she had no other option than to get up and leave the room, walking around the halls to stay awake. Her hand tapped rapidly on her leg as she paced back and forth, staring blankly at the walls. 

At one point, her footsteps slowed as her eyes fell on the staff room. Based on the occupation of teaching, as well as knowing Aizawa personally, she was almost certain there was going to be coffee somewhere. She stopped, staring at the door handle. Entering felt against the rules, and she couldn't decide if her need for caffeine outweighed the fear of getting in trouble. 

Just as Noa was about to turn away, a small figure appeared beside her.

“Hello, Miss Todoroki.” Principal Nezu greeted her cheerily.

Noa jumped, startled by the rodent-like being beside her, then nervous as she realized she’d been caught red-handed.

“Oh, um- Hey, principal Nezu.”

“I must say, I don't exactly take you as a morning person.” He said pleasantly, holding his hands behind his back. 

“Not really.” Noa admitted after a moment of hesitation. “The old man wanted us to get an early start.”

“Ah, I see.” Nezu said with a nod. “Do you need something from the staff room?”

“Uh- No, I just-“

“You’re welcome to the community coffee pot, if you would like some.” He bowed forward just slightly, smiling. Then he turned around and promptly left, small paws padding down the hallway. 

“Thanks.” Noa muttered as he walked away, dazed. It was slightly confusing to see the principal of UA, not to mention the racial ambiguity of him and his quirk. He seemed polite enough, though. 

She blinked away her thoughts and opened the door to the staff room. It wasn’t too loud when she entered, just a few voices here and there. Midnight and Cementoss were on couches across from each other, talking quietly amongst themselves. When Noa entered, they paused their conversation for a moment to look at her, but merely waved and let her roam freely. 

The room was decently sized and decorated as a lounge, pale green loveseats sat across from each other, small offices behind closed doors, and a small kitchenette. On the counter next to it was a fresh pot of coffee with paper cups and creamer singles behind it. 

Noa sighed as she walked over and poured a hot cup, letting the steam waft up to her nose and inhaling the comforting earthy scent. It was hot and bitter as it traveled down her throat, Noa savoring the burn as she gulped down the coffee in one go. She poured another cup when it was empty, sipping slowly and savoring the taste. 

“Todoroki.”

Noa looked over to see Snipe a few feet away, approaching her. It was a shock at first, but she quickly willed her face into neutrality. 

“Hey, Snipe.” She said, looking at him sideways as she lifted the cup to her lips.

“I’ve, uh- I’ve been wanting to apologize for a while, now.” The hero said, scratching at the back of his neck. “Ain’t ever missed like that before— I’m real sorry you got caught in my crossfire.”

Noa blinked a few times, caught slightly off guard. She didn't like that she couldn't see his face, but he seemed sincere, and his accent was naturally charming. 

She just shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It was my fault anyway, I jumped in front of the bullet.”

“Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say that. Still shouldn’a happened.”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it.” Noa said indifferently, detaching herself. “It’s not a big deal.”

“You were shot , Todoroki.”

All she could do was close her mouth and look at the ground. The concern was embarrassing. 

“Well, thank you.” She said quietly. “For the apology.”

“Ain’t a problem, kiddo.” Replied Snipe. “I mean it, too. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you…”

Noa was about to wave him away, tell him not to worry about it again. Then her eyes fell to his holster, the silver pistol gleaming against the fluorescent lights. Genius struck. 

“Anything?” She asked, trying not to smile. 

Behind his mask, Snipe seemed to stutter a bit. “I don’t know about anything, but I guess I’m open to suggestions.”

“Teach me how to shoot.” 

“ What? ”

Noa didn’t have to see his face to notice the hero’s surprise. She didn’t let her expression move. She even crossed an arm under the one holding her cup. 

“Teach me how to use a gun, and I’ll forgive you for shooting me with yours.”

It seemed to take a second for him to compose himself, but he straightened his posture and crossed his arms as well. Just the change in stance was intimidating. 

“You’re sixteen.”

Noa forced herself not to back down. “And?”

“And I don’t feel comfortable putting a firearm in the hands of a sixteen-year-old? That’s not unheard of, ya’know.”

It took a moment for her to find an argument. The man had a point. 

“Would you really deprive a growing young student of such a valuable learning experience?”

Snipe scoffed. “Nice try. What’d you even want with an ol’ blaster anyway?”

“It’s interesting.” Noa shrugged. “And they look cool.”

“They are cool.” The hero replied quickly, almost defensive. He looked down at his holster with so much affection Noa could feel it thought his mask. “Most kids your age don’t give ‘em the time’a day cuz’a all this anti-violence rhetoric goin’ around.”

Noa raised a brow, trying not to smile. “Is that right?”

“Sure is. Refreshin’ to see a new point of view, though. Maybe there’s some hope for your generation after all.”

“Doubt it.” Noa replied with a crooked smile. “So does that mean you’ll give me shooting lessons?”

“Abso lutely not.” 

Both their heads turned at the new voice, watching as Aizawa strode into the room. Even with all the bandages, he was still intimidating. 

“Hey there, ‘Raser.” Snipe said cheerily when he approached them. 

Aizawa ignored him and looked at Noa, his arms crossed. “What are you doing.” 

“Expanding my horizons.” She shrugged, struggling not to crumple under his authority. 

“By going out of your way to handle dangerous weapons?”

“I find violence therapeutic.”

Aizawa stared at her for a long while. Noa didn’t know what to do other than stare back. Every second of eye contact made her stomach turn in circles. 

“No.” 

A beat of silence passed. Noa frowned.

“Why?”

“ Why ?” He repeated, raising his brows underneath the bandages. “You’re sixteen years old. Putting a weapon of that caliber in your adolescent hands is a recipe for disaster. It’s not gonna happen.”

“It’s a useful skill!” Noa countered. “I don’t get why you’re making this such a big deal.”

“Yeah. You got somethin’ against guns?”

Both of them turned to Snipe, who’d been watching them with hidden amusement. Aizawa blinked a few times.

“I do when they’re in the possession of mentally ill teenagers.”

“Hey!”

“What? Am I wrong?” Aizawa looked at her expectantly, and when she didn't say anything, he turned to the person next to her. “Snipe?”

The hero threw his hands up. “I ain’t got a part in this.”

At the same time Noa said ‘that’s debatable,’ Aizawa said ‘you’re the one with the firearms.’

Snipe shrunk back underneath both of their gazes. It might've been amusing to see such a strong man get so nervous, but Aizawa was still in front of Noa, glaring her down. 

“Answer the question.” He demanded calmly. “What do you need to shoot a gun for.”

“Fun.” Noa shrugged. 

Aizawa gave her a tired look. She rolled her eyes.

“Can’t I have interests? Guns are cool. Knowing how to operate them is a useful skill, especially for someone going into heroics. Learning how to do so from Snipe here is the best way to safely explore that part of my education.”

Her teacher blinked a few times. It seemed to take a few seconds for him to process her tangent. Noa truly didn’t know where it came from. 

“You’ve shut this down?” Aizawa said to Snipe, turning away from Noa instead of responding to her. 

The hero just held up his hands again. “I told her no.”

“Good.” He nodded. He turned back to Noa and narrowed his eyes. “If I so much as see you with a gun in your general vicinity-”

“Yeah, yeah.” Noa interrupted. “You have no qualms about expelling us. I’ve heard it.”

“You think I’d go that easy on you?” 

Noa instinctually shrunk down as Aizawa took a step forward.

“No, I wouldn’t expel you.” He said with amusement, shaking his head. “I’d do worse. You wanna find out how far I can go?”

A quick, frantic shake of her head made Noa’s brain rattle. Her eyes were like moons. 

The threatening demeanor quickly dissipated, and Aizawa stepped back. “Smart decision.”

Noa looked at the ground, frowning. When she finally caught her breath, she was both intimidated and irritated. “Jeez.”

“Sorry, kid.” Aizawa said unsympathetically. He reached up and rubbed his cast on the top of Noa’s hair. “No guns. It isn’t safe.”

For a moment, the smell of antiseptic, the steady beeping of a heart monitor, the scratchy fabric of a hospital gown, was all she could sense. Then the plastered hand left her head, and she was sixteen again, not six. She shook away the memory and crossed her arms, still looking at the floor. 

“Whatever.”

“Class starts in an hour.” He told her as he made his way to the door. “Don’t be late.”

Even if she wanted to respond, the door closed before she could. It was quiet between Noa and Snipe for a moment, the silence ringing around the room. Noa could hear her heart thundering in her ears. 

Confrontation was never easy, but with Aizawa, there were so many layers, so much complicated history, that it made a world of difference. With him, conflict seemed impossible. The way she felt after arguing with him made her stomach turn.

“Sorry,” Noa forced out, unable to look up. “I didn’t know he would react like that. I’ll, uh- I’ll go.”

“Stop right there.” Snipe said before she got three steps. Though it was technically an order, it didn't sound like a demand. Noa slowed her footsteps and turned over her shoulder. 

“You’re comin’ with me, is where you’re goin’.”

“What?” Noa said, brows creasing as she watched Snipe walk to the door. He turned around when he noticed she wasn’t following.

“Well, come on now. We ain’t got all mornin’.”

Her eyes widened, a ghost of a smile spreading across her shocked face. She didn’t waste another second before following Snipe out the door.

𖤐✰

The metal was cold and greasy against the palm of her hand. She placed her pointer finger so it was level with the barrel of the gun, and took a slow, deep breath in.

“Keep your elbows tight, but not locked. Brace yourself for the kickback.”

Snipe had to speak loudly to be heard through his mask and the bulky earmuffs over Noa’s head. They stood next to each other in a small, single stall shooting range, a paper target twenty feet away. 

Noa nodded, exhaling shakily. She could feel the adrenaline running through every blood vessel. Her heart pounded in her ears as she stared at the gun in her hands. 

“Take aim,” Snipe instructed. 

Noa obliged, raising the gun and closing one eye, peering through the sight. She made sure to keep her muscles tense, but ready to absorb impact, just like she’d been instructed. 

“Trigger,”

Her pointer finger moved from the barrel to the curved peice of metal that hugged her finger. She could feel the soft click of pressure, the light resistance she was met with as she placed her finger on the trigger. Focus sliced through her mind like a laser. She took another deep breath in. 

“Now squeeze.”

The sound alone should’ve scared her. It did, for a second. Her eyes involuntarily shut, and her face turned into her shoulder. 

Then everything registered. 

The force of the shot, the vibrating of her bones, the weight of the weapon in her hands, the smell of gunpowder wafting up from the barrel. She could feel the power spread through her entire body in an instant. 

When Noa’s eyes opened, they were shining. She lowered the gun and looked at Snipe, a breathless smile spreading across her face. 

“Holy shit.” 

The hero laughed, and started nodding. “Cool, ain’t it?”

Noa looked back down at the gun and nodded. It was a classic revolver, silver and shiny and sleek. The cylinder still had five bullets left. 

“Can I go again?” She asked as she looked back up at Snipe, unable to contain her excitement. 

He was distracted, staring at the paper target at the end of the range and nodding in interest. 

“Hm. Not bad, kid.”

Noa followed his gaze, her hopes momentarily peaked. Her face dropped when she saw a small hole smoking in the lower corner of the target. 

“Yeah, right.” She said sarcastically. “It would’ve grazed him, at best.”

“You hit the paper on your first try, Todoroki.” Snipe told her. “Seriously, not bad. Go ahead and give it another go.”

Noa decided it was best not to argue, and took advantage of the opportunity while it was in front of her. She inhaled and gripped the gun again, raising it slowly. 

The thrill of shooting was alarmingly addictive. She might not have been the best, but holding the weapon, looking through it, sharpening her focus the way she had to, pulling the trigger, the release of the bullet and the resulting explosion of adrenaline— it made her skin feel like it was tingling, and not in the unsettling way it usually did. It was exciting. 

Noa never would’ve thought something so destructive and dangerous would make her feel that way. Senseless acts of violence almost always made her want to vomit. But this… it seemed to satiate a feeling inside of her she hadn't really known was there. It was scary, but something about it thrilled her. 

The fact that she enjoyed it scared her more than the gun itself. 

“What made you change your mind?” Noa asked the hero as they were walking back to UA’s main campus. She heard a scoff underneath his mask. 

“I didn’t know it would get under Eraser’s skin like that. I think it’s funny.”

Noa blinked at him. “You only agreed to piss him off?”

“Yup.” Snipe said unabashedly. Noa huffed a laugh through her nose and shook her head. 

The first bell of the morning rang, and Snipe ushered her off to class before she was late. Noa left with a very grateful ‘thank you’ and an itch to shoot again. 

𖤐✰

Towards the end of the day, when the bell for hero class rang, everyone was in their seats, waiting patiently as Aizawa clambered out of his sleeping bag. 

Noa’s knee was bouncing rapidly underneath her desk. She was still riding the adrenaline high from that morning. She couldn’t stop thinking about the amount of power that burst out from the barrel. 

“Don’t think I’ll let up on training just because the Sports Festival is tomorrow.” Aizawa said at the front of the room. He was walking back and forth in front of the row of desks. “You’ll still have partnered combat until the end of class. Everyone will be sparring quirkless.” 

Then he paused, his eyes flicking to Bakugo. “ Everyone .” 

The blonde slunk down in his seat and grumbled. 

“And no more complaining about assigned partners.” Aizawa added, looking at Mina and the girls around her. “I don’t care that you want to hang out with your friends. You can do that on your own time.” 

As he walked to the other side of the room, Noa tried really hard not to look guilty. Fortunately, Aizawa was busy scanning the students around her. 

“Does anybody need me to remind them about how important this festival is? Anyone need a refresher?”

A collective ‘no sir’ rang through the classroom. When he saw Noa didn't say anything, Aizawa looked at her sternly. 

Noa’s eyes were wide as saucers. She couldn't manage to look away from him. It was all she could do to shake her head and mutter “No, sir.”

Aizawa was about to turn away when his eyes lowered, just for a second. A muscle in his jaw ticked. 

Heart pounding, Noa followed his gaze and looked down at her hands. Ghosts of oil and gunpowder lingered on her fingers. Her stomach plummeted, and she shoved her hands underneath her desk.  

“Everyone get changed.” Aizawa said to the class. “Gym gamma in five minutes.”

𖤐✰

She should’ve expected this. 

As she stood on the training mat at one end of a circle, shaking with anger, all she could think was that she should’ve taken Aizawa’s threat seriously. She should’ve known that this is the punishment he was talking about. 

Noa and Bakugo had successfully managed to avoid each other for the majority of the two weeks since the USJ. She’d even gotten close to thinking they might finally be able to ignore each other completely for the rest of the year. 

With him on the other side of the circle, glaring at her with his fists up, Noa realized that would never be possible, and that expulsion would’ve been a better punishment.

A whistle blew. Noa and Bakugo started circling each other slowly, not breaking eye contact. Noa could feel the adrenaline coursing through her, but it wasn't like when she was shooting. She was angry. Just looking at the blonde, standing across the ring from him, knowing they were about to fight, was enough to make her pissed off. Her raised fists were shaking.

“Ya look scared, Snake Eyes.” Bakugo taunted as he shuffled to the side. “What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet lately. Don’t tell me a little scratch made you go soft.”

Noa’s jaw ticked, fists tightening. After a few more circles, Bakugo bucked at her, feigning a lunge, and she stepped back on instinct. He smirked gloatingly at her cowardice. It was an effort to reign in her annoyance.

“Your eye’s still healing.” Noa remarked, straight-faced as her eyes flicked to the yellow discoloration around his socket. “Hope it hurts.”

The next time she blinked, he was coming at her. Noa was just barely able to react in time, stepping to the side and pushing him to the floor with her foot. He face planted with a grunt, and she held him there for a second, pushing her shoe against his back. 

“Quit messing around.”  She said through clenched teeth, digging her heel in before letting him go.

Bakugo scrambled up quickly, shaking with anger as he stood across from her. His upper lip was twitching, malice glinting in his ruby eyes. 

“I’m gonna kill you.”

Noa smirked. “Make it quick.”

He lunged forward, and Noa was ready. She pushed his arms away from her and threw her elbow back, connecting with his face. Bakugo stumbled back, but wasted no time in attacking again. 

He wasn't like anyone she’d ever fought before. His moves were reckless and full of tenacity, his hits relentless and his reactions instant. Part of it was instinctual, but not in the way Shinso fought. It was a fighters instinct. It was second nature to him. He didn’t have to think about what he was doing. He just did it. 

Even without using his quirk, he was the most unpredictable fighter she’d ever seen. It was enough to put Noa on the defensive for a few moments, snaking in and out of his incoming attacks, using her forearms to block the ones she couldn't dodge. Soon enough, though, Noa got a feel for his style and adapted to it, letting his animus influence her own, letting her anger fuel her moves. 

Their skill quickly evened out to the point that neither one of them was explicitly on offense or defense. Things moved so fast it was impossible for Noa to think, having to rely solely on her gut instincts, which was new for her. All she could see was his face and the blur of limbs flying between them. 

At one point, Bakugo landed a blow to her jaw. Noa could hardly feel it through the adrenaline. Instead of reacting, she noticed the opening he left after punching. While his face was unguarded, she returned the blow, putting her weight into it. 

He only let himself react for half a second, mouth tightening in pain, before hitting back. Noa ducked out of the way, but Bakugo had learned by then. The first hit was a feint, and he swung again, his fist colliding with Noa’s cheek. 

She stumbled, but threw her arm back, making a wide arc with her fist. Bakugo caught it, though, and wrapped his fingers tightly around her wrist, twisting her arm to the left harshly. 

Noa hissed a breath through her teeth, but wrenched her arm out of his grasp. When he reached back to strike her again, she wasn’t yet mobilized, and had no choice but to drop to the ground. She rolled over the mat a few times, somersaulting until she was behind Bakugo.

The plan was to attack him from behind and finally get the upper hand, but Noa had underestimated the blonde's lightning reflexes. He turned on a dime, throwing his foot back and connecting the sole of his boot with Noa’s face. 

She fell to the floor with a thud, huffing when the air exited her lung. She rushed to scramble up, and barely dodged Bakugo’s fist as he swung at her, taking advantage of her distraction. 

Still on the ground, while Bakugo was straightening himself out from his swing, Noa swept her leg out in a wide circle, knocking Bakugo’s legs out from under him. He fell backward onto the floor with a satisfying thud. 

He was up at the same time Noa was. Both of them stood across from each other for a moment, breathing heavily. Noa could feel the warm blood pooling in her nose. 

The strangest thing was, when she looked at him, she didn’t see the contempt she usually did. He was still angry and tenacious, obviously— that’s just how he was— but there was a glint of what might’ve looked like excitement. A nearly imperceptible lift to the corner of his mouth made Noa’s brows crease. 

He was enjoying this. 

Noa grit her teeth, irritated. She remembered the building in the USJ, when he grabbed her by the collar and accused her of siding with the villains. Anger flashed in her eyes as she stepped forward and jabbed at Bakugo, striking quick as a snake. 

That was always her advantage in fighting. She wasn’t the strongest, but she was quick, and smart. Her usually embarrassing size allowed her to maneuver around opponents like a fly. 

Now though, she fought a little different. She couldn’t simply rely on speed, and her heightened emotions made her both stronger and more sloppy. 

When her hit connected with his face, Bakugo hardly reacted. Noa was irritated with the fact he seemed to be taking her punches like they were nothing. She reached back to swing again, but Bakugo was quick and smart, too. He caught her fist in his hand, and squeezed her knuckles as he twisted her around, wrapping his other arm around her neck. It happened so quickly Noa hardly had any time to react. 

Being in a headlock like that, her breathing restricted, made her filled with panic. She struggled against him, using as much strength as she could find to try and free herself from his grasp. His radius just dug into her trachea harder. 

Frantic and desperate, Noa tucked her chin and bit down on the flesh of his forearm. 

“Argh!” He cried as he involuntarily released her. 

Noa stumbled forward and whipped around, her fist already flying forward. In his temporarily distracted state, he wasn’t able to dodge it in time. It connected with his cheek in a satisfying thud. 

Bakugo screamed again at the contact, lashing out with a swing fueled by anger. Noa ducked under it, springing back up. 

It went back to evenly matched sparring for a few moments, both teens trading blows, moving around each other with expert agility and paralleling ferocity. Equal amounts of marks and bruises covered their faces and bodies. 

The rest of the world seemed to disappear as they fought. Holding her own against him took so much effort and focus that her brain had no room to think about anything else. With Shoto, she could usually multitask, but not now. Not with Bakugo. In a strange way, it’s refreshing. Inexplicably irritating, but refreshing. 

Neither of them noticed Aizawa in front of the ring, watching quietly with his arms crossed. The other students started gathering around him, joining the spectating. 

After about a minute, Noa got tired of the back and forth. She feinted dramatically to the right, waiting for Bakugo to follow before slithering behind him and throwing her elbow, connecting with the back of his head. He fell to the floor again and rolled over on his back, attempting to stand. Before he could, Noa scrambled on top of him, sitting on top of his chest with her knees pinning his arms down. 

The blonde moved his head side to side, trying to dodge Noa’s blows. It didn’t work— her brain was on autopilot, and her fists were raining down faster than she could think. Every time they connected with his face, a fraction of her rage poured into him. 

She hadn’t been able to enjoy it at the USJ, but fighting Bakugo was something she’d been waiting for since the first day of school. 

Noa didn’t get very far before he grit his teeth and threw his face forward, slamming his forehead against her own. On reflex, her hold loosened, just barely. It was enough for Bakugo to use the opening to flip her over though, reversing their positions. 

It was much more frightening being on the receiving end. Seeing his red eyes looming above her, feeling his weight crushing her ribcage, his fists returning all her punches, was enough to send her off the edge. Combined with the proximity, though, his hands making contact with her face so rapidly, made the smell of his nitroglycerin fill the air around them. 

The pain was nothing in comparison to the memories that flashed through her mind— the doctor, the needles, the burning sugar, her veins dissolving underneath her skin. 

Noa’s eyes flickered red, and she struggled underneath Bakugo’s weight, but couldn’t get free. At the sight of his fist raining down on her, she moved her head to the left. His fist slammed into the mat next to her ear, but he swung again with his other hand, and she didn’t have time to dodge that one. 

“Give up.” He demanded through clenched teeth when she glared up at him, blood rushing down the side of her face. 

Noa’s eyes were still bouncing back and forth from red to silver. The nitroglycerin was so strong, so close. It was on the mat, on her skin, on her face. It was everywhere. Bakugos face kept morphing in and out with All For One’s. 

“Get the fuck off me.” She struggled out, voice breaking as she yelled. It sounded more like a pathetic whine. 

Bakugo punched her again, her face flying to the left. She looked back at him, glaring through the flashbacks. 

“ Give up .”

There was no way out. There wasn’t anything she could do to get free, but she refused to just let him win. She refused to obey, to yield to his demand. She’d done enough yielding to people like him. 

Saliva pooled in her mouth, and Noa didn’t think twice before spitting it on Bakugo’s face. 

“ Eugh! ” He grimaced, springing off and taking multiple steps back. He was appalled as he stared at her, wiping his hand over his face. “That was fucking disgusting .”

Noa didn’t care. She wasn’t even listening. She was already on her feet, launching herself at Bakugo with considerable force. 

White ropes twined around her limbs and wrenched her backward before she could attack. Bakugo got restrained too, and they both looked to the side in confusion to see Aizawa holding his scarf, glaring at the two of them. 

“That’s enough.”

“She just fucking spit on me!”

“You were asking for it, dickhead.”

“Language, both of you.” Aizawa scolded, releasing his scarf. “Everybody else, class is dismissed. Get changed.”

Both Noa and Bakugo discreetly tried to follow the rest of the students to the locker room, but the white fabric wrapped around them once again, pushing them together as Aizawa pulled them backward.

“ Everyone else .” He emphasized. “Not you.”

Noa looked at the ground, ashamed. She knew she was acting rash during the fight. It just— she lost all sense when Bakugo was involved. She didn't realize until it was too late that she was feeding into his aggression. 

Next to her, his shoulder pressing against hers uncomfortably, Bakugo looked to the side, frowning. 

“This is training, you imbeciles.” Their teacher reprimanded. “If you wanna beat each other to a pulp, do it on your own time. Not mine.”

“Are we just gonna ignore her saliva on my face ?”

Aizawa glanced at Bakugo, eyes narrowed, then turned his gaze to Noa. She met his eyes with a trace of amusement. The man just shrugged. Bakugo’s mouth dropped, and Noa didn’t even try to fight the gloating smile that spread over her face.

“Keep the fighting to a minimum on school grounds.” He told both of them sternly. “Behave yourselves tomorrow. Go get changed.”

“Yes, sir.” They said at the same time, which made them glare at each other. They rolled their eyes and turned around, walking down the hall to the locker rooms. Noa tried walking fast enough to evade the blonde, but he caught up to her quickly.

“That was fucking foul.”

“You smell foul.” She replied quickly, monotone. 

Bakugo sputtered a bit, seeming a bit confused before scoffing and speeding up his pace, walking ahead of Noa. She stared at his back as he slunk down the hallway, hands in his pockets. The broad expanse of his shoulders, the spikes of blonde hair tapering at the bottom of his neck. 

If she ended up having to go up against him tomorrow, there would be no telling how it would end up. After fighting him for real, she was a lot more worried about his talent and the threat it posed to her and Shoto. She would have to keep an eye on him— something she truly dreaded the idea of. 

𖤐✰

That night, after the final round of training before the festival, Noa was up on the roof, Shoto at her side as they lay on their backs and stared at the sky. 

“Midoriya’s going to be a problem tomorrow.” Her brother said. “I can feel it.”

Noa looked over at him, skeptical. “Bakugo, too. There’s a one-hundred percent chance he’s going to get in our way.”

“Not like that.” Shoto said, shaking his head. “There's something going on with him and All Might. I don't know what, but we have to beat him.”

Though she tried not to show her surprise, her brows still raised. “You noticed the All Might thing too?”

“I don't trust it.” Replied Shoto, lost in thought. “If he’s related to All Might in some way, and I beat him, it'll be like the old man getting his stupid wish. If I do it without his fire, though, I’ll be the one winning. Just me. I’ll beat All Might on my own.”

Noa looked at him for a few long seconds, and took a deep breath, letting it exit loudly. “Hey Shoto?”

Her brother glanced at her with an expectant expression.

“You know it’s not his fire, right? Sometimes a flame is just a flame. And just because quirks can be hereditary doesn't mean everything is.”

Shoto’s brows creased. Noa pressed her lips together, trying to think of a different way to phrase it.

“Endeavor might have passed some of fire-power onto you, but that doesnt make it his. Just like your ice isn't only mom’s. It came from them, maybe, but it’s in you .”

Her brother just stared at her for a moment, eyes blank. At the mention of Rei, both of them seemed to be snapped back into a memory. 

And Shoto… Sometimes that child’s left side seems unbearable to me. All I can see is his father.

“He’s still in there.” Her brothers voice sounded next to her, snapping Noa out of her thoughts. He was looking at the sky with distant eyes. “I can feel his anger. It's a part of me.”

Noa’s expression turned sympathetic. She reached up to put a hand on his shoulder. “Sho-”

“Just stop.” He snapped, shrugging her away. Noa flinched at his tone.

“I know you’re trying to help, but you don’t get it.” His voice was hard, and he hesitated for a moment, becoming just a decibel quieter. 

“You never will.”

Noa’s mouth opened and closed. She stared at him with wide, shiny eyes, at the harderened expression on his face, the resolve in his mismatched eyes. 

Hard as it was to hear, he was right. She would never understand what it felt like to have Endeavor’s blood running through her veins. She should’ve been glad for it, and part of her was, but mostly, she just felt isolated from the others. The black sheep in every sense of the phrase. 

“I just don’t want you to hold yourself back because of him, is all.” She muttered, struggling to keep her voice from shaking. “I’m sorry.”

Shoto stood up, not looking at her. He turned around and started walking across the roof, dejectedly wishing her a good night over his shoulder. She pressed her wobbly lips together as she watched him lower himself off the ledge. 

Noa’s adoption wasn’t something frequently mentioned in her family. It was a predictably sensitive subject. Shoto throwing it in her face like that wasn’t something that’d ever happened. It shocked Noa how deep it stung, how far his words traveled down into her brain and chest. 

By the time she realized she was crying, her face was soaked with tears. Noa started in surprise and swiped at her face angrily, feeling her emotions morphing quickly. Was it her fault Endeavor adopted her? She’d never asked for it— she’d never asked for any of this. She’d never even had a say in being born. She just showed up here and went straight into struggling to survive. 

Noa pressed the heels of her hands into her closed eyes, trying to shove away her anger. It wasn’t anybodys fault she was here except for Endeavor. Shoto wasn’t mad at her, most likely, but angry with their situation. Everything was a product of their unfortunate circumstances. Noa felt like that all the time. The difference is she didn’t take it out on him. 

Part of her felt like a hypocrite for mentioning his quirk. It’s not like she was much better, ignoring Hebi as much as she could because of who gave it to her. 

The situation was different, though. All For One had given them to her in the most literal sense. Not a single part of them belonged to her naturally. There was a physical disconnect because her body wasn't molded to them like it would’ve been if she was born with it. 

Noa had gone the majority of her life attempting to ignore Hebi the best she could. It was a struggle, obviously, with the amount of training Endeavor had her and Shoto do, but she made it work. After enough practice, she got to the point where she could drown out their voice in her head so often and so consistently that they gave up attempting communication. They still said something every now and then, but for the most part, they were silent. She could just always feel their presence.

She’d never exactly understood the mechanics to their physical powers, either. Obviously Noa had the snakes she could materialze, and the venom and fangs and all, but it was more than that. It was like she was part snake. Her blood usually ran cold, her eyesight was poor, sense of smell abnormally heightened. Even her missing lung- though a result of procedural experimentation- matched the reptile's common lung asymmetry. 

Hebi might’ve been disconnected and foreign in some ways, but in many others, they were intertwined with Noa’s being. They’d made a home in that hole All For One emptied. They adapted and grew into it, binding their essence with hers. Paradoxically, it both felt wrong and correct. It made her uncomfortable, but somehow, she knew that she was always supposed to feel it. 

They were a puzzle piece that didn’t necessarily belong but was just close enough to fit. 

Noa squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing her fingers against them hard before running them through her hair. That was why she tried not to think about Hebi. All it did was make her confused and upset and overwhelmed. She wished she could have a normal quirk, like control over water or plants or something. Sometimes, she even wished she was quirkless. If she was, Endeavor probably wouldn't have even looked her way all those years ago.

Noa quickly fell into a loop of worried thoughts. Thinking about quirks and Endeavor and Shoto reminded her of the sports festival that would be happening in less than twelve hours. Noa was utterly dreading it. She’d been putting it off by throwing herself into training, but now that it was so close, there was no escaping it anymore. It was happening.

At first, she mistook the dread for just participating in the festival alone. Then another feeling came along beside it, one she recognized from the night before the USJ. That intense foreboding, the undeniable feeling that something would go terribly wrong. It flooded Noa, becoming so strong her chest grew full and tight. Her breathing started picking up, and she put her head in her hands. 

Something was going to happen. The sword was dangling over her head, begging to be dropped. She could feel it as clearly as she could feel the wind on her skin. 

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

A ray of morning sunlight shone through the window, illuminating the paper on Noa’s lap a pastel orange. She was sitting on her bed, legs crossed over each other as she skimmed over the file one last time before they had to leave. 

It was a report on some of the other festivals over the years, a stack of papers stapled together with detailed accounts of the activities, participants, and rankings, with pictures to go along with it. Someone at Endeavor’s agency had prepared it, and he’d given it to her about a week prior to study. Since then, she’d been begrudgingly obliging. 

To her annoyance, the research was actually interesting. Going over the games of past, seeing the performances of those she knew would become pros in the future, learning about the big shows of power. When it started getting into strategy and meticulous planning, though, Noa’s eyes grew wide with interest. She started reading faster, absorbing the words as much as possible. The minds of some of these students were a marvel. To Noa, intelligence was infinitely more useful than strength. 

That morning, she’d been too worked up to sit still. She felt as if she had to read this, if only to take her mind off the impending doom she felt toward the festival. As soon as she woke up, she had grabbed the manilla folder off the floor and started flipping through the file, skipping back a decade or two to her favorite page, which was covered in pencil and marked with a doggy ear. 

Aizawa’s own class was participating as freshmen. 

Noa’s eyes shone as she eagerly scanned over the file, the story coming to life with her imagination. From her research, she knew that the festivals usually followed a pattern. They started out with a bottle-neck strategy— causing a hold up and effectively weeding out the weaker students, providing for stronger competitors and better viewership. Then they would get an opportunity to flaunt their quirks, usually in the form of a competition that didn’t rely on physical contact. The remaining students would then be put into groups, fighting each other in teams to show off their cooperation skills.

While these events commonly changed but stuck with the same theme, the last round was always a guaranteed tournament. Always one-on-one, always in bracketed lists. Maybe they would switch up a few details, but without fail, there was always a duo battle to finish off the festival and decide the victor. 

The pictures were blurry, but Noa couldn’t help the smile that grew on her face at the sight of a fifteen-year-old Aizawa looking dejectedly at the ground, black hair tangled around his face, dark circles still rimming his eyes. The two boys beside him, blonde and blue-haired, stuck around throughout the entire festival. 

Noa watched the three of them advance through the rounds in a group, taking extra care to linger in the back of the herd, but do just well enough to proceed to the next round. To the untrained eye, it looked as if Aizawa's teammates were carrying him to victory on their own. It looked like he wasn’t doing a thing to help them. Noa knew better. 

A sort of narrative started to spin in her head the first time she read the file, and it hadn’t ever really stopped. The information she had was limited, but her mind filled in the blanks, and then some. She imagined the focus pulling Shouta’s features together, the downturn of his mouth unsettling his opponents. She imagined his friends relying on his quirk, his agility when it came to fighting and evasion. And she imagined nobody noticing. 

By the time they made it to the group exercise, they had formed a bit of a consistent strategy. They were a well oiled machine, and were able to place somewhere in the middle. That all changed when the last round started. The students were separated into pairs, and the trio was split up. She could imagine them looking at each other in dismay at their parting. 

Although she should’ve suspected it, she was surprised to see Present Mic’s formal name in one of the slots, coming to the realization that he was the blonde hanging around Aizawa. She still didn’t recognize the other boy, though. Oboro , it said in the bracket. 

The narrative kept growing. It wasn’t far-fetched to say that Mic and Oboro had done enough during the other rounds to be noticed by the spectators. Aizawa, though, had no supporters. Not a single person watching expected anything from him. 

Noa imagined him walking into the ring, the wind whipping his hair over his face. She imagined an unsupportive crowd, and an overconfident opponent. She imagined them attacking, and the stands falling completely silent when their power was nowhere to be found. She could picture the reaction of the other student, the horror at losing their quirk, even temporarily. She imagined the stands erupting in confusion and protest. 

The round ended quickly. Without a quirk, Aizawa’s opponent wasn’t able to get far before being subdued. His other rounds went the same way, and he quickly earned the fear and respect of the viewers. 

Present Mic and the blue-haired kid had held their own while Aizawa silently dominated his opponents. By the time the first semifinal was over, Oboro was advancing to the last round, and Aizawa and Mic were preparing to face off to see who would be fighting him for the win. 

The story grew vivid in Noa’s mind again. The words on the page blurred, and instead she saw the fighting ring, a boy with long black hair on one side, sunshine locks on the other. She imagined Mic grinning at him challengingly, and Aizawa glaring, staying silent as he waited for the round to start. 

She imagined that when it did, all the tension, all the expectations, all the eyes of the people around them, disappeared. She imagined that for a moment, it stopped being a competition. She pictured the two friends smiling as they fought, not even attempting to use their quirks, simply enjoying the moment. They didn’t care who won, just that they could do this, and do it together. 

Aizawa ended up winning. Noa expected that much, when she first read the file. His skill set in fighting was just higher. By now, she had the whole story memorized. 

The details of the finale weren’t properly recorded. Not to the extent of the rest of the festival, anyway. It seemed that the fight took a long time, that Oboro and Aizawa had spent a while going back and forth, stalling. Eventually, the other boy had gotten the upper hand, using his cloud powers every time Aizawa blinked. 

The intensity grew with every blow. When Oboro had backed Aizawa up to the boundary line, the boy grit his teeth and grabbed him by the collar, reversing their position so Oboro was inches from the line. There was a grapple before they quickly separated. Both got into defensive positions, fists raised. Shouta was just about to take a step forward when Oboro stumbled back, his shoe going halfway over the red line of paint. 

Aizawa stopped short. Oboro looked at him with a peaceful expression, and shrugged. 

“Oops.”

The fight was called. Aizawa won the whole thing. He got the gold, but when he was up on that podium, Oboro and Mic on either side, he looked at his medallion with disdain. His mouth was downturned in the final picture, eyes locked on the medal, not even bothering to look at the camera. He wanted nothing to do with that win. 

Noa breathed in as she stared at the bottom of the file, at the faded picture of Shouta on that first podium. Something about it made her unable to look away. 

He hadn’t won fairly. Did he even want to win? There seemed to be a reluctance about him the entire time— at least when his friends weren’t involved— that made Noa suspect it wasn’t even his own goal in the first place. Was their strategy to make it to the top as a group and see where it went from there, and Aizawa just happened to get lucky? Or did he really want to win, truly and fairly, to prove himself to whoever was watching, and because of the forfeit, it felt cheap? 

What was the real story? Just how complicated was that victory?

A door sliding over tracks got Noa’s attention. She looked up quickly, closing the folder as she watched Shoto peek his head into the room. He didn’t have to say anything. It took one look between them for Noa to get the message. It was time to go. Endeavor was waiting with a pep talk. 

“I expect nothing less than perfection from the both of you today.” He started when they came into the kitchen. 

Noa’s fists tightened. 

“You already know what to do. Shoto, bulldoze your way to the top. Do whatever it takes to get there. I want you both wearing the shoes from your costume. And for last time, use your fire . It’s a waste of my valuable power.”

The rage that slithered over Shoto’s expression was palpable. Noa could see him shaking. 

“Ensure his success.” Endeavor said, turning to her. She had to physically restrain herself from rolling her eyes. It wasn’t like she hadn’t heard this before. 

“No matter the cost, get him to the top. Don’t let anyone get in his way. Use your quirk. Make us look good. Despite how much of a challenge it is for you, do not embarrass us.”

Noa just stared at him. If she opened her mouth, all that would pour out is that making their family look good would take a miracle. 

“Format of the games. Go.”

Her jaw clenched before she started speaking quickly, eager to escape his presence. “First round is a bottleneck strategy to thin the herd. Then the showboating, but the two can sometimes be switched. Then group game, then tournament.”

Endeavor appraised her for a moment with a slight grimace. “It’ll work.”

Noa’s teeth gnashed painfully. Even a ‘well done’ was impossible with him. She’d committed that stupid format to memory, and for what? It’ll work? 

“If you encounter Izuku Midoriya, take him out of the running as quickly as possible.” Endeavor told them. Noa blinked, caught off guard. 

“I’ve been hearing from the staff at UA that something is tying him to All Might. Do not hesitate to defeat him.”

Neither of the siblings said anything, likely too shocked to form a response. Noa felt confused, and strangely uncomfortable at the thought that her and Endeavor shared the same intrigue about the two. 

“Start heading to the arena.” Their father ordered. “I will be there when the festival starts. Do not disappoint me.”

Noa and Shoto walked out the door without a word. They didn’t say anything as they traveled down the path and through the gate, stepping onto the sidewalk. In fact, they hadn’t spoken a word to each other all morning. It felt impossible. As he stepped next to her, Noa could feel his words from the night before digging into her chest like a twisting knife. 

You don’t get it. You never will. 

She stopped, just for a moment. The pain felt so real. She looked back at the house, at the roof they’d been on before Noa opened her mouth and ruined everything. She looked at the rest of the property— the lawn, the fence, the ponds. It was so beautiful. So misleading. It contradicted the hideous secrets inside those walls. 

For some reason, on top of all the dread and anxiety about the day, she got the unmistakable feeling that her place there was finite. Shoto was the only reason she was there. If she didn’t have him, she’d probably be in an orphanage. Her position in the family was not guaranteed. Maybe it never had been. Something about looking at that front door made her feel as if it might be wrenched away at any moment. 

When the sound of Shoto’s footsteps stopped, Noa jumped a little. He was waiting for her, not looking back. She turned and joined him on the sidewalk, blinking harshly to dismiss her thoughts. 

A foot away, Shoto’s shoulder felt like it was tied to hers. The sensation wasn’t uncommon— Noa frequently felt like they were attached somehow— but it seemed different. It wasn’t a string connecting them anymore, but a taunt, rigid cable. Not allowing them to get closer, but not allowing them to leave, either. It was both comforting and suffocating. Restrictive and familiar. 

It was borderline imprisonment. 

Noa couldn’t bring herself to look at him after thinking such a thing. Guilt blossomed in her stomach and spread throughout her chest. She got the inexplicable feeling Shoto’s mind was in a similar place. Their relationship was impossibly strained. 

The sibling’s footsteps were in sync as they walked in silence. Each breath felt disruptive. Noa could feel every part of his presence next to her as they stared straight ahead, faces completely impassive.

At the moment, their cable was pulled taunt enough to snap like an old, fragile twig.  

𖤐✰

Noa’s knee bounced underneath the table, the heel of her boot tapping against the linoleum in a relentless rhythm. Her skin was crawling. She stared at her hands clasped in her lap, picking at the cuticles around her nails. As her thumb dug into the jagged flesh, she was reminded of all the other times in her life she’d resorted to the habit. In the facility, the hospital, in Endeavor’s car. At school. 

There it is again, she thought to herself. Can't even pick a hangnail normally. 

She squeezed her eyes shut hard, willing her thoughts to ease, focusing on the music blaring through her ears. Her knee kept bouncing up and down as she let the beat of the music drown everything out.

“Everyone, get your game faces on!”

Noa opened her eyes with a long, drawn out sigh. Iida was standing in the doorway of the 1A waiting room, looking at all of them with a determined expression. The students around her started to stand, putting the last of their things away. She grit her teeth and reached up to remove her earbud, dreading every inch of movement. Next to her, Shoto slowly stood, taking a deep breath in. 

Noa was just about to follow suit when he took a step forward. Her brows creased as she watched him approach one of the other students.

“Midoriya.” 

All conversation in the room stopped. Heads turned at the sound of his intense tone. 

Izuku looked up uneasily, eyes wide. “Uh- Hey, Todoroki. What’s up?”

Noa’s eyes bounced back and forth between the two boys, blown wide open. She had no idea what was going on, no idea what Shoto’s goal was, but she knew that he could be terrifying when he got like this. The fact that Midoriya was holding up underneath his gaze at all was applaudable.

“From an objective standpoint, I think it’s fairly clear that I’m stronger than you.”

Noa’s brows creased. So did Midoriya’s.

“Yeah-”

“However, you’ve got All Might in your corner, helping you out.”

Noa’s hand slithered over her mouth. Her heart was pounding from stress. The confrontation was turning the entire room sour.

“I’m not here to pry about what’s going on between you two,” Shoto explained before looking at Midoriya seriously, his gaze cold and hard. “But know that I will beat you.”

A tense moment lingered after his sentence finished. Both boys were looking at each other with varying degrees of emotion. Izuku seemed… maybe not frightened, but intimidated. Noa didn't blame him.

“Geez,” Kaminari drawled, sauntering up to the boys with an easy-going grin. “What’s with all these declarations of war lately?”

“Yeah man, what’s the big deal?” Added Kirishima, following behind to help mediate. His brows creased in concern as he placed a hand on Shoto’s shoulder. ”Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden? We’re just about to start-”

“We’re not here to be each other’s friends.” Shoto snapped, wrenching his arm away. His eyes darted to Noa. “Don’t forget this isn’t a team effort.”

She blinked, taken aback. Her thumb broke through the skin of her cuticle. Making a big show to the others was one thing, but targeting her, too? What was he doing?

“Wait a sec, Todoroki.” Midoriya said before he could walk away. Shoto stopped, glaring over his shoulder.

“I don’t know what’s going through your head, or why you think you need to tell me that you’ll beat me.”

Shoto turned, giving Izuku his full, angry attention. 

To his effort, the boy didn’t falter. “And yeah, of course you’re better than me. In fact, you probably have more potential then anyone in the hero course. That’s why you got in so easy.”

“Don’t you think you’re being a little bit hard on yourself?” Kirishima stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation again. “And us…”

“No,” Midoriya replied firmly. “He’s right. All the other courses will be coming at us with everything they’ve got. We’re all gonna have to fight to stand out.”

Distantly, Noa doubted that. With all the attention class 1A had been getting, making themselves seen would be easy. It’s what made this stupid fest so dreadful. 

Midorya’s chin dipped just the slightest, eyes shining with determination. “I’ll be aiming for the top, too.”

It was quiet for a moment. Shoto’s jaw ticked. “Fine.”

Noa had to purse her lips, looking down at her hands. Even though she was put off by the conflict, and biased toward Shoto, it was an effort not to burst into an impromptu round of applause. Midoriya’s resilience was awe-inspiring, and comedically-timed. A smile was starting to threaten itself upon her face regardless of how tense the interaction was. Then she heard a ‘tch’ from across the room. 

The amusement faded. Noa looked over to see Bakugo glaring daggers at the two boys as they separated and walked out the door. Of course he had something to say. He always did. He couldn't ever just be quiet , could he? On top of worrying about whatever was going on between Shoto and Midoriya, Noa also had to keep dealing with Bakugo sticking his nose where it didn't belong. She suspected he was jealous of Izuku. He probably thought if anyone posed a threat, if anyone was worth challenging publicly, it’d be him, not Deku. 

The ego on that asshole…

The rest of the students started to head toward the door. Cold fingers gently wrapped around Noa’s elbow and led her out of the room. She blinked hard as she was snapped out of her thoughts. 

“ God, I cannot deal with the testosterone at this school right now.” Jirou said to her quickly, her voice low. 

Noa huffed a laugh, overwhelmed as she watched the students swarm around them. “Seriously. I’m over the dickfest.”

The two girls looked at each other for a moment, smiling as a surge of affection passed between their locked eyes. 

“ARE YOU READYYY?”

Both of them jumped a little, startled at Present Mic’s voice reverberating through the walls. The hero began to announce them as the class traveled down the hallway in a pack, heading toward the light opening at the end. Whoops and hollers came from the more excited students around her. The energy was almost contagious. 

“Let me hear you scream as our UA students take the main stage! This first group are no strangers to the spotlight— youuu know them from surviving a villain attack. They’re the dazzling students lighting up your TV with solid gold skills!”

Trumpets started sounding. Deafening cheers began to echo down the hallway as the class exited. Noa put her hands over her ears, squinting hard against the sunlight pouring through the hallway and beating down on her as she stepped onto the grass. Everything was loud and hot and bright all at once. 

“ THAT'S RIGHT! It’s the hero course students of class 1A!”

Noa glared up at Present Mic in the press box at the obnoxious introduction. It took a few seconds for her to get used to the sound— and even that was a stretch. When she was able to tolerate it just enough to remove her hands, she blinked against the sunlight and finally took in her surroundings. Thousands of people filled the stands around them. All the students were in the middle of an arena, standing on grass in groups in front of a stage and screen. Fireworks and cannons and confetti filled the air above. Mounted TV screens showed close-ups of the field for viewers. 

After a few moments of squinting, Noa was just able to make out a seperate section in the stands, mostly filled with colorful costumes— the hero’s designated seats. Endeavor would be sitting there soon, watching her and Shoto’s every move. 

And he wouldn’t be the only one. Everyone would be watching. Noa was participating in one of the most televised events in the world. All eyes were on her. 

Her own eyes widened, frantically bouncing around the stands. A million faces stared back, a million people from a million different walks of life, all gathered to watch her make an absolute fool of herself. Even if there wasn’t the embarrassment of being perceived, there would undeniably be two people watching her, and her specifically. There was no question that All For One and Shigaraki were gathered around a TV at this very moment. 

Her hands were shaking at her sides as she robotically stepped over the grass and followed her classmates to the stage. The sound faded for a second, switching to a high pitched ringing in her ears instead. Everything faded into the back. She could feel his eyes on her, feel the glowing, betrayed red boring into her skull, the cruel silver glint in All For One’s eyes as he towered over her. 

“How you feelin, man?”

Noa blinked, snapping out of her spiral. Kirishima and Bakugo were walking behind her. She stayed staring straight ahead as she listened to them. A tense, evil energy seemed to flow off the blonde as he stalked forward with his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched. 

“I’m not worried.” He seethed with a grin. “Just makes me wanna win more.”

Noa rolled her eyes, an unintentional scoff coming from her. His violent desire to win was obnoxious, and unobtainable. There was nothing that would prevent Noa from securing Shoto’s victory. Especially not him. 

“ Hah? ” Bakugo drawled as he stepped next to her. “Something funny, Snake-Face?”

“Yeah,” She said with a nod, staring forward with fabricated disinterest. “You thinking you’re gonna win is the biggest joke I’ve ever heard.”

“What, like you will?” The blonde scoffed, expression twisting with anger as he leaned forward. “You’re even more delusional than I thought.”

Noa rolled her eyes again and pushed Bakugo’s face away with her hand. “I don’t want to win, stupid.”

Normally, he would’ve been mad about her pushing him. Maybe for the insult, too. But he didn’t mention either— just straightened back up and looked at her seriously, eyes glinting. 

“Why the fuck are you here then.”

“It’s kinda required.” She quipped, raising a brow. “Even if it wasn’t, you think Endeavor would just let me ditch?”

Bakugo didn’t say anything. He just continued to glare at her. Noa felt antsy under his gaze. She had a hard time figuring out what to say— she could hardly even look at him. 

“Winning just isn’t my objective.” She mumbled with a shrug. “That’s it.”

He kept glaring. Noa’s eyes kept flicking back and forth between his and the grass they walked over. The hatred was radiating off of him in waves. She could feel it. 

“You’re actually despicable.” Bakugo told her after a few moments. 

Noa blinked, looking at him in offense, but he’d already started walking away. Her lips pursed in annoyance. “Look in a mirror, asshole! So are you!” 

The blonde just held a finger over his head. Noa returned the crude gesture, even though he couldn’t see it. 

“Dude,” Someone said as they replaced Bakugo’s spot. Kirishima was walking next to her. “Your guys’ beef is like, unmatched.”

Noa’s brows creased. “Beef?”

“Oh- uh, like a rivalry, kinda? A fued?” He explained before shrugging. “I dunno. I guess what I mean is, why do you let him get to you so much? How come you don’t ignore him like the rest of us?”

She blinked at the redhead for a second. The question took her by surprise. Why did she let him get under her skin like he did? Truth was, everything about him irritated her, but why didn’t she just ignore him? 

“Everyone else does,” Noa said with a shrug. “And he doesn’t change. It’s like his behavior’s gone unchecked his entire life. I think he needs to wake the fuck up.”

Kirishima’s lips pursed in amusement. “Touché, my man. Touché.”

Noa just shrugged again, but her face grew warm, and she looked at her feet. Saying so much was embarrassing, and the redhead was just so nice about everything. And ‘my man’… being addressed that way, even as a joke, made her chest feel weird. She forced herself to blink away the thought. 

Soon, they came to a stop in front of the stage. The rest of the classes had been called by then, and the entire group of UA students were gathered as they watched Midnight saunter up to the microphone, brandishing a maroon whip. Noa’s already hot cheeks grew red at the sight of the woman’s costume, and she was forced to avert her eyes. 

“Uh, someone should really talk to Miss Midnight about what she’s wearing.” Kirishima said next to her, his face red and lowered.

To his right, Denki resembled a tomato. “That costume should seriously come with a warning.”

“Is that really appropriate for a high school game?” Tokoyami added. A few feet away, Mineta just raised his thumb and grunted, his nose dripping blood. 

Noa’s brows creased. Regardless of the fact she was feeling just as nervous about the woman’s outfit, she felt a secondhand sense of offense start to bloom. 

“You all better take that back.” She said before thinking. All four boys looked over in surprise. 

“I mean- don’t be so rude?” She stumbled out, red-faced and nervous. “It may not be the most appropriate, but it’s her style, and I’m sure some of it’s required for her quirk. Shaming a woman for what she’s wearing is wrong.”

The boys just looked away, nodding and mumbling apologies. Noa felt embarrassed for speaking up, but still believed in what she said. Midnight didn’t deserve to be ridiculed simply because she was scandalous. 

“You okay?”

At the sound of the quiet voice next to her, Noa looked up, seeing Kirishima looking at her with concern. 

Noa’s gaze dropped to the floor, and she nodded. “I’m fine. Just overwhelmed by all the…” Her hands waved around in the air, gesturing to the arena around them. 

Kirishima nodded in understanding, giving her a small smile as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You’ll do great.”

Noa did her best to hide her flinch, and returned the smile. The reassurance felt nice, even if she didn’t believe it. The comfort did too, even if she flinched away from it. 

“And for the student pledge we have… Katsuki Bakugo!”

Both Noa and Kirishima’s faces slackened, and they looked at each other with wide eyes before simultaneously turning to the stage. 

Bakugo didn’t have any reaction to being called up. He walked forward stoically, going up the stairs with his hands in his pockets. It was completely silent as he approached the microphone. Noa knew this would go terribly. She prepared herself for a loud round of screaming declarations and threats to their lives. 

The speaker whined when Bakugo leaned his head closer. He paused for a second, waiting for it to stop, before inching forward again. 

“I just wanna say,” He started in a calm, gravely voice. “I’m gonna win.”

The crowd of students, as well as the crowd filling the stands, erupted into offense. Noa blinked, staring at the blonde as he turned around. 

“These people are beneath me.” He stated to the classes, pointing a thumb at the ground. “It’s not my fault you’re all just stepping stones to my victory.”

The reactions only got worse. A couple students even stood tall and raised their voices above the others. Midnight stepped forward and took the microphone out of his hands, dark hair hanging down her back in slight waves. 

“Anyway, it’s about time we get started!” 

The students and crowd quieted slightly. 

“This is where you’ll really begin feeling the pain! The first fateful game of the festival!”

As Bakugo walked back into the crowd, he passed by Izuku, bumping him with his shoulder but ignoring him otherwise. When he walked past Noa, he did the same. She turned around, watching his figure retreat, the gym uniform over his back. Her brows creased as she thought about his pledge. He was completely serious. There were no threats, no screams, no excessive mentions of violence. This was different. He was austere. 

When she turned around, Izuku was watching the blonde as well, and jumped when Noa saw him. They both hurried to look back at the stage. The jackpot-style slots on the screen spun around, all three eventually landing on ‘Obstacle Course.’ Noa’s brows twitched as she gazed at it. It would suffice, she guessed. That would handle the showboating round. But the bottleneck…

Her brows continued to wrinkle as she looked around the arena for a clue. Just as her eyes fell on a doorway, Midnight's voice rang through the speakers, instructing the students to gather in front of it and wait for the countdown. Noa quickly found Shoto in the crowd and joined his side without a word, neither of them looking at each other. Both their faces were set in determination as they stared at the already crowded doorway. 

It didn’t take long to realize what the bottleneck would be. The huge crowd of students were bound to clog up the entrance to the course. Getting through would be the way to make it past the herd and continue the race. All the students waited with bated breath as they stared at the top of the door, watching the first green light go out. The second one followed, and when the last one went, an alarm sounded, everyone surging forward at once. 

It took a moment for Noa to adjust to the cluster of bodies pressing in from all sides. She had to blink away flashes of her nightmare, remind herself that the hands weren’t grabbing her, that they weren’t dead and faceless, or someone she loved come back to haunt her. They were normal people just trying to get through a course.

Noa closed her eyes and forced a deep breath in, raising a hand toward the ceiling. When a snake attached to the concrete, she looked up and pulled herself above the crowd, dangling over them like a swinging monkey. Her face remained impassive as she watched ice spread over the entire group of students. Wasting no time, another snake formed in her hand, and she attached it a few feet away, swinging forward. It didn’t take long to form a rhythm, using the hallway as a jungle, her snakes as vines, holding her as she swung over the crowd. 

At one point, she looked down to see Shinso atop the shoulders of four slacken-faced students, staring up at her with a confounded yet amused expression. Noa grinned, waving at him as she swung out the end of the hallway, landing on the dirt below her, which quickly turned to ice. She began running as soon as her feet hit the ground. Shoto was right in front of her. Just to be precautious, she reached down and wiped her hands over the bottom of her boots, coating the soles in acidic venom. It was a good note to wear my uniform shoes, she thought absently as she fought to catch up to Shoto, sliding easily over his ice. Hate it when the old man’s right. 

As the two siblings dove into a sprint next to each other, Noa registered the sound of people behind them. Without having to look, she knew that some of their classmates had made it through Shoto’s ice. A small part of her was proud of them for it. Then she heard explosions grow closer, and the pleasantry faded from her expression. 

“I won’t let you get away so easy!”

Noa and Shoto simultaneously turned up their speed to evade the classmates in hot pursuit. 

“I didn’t expect so many people to dodge that,” He said from next to her as they ran. “Especially from other classes.”

Oh, so they’re talking now. 

Noa just nodded, clenching her jaw. “We can’t underestimate them.”

She and Shoto were still ahead of the others, but she could feel them catching up, regardless of how fast the siblings were going. They both pumped their arms faster. Then a childish cry came from behind them as Mineta soared forward, throwing his sticky purple spheres. He made some kind of declaration that Noa tuned out, and when the tiny purple blob got smacked out of the sky, she almost laughed. Almost. 

Before she could, she saw what hit him. A gargantuan army green robot loomed over them like a skyscraper. The red lasers on its eyes beamed down at her and Shoto as it stomped closer. Neither of them hesitated for a second. Both siblings slid underneath the legs of the robot, Shoto’s ice coating the ground underneath them. The entire machine froze solid, creaking to a stop over their heads. 

As they slid free, they saw at least five other replicas of the robot behind it, towering in a menacing line. Present Mic’s voice rang through the arena, but Noa couldn’t hear it. Those things were huge. 

“So this is what they faced in the entrance exams.” Shoto said from beside her, his voice tense and angry. “They obviously went through a lot of trouble, but I wish they’d prepared something a bit more difficult .”

He placed his hand on the ground behind them and swiped it up, freezing the entire herd in one move. Crystals of ice gleamed off the green metal from the barrage. All the air in a twenty foot radius turned frigid. Even Noa’s footsteps faltered for a moment, stunned at the intense power. Shoto exhaled an icy breath, standing up straight. 

“Especially since my dear old dad is watching.”

Noa’s eyes widened, frantically flicking to Shoto as she ran with him past the robots. Keeping up with him was easy enough, but his emotions were so troubling that she could hardly stay focused. It was nearly too late when she realized that behind them, some students were trying to follow their lead and duck underneath the robots. 

“Careful now,” Her brother called over his shoulder. “I froze them while they were off balance— on purpose .”

Appalled shock contorted Noa’s expression. She forced herself to turn back around and keep running. As she heard the robots begin to topple over the crowd of students, she winced, and did her best to ignore it. Someone could’ve been dangerously hurt by that. Shoto seemed unphased by the severity of what he’d done, but when they put more distance between themselves and their classmates, his eyes flicked to Noa. 

“You okay?” 

She raised her brows pointedly. “Are you ?”

Shoto didn’t say anything. They silently turned forward and kept running, her brother kicking it into high gear. Noa willed her legs to move quicker, feet pounding over the dirt. Distantly, Present Mic shouted his praises for Shoto’s move over the loudspeakers. It was all tuned out until a different, deeper voice came over the intercom. 

“His attack was both offensive and defensive.” Aizawa stated calmly. “Noa’s ability to stay at his side through it all shows quick thinking and fast reaction times. These siblings make a great team.”

“No wonder they were let in on recommendations!” Mic added excitedly. 

Noa had to fight not to let her emotions show on her face. The praise from Aizawa was validating, but having it said in front of millions of people made her queasy. It was hard to focus on the race and Shoto and everything else on top of the commentary from Aizawa specifically. And Present Mic wasn’t exactly helping. 

“For those of you who thought the first obstacle was easy… JUST WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE!”

An arm slammed against Noa’s chest. Her and Shoto quickly skidded to a halt in front of a huge, gaping canyon with ropes strewn across either end. Rocks and dirt tumbled over the ledge, only inches away from her feet. Wind blew past them, whipping the loose strands of hair around her face. Noa looked at Shoto with wide eyes. She’d almost just fallen off. 

He returned the worried look for only a second before turning around and hopping on one of the ropes. As he used his ice to slide forward, Noa followed after, swinging through the valley while using her snakes as vines, similar to how she did in the hallway. It took every fiber of her being not to look down, to panic at the deadly drop awaiting her. Shoto made it to the other side just a moment before she did. When she caught up, her chest was heaving from the fear and adrenaline. 

“Cut the ropes.” 

Noa startled a bit, brows creasing. When she looked up, Shoto was already turned around. She glanced back across the canyon, expression worried. 

“There’s people on them.”

Shoto’s jaw set. “They’ll be fine.” 

Noa stared at the students painstakingly making their way over the course. She didn’t want to cut the ropes, and she didn’t understand why Shoto was taking such drastic measures. It wasn’t like him. Someone could get hurt, or worse. 

Noa’s she looked back at his retreating figure, and her expression fell. They were already on bad terms that day. Not listening to him, and therefore not listening to Endeavor, would only make it worse. She had to obey orders. She closed her eyes for only half a second, coming to terms with herself. This was a high school game. With a fall like this, there was undoubtedly a net at the bottom waiting to catch them. No one would die. It would just be an unfair, dirty trick that she would hate herself for. 

She opened her eyes, grit her teeth, and bent down to one of the ropes, not looking up. The fibers dissolved underneath her venom. Whatever students were on it yelped as the rope fell to the other side. Noa winced and turned around before she could see who it was, or what happened to them. There wasn’t any time to waste. The rest were already gaining on them, and quick. 

Noa whipped around and started sprinting to catch up with Shoto. When she did, he looked at her sideways, raising a confirming brow. Noa nodded, looking away. They kept running, approaching a red staircase that led to a plateau of land. Before the siblings climbed up the first step, they heard explosions coming closer from behind them. They both spared a glance over their shoulders to see Bakugo soaring through the air, hands firing rapidly. 

“YOU SUCK!”

“Looks like he’s finally getting fired up.” Shoto commented as they both hurried up the flight of stairs. The corners of Noa’s mouth twitched. 

“About time.”

They didn’t get more than a yard across the plateau before the ground changed. Mounds of dirt stuck up all over the expanse, and a sign off to the side with big letters plastered on it read ‘DANGER: MINES.’ Both Noa and Shoto cursed under their breath. The minefield put those at the front of the race at a disadvantage, having to maneuver around more explosives as they hadn’t been set off yet. 

Shoto’s features pulled together in concentration as he stepped quickly and carefully around the bombs. It was delicate work, tiptoeing around the small mounds of dirt, caught between vying for speed or safety. Too slow, and you’d get lapped. Too fast, you’d be blown sky high. Noa and Shoto were quiet as they painstakingly made their way over the minefield, gazes trained on the ground. Just as they thought they’d stay in the lead, more explosions sounded. Before they knew it, Bakugo shot between them with a yell.  

“Bastard! Your declaration of war-“ Pale fingers wrapped over Shoto’s left forearm. “Was to the wrong person!”

Noa didn’t waste a second before surging forward, throwing herself between the two boys. As the three of them ran, Bakugo continuously tried goading Shoto into a fight, and Noa never allowed him the chance. She put all her focus into engaging him, keeping his angry focus on her, keeping his explosions on her, his attacks. Even with the smell of his nitroglycerin, she didn’t let him get close to Shoto. 

At first, the blonde was confused. Then he realized what she was doing, and his expression contorted with rage. He threw his arm back, slamming his elbow into Noa’s face. She didn’t react, continuing to keep her pace level with the others. Every time she interfered, he would yell and scream and try to attack Shoto again. 

A huge, booming explosion sounded behind them. All three students paused to turn around, their gazes being met with a bright flash of pink and a figure sailing toward them on a chunk of broken robot. As it came closer, a huge, awed smile spread over Noa’s face. Izuku goddamn Midoriya soared over them, flying through the air with a terrified expression. Bakugo and Shoto yelled, racing forward again, and Noa blinked before following. 

They weren’t fighting anymore, now focused on a common enemy. Midoriya started to slow, air pushing against the metal shield underneath him. As he approached the ground, he grit his teeth and whipped the scrap over his head, slamming it into a cluster of mines. Bright pink light exploded out of the dirt in a flash, the force of the explosion pushing the three students behind him back. As Izuku soared ahead of them, Bakugo and Shoto both let out a yell. They all scrambled up and kept after him. Izuku cleared the minefield, and everyone broke into an all-out sprint as they raced toward the hallway they’d come out of. 

Over the loudspeakers, Present Mic was shocked at the move, shouting praises for Midoriya and the class. 

“Eraserhead, your students are amazing! What the heck are you teaching them?”

“This has nothing to do with me.” Aizawa said seriously. “Each of them is powered by their own drive to succeed.”

As Noa ran into the hallway, Shoto and Bakugo on either side, her face fell. Her own drive… sure. 

“There you have it, Eraserhead is a terrible teacher!”

An unintentional scoff came from her as Aizawa made a sound of offense. Then she grit her teeth, and pushed her speed into the highest gear possible. Focusing while having to listen to him was impossible. As the three students raced forward, it was clear none of them would win. Midoriya was too far ahead. They were all neck and neck, though. There was no telling who would end up in second place. 

Noa looked over at Shoto as they ran, remembering his words, Endeavor's words. She remembered what her orders were. Her eyes flicked to Bakugo on her other side. Hating herself for it, Noa made a last minute decision, and grit her teeth. She threw all her weight to the left, slamming Bakugo into the wall. The scream he let out as he stumbled forward and kept running made the hair on her arms raise. He was absolutely enraged. This time, she didn’t blame him. 

Normally, she would’ve gloated. When she burst out of the hallway and into the open air, though, all she felt was shame. She’d pulled a dirty trick. Regardless of her hatred for him, trying to throw Bakugo off his game made her realize he was right, earlier. She was despicable. That move was cheap. She was cheap. She was a lapdog for her family, trained to follow orders since birth. And now her obedience was affecting more than just her. 

More trumpets sounded as students poured through the hallway, coming to an eventual stop in the middle of the arena. Noa let her legs collapse, falling on her back, letting the grass scratch her legs as her chest heaved. Her heart was racing. With her eyes open to the sky like that, the crowd faded to the edges of her vision. All she saw were clouds. She imagined her rapid breath pushing them across the expanse of blue. 

Before she could finish composing herself, a hand grasped her collar, wrenching her off the ground and holding her slightly in the air. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Bakugo seethed, his free hand sparking. The red in his eyes was dark and blazing. “How did you win again? Why do you always get in my way?” 

Noa grit her teeth and threw her knee up, colliding with the bottom of his ribs. Bakugo dropped her on reflex, and she stepped back, glaring at him. She couldn’t even find the will to be mad— his anger was completely justified. She just spun on her heel and walked away. 

As she approached Shoto, her eyes were raised to the stands. She quickly found the hero’s box, unsurprised to see a distant ball of flames in one of the seats. It was hard to see at first, but Endeavor glared for a moment, and gave a single shake of his head. He wasn’t pleased. She did her job, but she’d let Midoriya win. It wasn’t enough. But what was new?

Noa ripped her eyes away. By then, she was next to Shoto. He was also looking at Endeavor. When he noticed her at his side, their eyes held for a moment, more of that unsettling, unspoken tension pulled tight between the two siblings. Noa thought of everything she’d done for him that day— ensuring his win, throwing away her own morals to do what he wanted her to do. Everything she ever did was for his sake. Just how long would that be able to last? How long would she be able to keep being his sidekick?

Shoto dipped his chin and looked away. Guilt bloomed in Noa’s chest. She remembered everything he’d done for her. She remembered the headphones being pressed into her chest on the first day of school. His arms wrapping around her shoulders in the hospital. Him sitting in front of her bed and pushing crackers into her mouth. 

When did she become so ungrateful? She was taking what she had for granted. Shoto was her brother, as complex as that word was for them. She cared about him more than she cared about anything else. They were a part of each other. He sacrificed just as much of himself for her as she did for him.  

Noa dipped her chin, returning the gesture. It was all the communication they needed. 

Unsettled, she walked past Shoto, wanting to get a bit of space, a bit more air after how intense that race was. She shook her hands a few times at her sides, attempting to release the stress, even a little bit. When she looked up, a tall boy with purple hair was a few feet away, walking past an angry group of people. 

Noa grinned, forgetting about herself for a moment. She walked over to Shinso and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Slippery as ever, huh, Hitoshi?”

He turned around, smiling when he saw it was her. He shrugged modestly. 

“I have a few tricks.”

“Dirty ones.” Noa added with another grin. 

Shinso just shrugged again, blinking in such a way it almost seemed like a wink. Noa pursed her lips and grazed his shoulder as she walked away. Midoriya was only a few yards behind. When Noa’s eyes found him, her smile returned. In a similar manner, she approached him from behind and clapped a hand over her shoulder. 

The boy flinched so hard he nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned around with wide, terrified eyes, but his expression calmed quickly. Noa got the strange feeling he’d expected someone else. Bakugo, maybe. 

“That was incredible.” She started. “You surprised everybody. Great job.”

“Thanks,” Midoriya said nervously, face warming as he looked down at his fingers and twisted them together. “I just- I can’t use my quirk without breaking something, so it was kinda all I had.”

“It was brilliant.” Noa replied with a grin. “You used the mines right? How did you come up with that? How’d you have the foresight to save that piece of robot?”

“Oh, uh-“ Izuku startled. “I guess I kinda… thought of it? Out of nowhere? I’m not sure. These things sort of just come to me. I write most of them down to remember it.”

“Wow,” She said. “You gotta teach me sometime.”

Midoriya looked at the ground with a small smile. “I can try.”

Just then, Midnight leaned into the microphone and instructed the students to gather around the stage. Noa and Midoriya looked up, glancing at each other with equally wide eyes before following instructions and walking forward. 

Students stood in a group before the stage, staring at the screen with bated breath as they waited for the next round to start, for the nature of the group battles to be revealed. Noa could feel the anticipation tainting all the air in the arena. People in the stands cheered, impatient for more action. It was like defeating white noise. 

Her fists tightened, nails digging into crescent shaped scars. All eyes were on her. Eyes were everywhere. Eyes and eyes and eyes.  

𖤐✰

Ten million. 

It was a jab at heroes, really— putting a target on the winners back. More popularity meant more people coming after them. It’s the burden of victory. Making a student-heroes competition formatted in the same way was both fitting and ironic. Plus ultra, or whatever. 

At the moment, every student on the field was glaring daggers at Izuku Midoriya. The malicious energy of the crowd radiated off of them. It was terrifying. Midoriya himself looked predictably horrified as he stared at the screen. Cavalry battles were the form of group activity the jackpot had landed on. They would separate into teams of 2-4 people and try to swipe the leaders headbands, which had the amount of points they scored by placing in the race. Only the first 42 who made it past the finish line would advance. 

Noa was already dreading the group activity. Finding out that there would be physical contact on top of that made her nauseous. She took a deep breath in and shook her hands out, looking around and quickly finding Shoto. As she approached, she racked her brain, trying to think of who would be best for their team, who’s quirks would best suit their own. They only had fifteen minutes to form groups. 

When she stepped next to him, Shoto looked at her blankly, that same cold, hard look in his eyes. Somehow, it seemed even more severe than before. His mood just kept getting worse. Midoriya winning the race and the arrival of Endeavor surely didn’t help. Just as Noa was about to ask what was wrong, Shoto cut her off, his blue eye glinting. 

“We should be on separate teams.”

“What?” Noa blinked in shock. “Why?”

“I can win this on my own.” He told her, his mouth downturned. “All we’ve presented so far is a united front. It'll be good to show that we work well separately.”

Noa blinked at him a few times. It made a little bit of sense, maybe, but she had a strong feeling he wasn’t telling her the whole story. After a knowing look, Shoto huffed, raising his eyes to the stands. 

“Look at him.” He spat with disdain, darkness flickering over his features. “Look at his stupid, smug face. We’re giving him exactly what he wants.”

Noa didn't look up. She didn't need to. She could picture the angry wall of flames clearly enough. Looking at the ground instead, she nodded, trying not to let the hurt show on her face.

“Just be careful.” She warned before he walked away. “I know you can beat Midoriya, but don’t underestimate him. Don’t underestimate any of them.”

Shoto just gave her a curt nod and turned around. Noa watched him retreat with wide, pained eyes. He walked across the field with his back to her, approaching a tall girl with black hair. When Noa noticed it was Yayarouzu, her stomach turned. She felt her face drop. What was his problem? What was going on inside his head? Where was the boy with the crackers? And choosing the better version of her for his team… that was just a punch in the gunshot wound. 

Noa felt her eyes begin to moisten, and startled a bit because of it. She grit her teeth, clenching her palms as she looked up, refusing to let the tears keep building. 

It didn’t take long for the crushing despair to ebb away. The sight of the people swarming the stands was enough to shock her out of her sad stupor. As they cheered and whooped and hollered, Noa’s hands began to shake. The eyes— there were so many of them. Every time she looked away, another pair was waiting for her. Everyone was watching. Eyes and eyes and eyes. All For One was watching somewhere. Shigaraki.  

An arm being thrown across her shoulders made Noa nearly jump out of her skin. 

“Try to ignore them.” Kirishima said quietly, smiling at her. “I know it’s hard, but they’re just spectators. Think of them as birds, you know? They’re just perched up there to watch. See their beaks?”

Noa’s brows creased, and she looked away from the (very human) audience, giving Kirishima a stupid sort of look. He was still smiling. Slowly, it dawned on her that he was being metaphorical, and trying to help her. 

“Thanks,” She said, looking at the ground in shame. 

“Don’t mention it.” Kirishima shrugged, grinning. Then his eyes moved to either side of her, and his brows creased. “Where’s the other one?”

It took a moment to realize who he was talking about. At the reminder, Noa’s eyes darted to the left, finding Shoto talking to the other students. Her face slackened. 

“He, uh- he went to go find another team.”

“Huh,” Said Kirishima, his brows still creased. Then he shrugged again, giving her another smile. “Well, I was gonna try to join you guys, but no biggie. Come on, let’s find Blasty and make him recruit us.”

He started to walk forward, but Noa stopped before he could lead her anywhere. 

“He won’t want me.” She told him with slight irritation. “There’s no point.” 

“We can still try.” Kirishima replied, his eyes serious. “He’s the best shot for both of us, regardless of your beef.”

Noa smiled, and begrudgingly followed as the redhead turned around and started walking across the field. Talking to Katsuki was the absolute last thing she wanted to do, but Kirshima was right. He was her best chance. Maybe her only one. He had the highest amount of points behind her, and arguably one of the strongest quirks. 

It was more than that, though. Distantly, as Noa caught up to Kirishima and fell in line at his side, she knew that his team advancing to the next round was inevitable. Bakugo’s tenacity was unmatched. Nothing was going to get in the way of him winning, and if she wanted to follow Shoto into the tournament, she had to rely on the blonde accepting her into his team. 

“I still don’t get the beef thing.” Noa told Kirishima as they got closer. 

“It’ll grow on you soon enough.” He grinned, looking at her sideways. Noa’s face dropped, horrified. 

“What?”

Kirishima huffed a laugh. “No, not-“ His sentence trained off as his attention was caught. He held his arm up, smiling wider. “Bakugo! I was gonna join Todoroki, but I found the other one instead. We should all team up!”

A large number of students were swarming the blonde, everyone wanting to get a taste of his power and strength after how well he’d done in the race. Noa didn’t blame them. Distantly, she wondered why no one had asked her . She’d done better, hadn’t she? Was it because Shoto had placed a metaphorical wall in front of her, so now she was unapproachable? Or was she just that unlikable? But… even more than Bakugo?

The blonde looked up when Noa and Kirishima stepped in front of him, expression bored.

“Hey, Dumb Hair.” His eyes flicked to Noa, and he grimaced. “Snake Eyes.” 

“We both have names! And my hair isn’t that different from yours.” Kirishima protested. “Come on, you wanna be the rider, right? That means you'll need strong teammates who won’t get hurt by your blasts.” He held up his arm and activated his quirk. “That’d be us.” 

“I need someone with guts.” Stated Bakugo, appraising the redhead. Then he turned his gaze to Noa again, and his expression warped.

“What about Eyebags over here.” He said. “Why should I take her? The bitch doesn't even wanna win.”

Noa grit her teeth, crossing her arms over her chest. She had to play this smart, if she really wanted on his team. She needed to control her reactions and make a solid case. 

“You won’t get to Midoriya without having to go through Shoto.” She began. Bakugo’s expression tightened— she knew she’d struck a nerve. “And there is nobody in this arena who knows him better than I do. I’ve trained with him since I was six. I know his fighting style, his instincts, his emotions. I know how he’ll react to certain things, and I know how to work around his ice.”

Bakugo crossed his arms as he listened to her, jaw ticking with every word. After she finished speaking, Noa glared back, her arms tightening underneath her elbows. Her face set in resolve.

“I'm your best shot at beating him.”

And therefore Midoriya, she added silently.

The muscles in Bakugos jaw kept rippling under his skin. The boy knew she was right— of course she was— but everything she’d done that day, that whole school year, made him hate her. He wanted nothing to do with her attitude or her big mouth or her stupid comebacks. She’d used every opportunity to prevent him from winning, and now she wanted to be on his team? What was she trying to get at? Another sabotage?

But she was right. She was his best shot at getting to Todoroki. And she was strong. As much as he hated her, he couldn't deny that. Even without the advantage of knowing their opponent, she would’ve been a good addition. If it weren't for that damned mouth, they might’ve actually made a decent team. Their personalities just clashed entirely too much for any shot at collaboration. 

For now, though, it would have to work.

“Well, look at you,” He condescended with a lopsided grin. “Crawling back and begging for help like the loser you are. You’re so pathetic you can hardly stand. What, you needed my power so bad you just had to ask? You couldn't help yourself, could you? I’m too good to ignore.”

Noa’d watched him go on with the most tired, bored expression she could manage. When he was done, she raised an eyebrow.

“Do you want me on your team or not.”

Bakugo’s eyes tightened as he appraised her. Noa really couldn't tell what he was going to do. The anticipation, the relyance on his acceptance, made her heart race. 

“Hotpocket finally decide to detach you from his hip?” The blonde said, raising a brow. 

Noa’s face burned, but she didn’t allow herself to be weak enough to look away. 

“Something like that.”

“Listen, our quirks were made for this! We’ve got you covered, man!” Kirishima said before either of them could get into another argument or change their minds. He threw an arm around Noa’s shoulder and grinned at Bakugo, holding up a hardened hand, an infectiously eager look in his eyes. 

“Let’s go charging into battle together.”

It felt strange, letting his emotions influence her own, but Noa followed suit, raising her arm and covering it in silver scales. “Ten million.”

“Bring it.”

That seemed to be just what Bakugo needed to hear. Noa was almost certain that without Kirishima, she would have been shit out of luck. Regardless, the blonde grinned maniacally, red eyes glinting. 

There were five minutes left by the time Bakugo finished forming his team. After listening to many pleas with a perpetual state of annoyance, he had relented and let Sero join as the final member. The boy smiled when he approached the group, straight teeth gleaming. Noa was glad to have him on the team. Their powers would work well together. 

The quartet spent the remaining time listening to their leader strategize— or more realistically, bark orders at them. Despite the yelling, his instructions were sound. The advice was smart. Stay focused on the objective; Midoriya’s headband. Take down as many groups as possible along the way. Work as a unit. Kirishima, Sero, and Noa all listened quietly as Bakugo paced in front of them, hands on his hips. 

It took everything in Noa to stay focused. She could feel Shoto somewhere on the field behind her, could feel his presence and the unspoken pressure building between them. She couldn't stop worrying about it. It was like an alarm buzzing distantly in her mind. Something is wrong, it said. Something is going to happen and you can’t do anything to stop it. 

Every time she would start to get trapped in her head, though, Bakugo would say something stupid again, and she would snap out of it. She made it through the lecture without missing any of his points. Before long, Present Mic’s voice rang through the arena again. 

“After fifteen minutes, twelve Calvary teams are prepared to go head to head!”

There was a brief pause before someone else spoke over the microphone. “I see some unexpected student combinations.”

Noa looked up at the sound of Aizawa’s voice. Even with the bandages, she could tell he was looking at her. She could feel it. For a moment, she realized what it must look like to the viewers. Her and Shoto separating all of the sudden, her picking the person she had the most conflict with. What thoughts were behind all those eyes? Shoto wanted to show they were good on their own, but what if it just showed that there was a rift in the family?  

The group huddled together, and Noa snapped out of it. As they waited for Bakugo to take his boots off, Sero looked over at Noa.

“Am I the only one noticing that we might not even need any points to win? Let alone ten million?”

Noa’s brows creased as she looked at each of their headbands. Her and Bakugo coming out so close to the top, combined with Kirishima and Sero’s points, left them at around 600. They were already in the lead.

“Yeah, like he’d ever let Midoriya get off without a scratch.” Noa said with a light scoff. “He’s the whole reason he even built this team. Second place isn't good enough for him.”

“Damn right it isn’t.”

Both of them jumped as Bakugo walked past Kirishima, putting himself in the middle of the group. “The countdown is starting, idiots. Quit dicking around and get in position.”

Noa closed her eyes and grit her teeth, taking a deep breath in. She held it as she bent her knees, held her hands out, and felt his bare feet clamber into her grasp. Her and Sero were on either side of him, holding each heel, and Kirishima was the front horse, bearing the other third of his weight. 

Even when she exhaled, the smell of Bakugo’s sweat slithered through the air and into her nostrils. Her face wrinkled and she leaned back, turning her head to take a gulp of fresh air. Sero looked over, smirking when he saw her expression. It reminded Noa that to everyone else, it just was normal body odor. It was amusing for her to be grossed out by it, to the untrained eye. It just looked like she thought he stunk a little. The only person who knew the severity of it was her.

“LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!” Mic screamed into the speakers. Noa jumped. “Three…”

The three students braced themselves to run, Katsuki’s body tense in their hands. “Get him.” 

“Two…”

Noa could hear Kirishima and Sero breathing next to her. 

“One!”

Midnight snapped her whip in the air. “Begin!”

The entire team took off, moving as one unit across the field. It only took a few seconds for everyone to sync their steps and move fluidly toward Midoriya’s group. Just like them, most of the other groups immediately targeted the winning team. Their own wasn’t far behind when they watched them soar into the air using a jetpack. A recruit from the support course. Noa was momentarily distracted by Izuku’s intelligence until Bakugo yelled at the team to speed up.

Midoriya’s group floated back to the ground, only to face more attacks that forced them into the air again. Now that they were close enough, Bakugo took the opportunity and sprung out of his opponent’s hands, blasts propelling him forward. Before he could reach Izuku, Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow swooped in and blocked the attack. Sero and Noa both reacted quickly, sending out a stretch of tape and a long snake to retrieve their leader. When Bakugo landed in their arms with a grunt, Noa couldn’t help but grin down at him. 

“We gotcha, princess.”

He just glared at her and scrambled up, repositioning himself on top of their hands. Over the loudspeaker, Mic questioned if Bakugo’s move was against the rules, but Midnight decided to let it slide, since he hand’t touched the ground. Their group was just about to charge at Midoriya again when another team raced by, the blonde rider on top looking back with a gloating grin, spinning a bright red headband around on his finger. 

“Your class is too small minded.” He said in a smooth voice. “Think bigger.”

Everyone in their group yelled in protest. Noa’s teeth clenched, her eyes narrowing at the boy. Something about him immediately set her off. 

“What did you say? Come back here!” Bakugo screamed, enraged. 

The other team paused. Their rider spoke to Bakugo over his shoulder in that same arrogant tone, dusty grey eyes glinting. “Midnight said the obstacle course was only the first round of the games. We figured they wouldn’t cut that many of us out after the first round, now would they?”

No one said anything. Noa’s jaw got even tighter. She knew he was right. Aizawa himself had used that technique, she just wasn't able to borrow the idea. Not with Endeavor around. 

“Assuming they’d keep around at least forty contestants, all we had to do during the first round was sit back, stay in that group, and watch. From the middle ranks, we were able to observe your quirks and judge your capabilities.” Then his smile raised a little, and he tilted his head. “Only a fool would waste time winning the preliminary rounds, wouldn't you agree?”

Anger flashed over Noa’s features. Above her, Bakugo was trembling. The rage simmering off him was palpable. 

“You planned this as a class?”

“It wasn’t totally unanimous, but I’d say it’s panning out well.” The other blonde replied, adding their headband to the collection around his neck and putting a hand on his hip. “Better than chasing after a temporary front-runner like a horse with a carrot in it’s face.”

Bakugo and Noa were so paralyzed with anger, their teammates so unsettled by it, that none of them had anything to say. Noa took deep, quick breaths in as she glared at the boy on top of the other team’s shoulders. She didn't have to look up to know that Bakugo’s expression somewhat matched her own.

“Oh, while I have your attention, you’re kinda famous, aren't you? For being attacked by that sludge villain.”

In her hands, Bakugo completely froze. 

“You’ll have to tell me about it sometime. It must be strange to always find yourself in the role of the victim.”

Everything went silent. Noa didn’t think she could move. 

Always in the role of the victim.

It hadn't even been said to her, and it felt like a knife twisting. Noa’s victimhood was her least favorite thing about herself. As the blonde’s eyes found her seething glare, recognition shined in them. Noa’s stomach plummeted. 

“Oh wow.” He laughed, calling to his teammates. “Get a look at this! Team nepotism.” 

At once, everyone stared at her. Noa’s body felt like it was hooked up to a power line. 

“She’s so insignificant, I almost didn’t even realize we had two famous people with us. Can you believe our luck? A Todoroki legacy right before our very eyes!”

Noa’s blood ran cold. She was shaking. 

“ Oh , wait,” He said in false concern, placing a hand over his mouth. “Doesn’t that only come with the actual bloodline? Or is the last name enough? I never know these days.”

The team carried him away before he could say another word. The aura radiating off of the other two students was terrifying enough for them to realize their rider would only continue to make things worse.  

Noa’s breath heaved in and out of her lung. She was so angry she couldn’t feel anything. He knew she was adopted? It wasn’t exactly a secret, but if it was such common knowledge… how many people knew? How much did they know? How much of her life was on record? Her hands trembled under the weight of Bakugo’s feet, fingers digging into the flesh harshly. Did everybody know everything? Was there any part of her life she was allowed to keep to herself? Noa’s already rapid breathing began to pick up. 

Then a hand grasped her shoulder, and her ears stopped ringing. The grip was tight, but stabilizing. 

“ Todoroki, Kirishima. ” Bakugo seethed above them, still radiating excessive amounts of anger. “We have a change of plans.”

In front of him, the redhead looked over his shoulder, expression becoming frightened when he saw both of their faces. “Shouldn’t you guys calm down? You gotta keep a level head!”

“Shut up!” Katsuki yelled, slamming his fist against his palm and setting off an explosion. “I’ve never been calmer, can’t you tell? Now get after him!”

As their leader’s gaze locked on the retreating team, his voice became twice as menacing. “Before we take down Deku, we're gonna get every last one of these B-list idiots .”

They all surged forward as one, chasing after the group with their headband. Noa was so angry she was running on autopilot. She didn't feel like she could speak.

“You think you’re tough?” Bakugo screamed at them as they approached. “DIE!”

Right as his hand reached for the rider’s face, explosion ready, the other blonde leaned back, pushing Bakugo’s arm forward. Bakugo fell, but turned around on a dime, ready to attack. Before he could, the other boy stuck his hand out and fired an identical explosion in his face. 

Everything stopped for a moment. Everyone on Noa’s team stared at the other rider with shocked expressions. Her own heart pounded against her ribcage once. 

“Hah! Wow, I see why you like this quirk!” The boy said, staring at his hand with a smile. Then he reached out, swiping hand over Kirishima’s hair. 

Bakugo’s expression was dark. “My power…”

“Woah, weird! That guy has your quirk!” 

Noa’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two blondes and Kirishima, thinking quickly. Mystery guy was able to use their powers, and the others hadn’t noticed that he’d touched Kirishima. Just as she opened her mouth to call out a warning, Bakugo fired off another explosion. As the smoke cleared, the other team’s rider had a grin on his face, a hardened hand protecting him from the blast. 

“You both have impressive powers, but I think you’ll agree mine’s better.”

“Bastard.” Bakugo said in a low voice. “His quirk. He can copy other powers.”

Noa’s eyes went wide. A gust of wind blew past, and goosebumps bloomed on her arms.  

“So,” The blonde gave a small, facetiously humble smile. “Even an idiot could figure it out.”

“Neito Monoma!” Present Mic shouted over the speakers. “His quirk: Copy. He can use the quirks of whomever he touches, but only for five minutes. Plus, he can only borrow one at a time.”

Noa stared at the boy— Monoma— blankly, pupils shaking. Taking quirks… Regardless of the differences, it was too similar to All For One for Noa to stand. What if it was related to him in some way? What if he was undercover, and that’s why he knew her situation so well? What would happen if he tried to take Hebi?

Her teeth clenched, her body instinctively leaning away from the boy. She wished with all her might that her and Sero would’ve chosen different spots. Who cared if there were limits? Even chancing it was too risky, and she didn’t think she would be able to handle two quirk losses. As much as she resented Hebi, they were all she had. She’d gotten too used to their presence to let them go now. 

Their team surged forward, snapping Noa out of her spiral. Monoma’s group was quick to dodge, a large gust of air blowing them out of Bakugo’s path. 

“Stop em!” He yelled, pushing his team toward. Noa, Sero, and Kirishima all started running after their headband. When a strange, sticky gum substance came flying from the hands of another 1B student and landed at their feet, Noa was quick to bend down and dissolve it with her venom. 

“Oh, no hard feelings right? After all, you provoked us.” Monoma asked, mocking Bakugo while they were momentarily stuck. “What was that you said in your speech before the games? Uhh…” He trailed off with a chuckle. “Oh, right.”

They started running away just as Noa broke her own team loose. They all hurried to chase after Monoma, Bakugo slamming his fist on Kirishima’s head. 

“LOSERS! Get back here!”

“Ugh, can’t you realize when you’ve been bested?” The other blonde drawled, turning around slowly. He wasn't expecting to see a rabid gremlin flying at him with bombs in his hands.

Luckily for him, their team was quick to defend. One of the horses used his quirk to blow a shield of solid air out in front of them, catching Bakugo as he pounced on them. He yelled when he realized he’d been blocked, and began slamming his fist against the hard surface. 

The boy using the quirk laughed at him. “You look pretty stupid, fighting with air.”

Noa’s teeth clenched. Before she could think, she threw her arm out, venom flying off her hand. The stream of liquid narrowly missed Bakugo, grazing the arm of his uniform before falling onto the hardened air. Right as it started to dissolve, Bakugo’s fist broke through, and it shattered around him. With a ferocious grin, he reached forward and wrenched a handful of headbands off Monoma’s neck.

“You gotta warn us when you jump!” Sero said when him and Noa caught Bakugo again. 

He ignored him, clambering back up and shoving the headbands over his neck. When Noa’s eyes flicked over, none of them were over 200. Her upper lip rippled with anger. She needed their points back. Monoma didn’t deserve to have anything from them. When she spoke, her voice was almost unrecognizable. 

“They still have our headband.”

“Whatever, it just means we’re advancing.” Sero said from beside her.

“WE’RE NOT DONE!” Bakugo started banging his fist over the top of Kirishima’s head again. “We’re gonna be the indisputable champions of the game!”

“Now look at this.” Aizawa’s monotone voice said in the distance, echoing through the arena. “Class 1B’s strategy was a reasonable one, but there was one thing they forgot to consider.”

Bakugo’s weight shifted in Noa’s hands as he readjusted his feet. “I couldn’t brace myself earlier when I jumped. Get closer! We’re gonna get our points back from these idiots, then go for the big one!”

Their leader’s frightening sense of determination started to influence their own. Kirishima grinned, nodding and looking forward. A vengeful look filled Noa’s expression, but there was a small lift to the corners of her mouth. She wanted to pummel Monoma’s team. Next to her, Sero grinned. 

“Do it.”

“Elbow Guy, tape em!” Bakugo shouted in response, lifting his left leg. “Snake-Eyes!”

Noa already knew what to do— they’d formed a well-oiled machine by that point. She didn’t even have to think as she lowered her hand and swiped it over the dirt, making a slippery path of venom. When they caught back up to the other team, they were ready to brace themselves. Bakugo let out a ferocious yell as he threw himself at Monoma, pouncing on the team and ripping the rest of their headbands off as hard as he could. Aizawa’s voice was tinted with pride when it came back over the speakers. 

“Class 1B didn’t take into account Bakugo’s overwhelming tenacity.”

When Noa and Sero caught him again, a sliver of satisfaction eased Noa’s anger, just a little bit. They took them out of the running. When she looked up at the scoreboard, she saw her team was in second place, behind team Todoroki. Which meant Shoto had gotten the ten million. Good , she thought with a shocked sense of relief. She’d been so caught up in the battle that she’d forgotten about him for a moment.

“Now, we’re going after Deku and Todoroki!” Bakugo yelled above her. 

The team turned, running toward a huge wall of ice that no doubt held a showdown between the very same boys. Noa cleared a path through the wall, and they ran as fast as they could, exiting to find exactly what she expected. Both teams were across from each other. There were ten seconds left in the round. 

When Noa saw Shoto’s face, her brows creased in concern. He was looking down at his left hand, his expression more troubled than she’d probably ever seen it. With a sinking feeling, she realized what that probably meant. He was thinking about Endeavor. But why now?

“Damn it, IcyHot!” Bakugo yelled, snapping Noa out of her thoughts as he sprung forward, propelling himself toward the face-off with loud explosions. 

It was impossibly close. The seconds were counting down. All three boys were ready to attack, defend, or block. It could go either way. Everyone yelled each other’s name in challenge as they soared toward each other. Noa held her breath as she watched Bakugo reach his hand out.

“TIMESSS UP!”

At the sound of the buzzer, the two teams stopped in their tracks. Bakugo went limp, falling facefirst onto the ground. 

Noa blinked, the breath of anticipation exiting her lung. Her face dropped. That was it? It was just… over? 

Someone took her arm and led her forward, Kirishima and Sero standing beside her as they all looked at their rider. Bakugo was throwing a tantrum. Kicking, screaming, punching the ground, all of it. For a blissful moment, it was almost funny to make her laugh. 

“At least we're moving on.” Sero said next to her, shrugging. “It’s all good.”

“I don’t think our leader would agree with you.” Kirishima responded with a small smile.

Noa gave a light scoff. “Like, at all.” 

The amusement didn't last long. Ten feet away, Shoto’s group was slowly dispersing around him, and he was standing still, staring down at his palm with the same expression. Noa’s face grew worried, and she walked away from her team without a word. 

“Are you okay?”

Shoto flinched at her approach. When he saw it was her, his face flattened, and he lowered his hand. His gaze was still locked on his arm.

“What happened?” She pressed with concern. “Was it Midoriya? Did he do something?”

“My fire…” Shoto replied in a hollow voice, not looking up. 

Noa’s eyes widened. “What?”

“It was only for a second.” He explained, detached. “A defensive reflex, I think. He put it out with one swipe of his arm. The way his quirk felt…”

“I’ve felt it, too.” Noa said with an understanding nod. It was a shock to process the information. She looked down at his left hand, hesitating for a moment before reaching for it and holding it up, quickly searching his palm for any sign of burns. “Your fire, really? Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

“I’m gonna turn out just like him.” Shoto said, voice hollow. “I’m gonna be exactly what he wants me to be. ”

Noa looked up, her expression dropping as she let go of his hand. He was still staring at the lines etched over the skin. 

“Oh, Shoto,” She said sympathetically, reaching up on instinct to cup the side of his face. “You’re nothing like him.”

He still wouldn’t look at her. Noa gently pushed her hand so he was forced to. 

“I mean it.” She told him earnestly. “You are kind, and caring, and pure. You’re everything he could never dream of being. The fire was just a reflex. You still won, and without anyone’s help. You did it all on your own. He knows it.”

For a moment, Shoto held her gaze. For a moment, it seemed as if she might’ve actually gotten through to him. Then the color of his eyes faded, and he looked down, leaning his head away. Noa’s hand dropped, her expression falling with it.

“Thank you, Noa.” He said distantly, walking past her. “I’ll see you in the tournament.”

She was frozen as he left. She couldn't see him behind her, but she could feel the distance growing between them with every step. She could feel that cable being pulled tighter and tighter. There was nothing she could do to stop it. 

An hour was all the students were allowed to prepare for the tournament. Some wasted their time on games and filler competitions to keep up viewership. Some went off on their own to recuperate. Noa walked in a daze to the nearest hallway, more than eager to get away from all the eyes and at least make an attempt at clearing her head.

As soon as she stepped into the encasement of concrete, the deafening cheers dulled to an echo, like rushing water. Noa paused for a moment, taking a deep breath in, letting her eyes shut as she soaked in the quiet, though it wasn’t anywhere close to silent. After being in that arena for so long, she was thankful for anything she could get. The movement of her chest felt easier without knowing that everyone in the world was watching her breathe. 

Her eyes opened, and she let out a huff of air, starting to walk down the hallway. There wasn't a particular direction she was headed in— she had no idea where she was— she just needed to move away from the entrance. More students were bound to use it, and the thought of having to encounter anybody made her nauseous. 

So she walked down the hall for a minute or two until she eventually turned a corner and found a mostly deserted stretch of concrete. It would have to do. Noa backed up against the wall and sat down, leaning her head back on the hard surface. She let her eyes shut again, and used all the focus left in her body to think of anything other than her family. 

Strategy was the best bet. There was only one team advancing that wouldn’t be from her class— she’d been too caught up to pay much attention to the amazing feat of Shinso being able to place third until then. That left only three people with unknown quirks. Not a lot to worry about. Her eyes moved back and forth under the closed lids as she racked her brain for information about her classmates. Thanks to Endeavor’s training, she knew as much as she could. Which meant she knew that her and Shoto would be able to get past at least half of them without much effort. When it came to the other select few, though, she had her worries and suspicions. 

Izuku and Shinso were both wildcards, but with limits. Denki had the potential to do a lot of damage, but didn’t have enough training. Sero was good, but not better than her or Shoto. Kirishima was the same way, but his quirk could prove to be a big obstacle for the both of them. Iida and Tokoyami would likely make it far into the tournament, and wouldn't be easy to beat. But they would get it done. 

The only one who really stood in the way was Bakugo. Of course.

At the reminder of the blonde, flashes of the festival came back to her. His tantrum after losing, the confusing mention of a sludge villain from that other guy, having to convince him to let her on his team. Throwing him into the wall during the race, him yelling at her for it afterward. His face when she told him she didn't want to win.

Why the fuck are you here then?

This nauseating, overwhelmingly full feeling started to swell up in her chest. Noa sprung up on her feet, walking down the hall quickly. Her heart was hammering, hands shaking at her sides. She’d always thought it, but never found an answer. Why was she here? Not just at the festival, but at the school at all? Why was she in the family that’d been thrown upon her? Why did she get adopted in the first place? Why did she make it out of the hospital? 

Why was she born? Who would ever be able to tell her?

Noa put her head in her hands as she walked, dragging her fingers through her hair and pulling at the roots slightly. Why? She tried to force her breathing to be normal, and didn’t succeed. Instead of just walking, she began pacing back and forth, turning on her heel every nine paces. 

Why?

Her shoulders were heaving. She pressed her hands on the center of her ribcage, pushing them across her chest so hard it hurt. Why? The fists balling in her uniform pulled the material taunt over her spine. Air rushed in and out of her lung. Why? It wouldn’t stop. Noa removed her hands and started waving them back and forth in front of her, desperate for some kind of way to get her emotions out. 

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why-

The next time she turned around, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her stomach plummeted as red eyes locked with hers. Bakugo was three yards away, staring at her with a warped, disgusted expression. 

Noa’s face completely slackened, and immediately started pooling with warmth. She felt like she was gonna be sick. Just when she took a step back, her foot sliding against the concrete, she heard another pair of footsteps echo in the distance. 

Both her and Bakugo froze, distracted by the sound, now looking at each other with matching confusion. To their left was a wall separated by an intersecting hallway, forming a ‘T’ shape. The footsteps were from there. Quickly, Bakugo raised his pointer finger to his mouth, signaling to stay quiet. He and Noa simultaneously stepped closer to the corners, hiding behind the concrete as they listened for more footsteps. 

For a moment, Noa thought the strangers might turn the corner and see both of them waiting there. She flattened her back against the wall, holding her breath and waiting to be caught. But the footsteps stopped. It was silent for a few long moments, the seconds ticking by achingly slow. After a while, Noa thought they mightve disappeared completely. Then someone cleared their throat.

“Well, you brought me here. Now what?”

A few feet away, Bakugo’s body went rigid. The sound of Midoriya’s voice made Noa’s brows crease in confusion. 

“We… should probably eat soon.” He added. “The cafeteria’s gonna get busy.” 

“I was overwhelmed.” Somebody replied, ignoring him. “It made me break a promise I made to myself a long time ago.”

Now it was Noa’s turn to freeze up. All her muscles tensed like a full-body cramp. Her eyes were blown wide open, and still locked on Bakugo’s, but she could hardly see him. 

Shoto was confronting Midoriya again. This time, it was more than just a declaration.

𖤐✰

Chapter Text

𖤐✰

Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki stood across from one another on either side of a hallway. Izuku’s composure seemed to crumble beneath Shoto’s intense glare. They were so caught up in the interaction that neither of them were aware of another pair of students, hiding behind either corner, flattened against the wall, listening with wide eyes and shallow breaths. 

Noa forced her gaze away from Bakugo’s, looking straight ahead. She could feel every breath, every rise and fall of her chest pressing against the concrete at her back. The seconds crawled by slower than she could stand. Silence reverberated through the walls of the hallway before Shoto’s voice broke through the barrier. 

“Iida and Kaminari, Yayarouzu and Tokoyami, Uraraka— None of them felt it.” He said. “In that moment, I was the only one who felt your true power. It reminded me of something— experiencing All Might’s quirk.”

Noa’s eyes widened, flicking to Bakugo. He seemed just as confused. 

“Oh… yeah?” Midoriya responded meekly. “Okay, is that all?”

“I’m saying, the power coming from you felt the same as All Might’s.” Shoto said, voice firm. “Midoriya, tell me…”

When he paused, the silence in the hallway grew loud again. Noa’s heart pounded in her ears. A shallow breath made her chest rise. Seconds ticked by at a snails pace. 

“Are you really All Might’s secret love child or something?”

Noa slapped a hand over her mouth. She couldn't help it. When the hand lowered, she slowly turned to Bakugo, her mouth hanging open in an appalled expression. The blonde looked the same. Around the corner, Midoriya made a shocked choking sound. 

“Well?” Shoto said after a few moments. “Are you?”

“No, that’s not it at all!” The other boy startled, diving into a bout of rambling. “But I guess if I was, I’d totally say I wasn’t, so you probably don't believe me no matter what, I bet. Anyway, I promise you’ve got the wrong idea. And…” Izuku’s voice dropped a bit, lacing with concern. “Why would you even think that about me?”

“‘That’s not it at all’ is interesting wording.” Shoto said dismissively. “It implies there is something between you two that you’re not supposed to talk about.”

The resulting silence only made Noa think harder. She’d been able to give up on the whole All Might-Midoriya thing since the USJ, but this was a sure confirmation of the relation between the two. Although she severely doubted the bond was familial, Izuku’s mutism was incriminating. 

“My father is the hero Endeavor. You must’ve heard of him.” 

Noa’s entire body tensed. 

“Which means you’re aware that he’s the number two hero. So if you’re connected to the number one hero in some way, that would mean I have even more reason to beat you.”

Her eyes continued to dart back and forth blindly as she listened with an impending sense of dread. She spared a glance to the left, to the blonde looking at her with furrowed eyebrows. Noa turned back to the wall, heart pounding. Whatever Shoto planned on saying, Bakugo would get a front row seat. 

“My old man is ambitious.” Shoto said. “He aims for the top. He used his power to make a name for himself as a hero. He was never able to beat All Might, so the symbol of peace is living proof of his failure. He’s still at it, though, trying to take down All Might. One way or another.”

A flash of a hospital door opening made a chill run down Noa’s spine. She felt the seatbelt being pulled over her chest, felt the eyes on her as she was introduced to her new family. She saw glimpses of her and Shoto in the training room, of Touya watching them be dragged away by their father. Her mouth grew dry. One way or another. 

“I’m not really sure what you’re getting at.” Midoriya responded. “What are you trying to tell me, Todoroki?”

“Have you ever heard of… quirk marriages?”

Noa’s stomach plummeted. She looked at Bakugo, frantically signaling with her eyes for him to leave. All he did was turn and look at the wall again. 

“They became a problem in the first few generations as quirks became widespread. There were those who sought out their mates in hopes of making powerful children. Many were forced into relationships— they were simply viewed as old-fashioned arranged marriages, but clearly it was unethical.”

Unethical . They were barbaric. They were the result of Noa’s entire life so far. Her hands were squeezing the back of her neck as she rocked slightly back and forth, vision blurred. 

“My father has not only a rich history of accomplishments, but plenty of money to throw at his problems.” Shoto continued. “He bought my mother’s relatives to get his hands on her quirk, and now he’s raising me to usurp All Might.” He paused, voice growing darker. “It’s so annoying. I refuse to be a tool for that scumbag.”

Noa winced, eyes closing. She herself was a tool, one of those problems that got shoved a pile of money. The next time Shoto spoke, his voice echoed through the hallway.

“He bought Noa, too. I don’t know what’s worse.”

Her blood ran freezing cold. Bakugo slowly turned, knowing red eyes falling on her. She pointed down the hallway as hard as she could, repeating the gesture until her expression grew pleading. Bakugo just stood there and stared at her. Somehow, she knew what was coming before it was said. Dread pooled in her stomach. A wave of nausea surged through her.

“She was kidnapped by a villain when she was little. My father refuses to ask questions or give us any answers, but it’s clear she was tortured. She was beaten and brainwashed for more than a year.” 

Noa covered her mouth with both hands. When she squeezed her jaw, the memory of All For One’s fingers flashed in her mind. A gurgling sound rose in her gut. 

“When she ended up in the hospital, Endeavor didn’t hesitate.” Shoto continued. “He adopted her, brought her into my home, and used her. She’s been obeying all his orders ever since. I can't stand it. He calls her my sidekick. She’s like my own personal trainer. A punching bag that hits back.”

A flash of Shigaraki seared into her vision— tearing at his neck as he bragged to All Might about the Nomu. A punching bag that fights back. 

Noa’s hands lowered, lips parting. Wetness made her dialated eyes shine in the darkness of the hallway. Her chest felt like it sank so far down it was underneath the floor. Every word Shoto spoke was a twisting knife.

“It’s not her fault.” He said quietly. “She doesn’t know any better. She doesn't even realize that all she is is a stepping stone to him. She’s still just as brainwashed as when she was adopted.”

Another pause. Noa’s mouth lifted in bitter irony. He must’ve thought her stupid.

“In every memory of my mother, I only see her crying.”

She flinched, a sharp intake of breath making her slap a hand over her mouth again. Pain shot through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. On the back of her eyelids, she saw the silhouette of Rei hunched on the floor of the training room, a hand pressed over her cheek.

“She hated what my father was doing to us. I remember she called my left side unbearable before she poured boiling water on my face.”

Noa winced at the sound of a whistling tea kettle. At that point, her skin felt like it was on fire. It felt like her entire body was hooked up to a power line. She couldn't stop trembling.

“The reason I picked a fight with you is to show my old man what I was capable of doing, without using his damned fire quirk.” Shoto explained. “You see, I’m going to show him that I reject his power, that I can take first place without using it. Or getting any help from his lapdog.”

With that, his footsteps retreated. A moment passed before Midoriya went to follow him. 

In their absence, silence rang through the hallway again. The entire world felt frozen. Her heart pounded once. Twice. Blood boiled through her veins. The healed fractures in her bones burned at every point of fusion. Every scar on her body screamed. Heat surged beneath her skin. Her chest heaved, lung desperately gulping in air. It wasn’t enough. She couldn’t breathe. The earth was spinning like a dreidel. 

With one final lurch of her stomach, Noa doubled over and retched bile onto the ground. More followed, splattering on the floor in a pathetic green mess. Strangled coughs sputtered out of her as her stomach emptied onto the concrete. 

The fit subsided quickly. When Noa stood up straight, she found her chest abnormally light. When she breathed in, it was easy. Clear. All the emotion had drained out of her, disappearing without a trace. The plug was yanked out of its socket. The power lines had gone dead. 

Noa took a robotic step forward, absently wiping the back of her wrist over her face. Shoto’s words ran circles in her mind as she turned and started walking. 

Living punching bag. Sidekick. Personal trainer. Stepping stone. Brainwashed. Lapdog. 

The soles of her boots echoed down the hallway as they crunched over the concrete. She didn’t look up when she passed by Bakugo, just slowed for a moment, head down, hair hanging over her face. He knew everything now— there was no point in trying to hide it anymore. When Noa spoke, her voice was detached and unrecognizable.

“There’s your explanation.” She said. “I hope you got the answers you needed.”

𖤐✰

“This kind of talk is incredibly naive, my boys. That turns me on!”

Noa blinked and looked up at the stage, making a face. Everyone in the crowd felt just as uncomfortable about Midnight's comment. 

For Noa, the feeling faded quickly. She looked back at the ground, staring at her boots without seeing a thing. She’d been completely catatonic since leaving the hallway, void of any emotion or thought or feeling. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to pay attention to what was happening around her. She was a shell. 

When she first stepped onto the field, the people in the stands had almost no effect. They were just birds. She stood somewhere in the middle of the herd of students, feeling utterly numb as everyone talked and moved and pushed against her. She couldn't feel any of it. It hardly registered when the other girls in the class showed up in short cheerleading costumes— something that’d been a trick of Mineta and Kaminari— or when Oijiro and another boy from class 1B raised their hand to forfeit their positions in the tournament. They both declared that because they’d been brainwashed, they didn't deserve to compete. 

Normally, Noa would’ve cared a little, would’ve been concerned about Shinso and probably felt a certain way about the forfeit. Now, she couldn't bring herself to even listen. The information passed through one ear and flew out the other without registering. Midnight’s perverted exclamation had snapped her out of her stupor, but only momentarily. Noa looked back at the ground and let her brain become fuzzy at the edges.

After the decisions to replace the forfeiting students, the lots were drawn, each of the sixteen students paired up with one another at random. All Noa was able to register was that she was going against Aoyama somewhere in the middle of the preliminary round. The students had another fifteen minutes to prepare for the tournament to start. There were more games to participate in, but to Noa’s luck, they were optional. She chose to dedicate her time to hiding instead. 

Instincts told her to retreat back into the hallway, but after Shoto’s exposé, the concrete walls seemed foreboding. She didn't want anything to do with them. She could go to one of the waiting rooms, but that posed the risk of someone walking in by accident. She could go somewhere outside the arena, but the same logic applied there. There was nowhere to hide. Unless…

It was the least favorable choice, but the only one with a sure way of avoiding as many people as possible. Noa took a deep breath in as she walked out of the field and into one of the hallways, finding a bathroom as quickly as possible. She wasted no time in ducking into a stall and locking the door behind her, climbing on the toilet seat and bringing her legs up to her chest. Even if someone came in, she would be hidden from sight. She was as safe as she could be.

As she sat there, chin tucked behind her knees, arms folded over, she listened to the pipes run beneath the floor. Her brain went in and out of focus as she stared at the off-white tiles gleaming under the fluorescents. She didn’t even blink. Her silver eyes stayed trained in one spot.

Everything she’d ever known had been called into question. Her entire world had been flipped on its axis with one conversation. Hearing what Shoto thought of her, how he truly viewed her, had made everything come to light. Had their bond ever been real? Was her love for him one-sided, after everything they’d been through? 

Noa didn’t know what was what. She wasn’t able to distinguish between reality and whatever sick delusion Endeavor had twisted into their lives. There was no way to tell if it was all in her head or if she was just finally realizing the truth. Shoto hated her. He resented everything she stood for, because she stood for him . 

He bought Noa too. I don’t know what’s worse.  

She winced, but otherwise didn’t move. The voice was so clear in her head. 

What was worse? Marrying a woman for the sole purpose of procreation, or adopting a child to train those labored fruits? The answer didn’t matter— it wasn’t a competition. Rei and Noa were the same, just devices to get Endeavor to the top. Only difference was that Noa was still trapped in that house. And what choice did she have? What choice did any of them have?

She’s been obeying all his orders ever since. I can’t stand it. 

What choice did she have in that? In anything? From the moment she was adopted, Shoto had been her only purpose in the family. There was no her without him. Everything she ever did— every action she took, every choice she made, every moral she stood by, was either influenced by Shoto or for him, and him specifically. Noa’s identity existed and depended entirely on him. Sometimes, it was hard to distinguish between his thoughts and her own. Her life revolved around him. He was her one and only priority. 

And he couldn't stand it? He couldn't stand it?

Obviously, the situation was miles from normalcy. Noa didn't expect him to enjoy her presence in the family. She didn’t expect that from anybody. But resenting it so? Blaming her for the orders she was forced to obey? 

The fucker acts like he owns you.

Noa’s teeth clenched. If Shoto really resented her so much, why was he so possessive? Why wasn’t she allowed to make friends if he wanted her off his back so badly? It was as if he didn’t want her in his life, but didn’t want her in anyone else's, either. It was a sense of ownership. Endeavor had quite literally given her to him, and Shoto hadn’t known any better. Regardless of how much he hated it, he got used to Noa’s being there. He began to rely on her servitude. All they’d been told their whole lives was that Noa was his. 

She’s still just as brainwashed as when she was adopted. 

Somehow, that was more irritating than his warped possessiveness. He thought she was stupid, a mindless robot with no thoughts or feelings. Did he seriously think she had no idea what was happening? That she was okay with it? That she didn’t have a problem with their situation too? What, he thought she enjoyed fighting him everyday, serving him, improving his skills and completely neglecting herself? That this was something she thought was normal?

A surge of heat ran through Noa’s limbs. She’d been under the impression that there was an understanding between her and Shoto. She thought they both knew that they hated their father and everything he was doing, but that they had to suck it up and endure. They didn’t. Have. A choice. Noa obeyed because she had to, not because she didn’t know any better. Him assuming she was brainwashed of all things was an insult to her intelligence. It was proof he saw her as weak. She was still that fragile little six year old to him. She always would be. 

All of this was infuriating, but not exactly out of the normal. It’d been building up over a long time, probably since before school even started. Saying what he did, feeling the way he did, was one thing. Saying it to Midoriya, though, and by proxy, fucking Bakugo, was unforgivable. Shoto was upset, she knew that. She didn’t know why he felt the need to tell Izuku about everything, but he was more than allowed to talk about his problems. It’s where Noa got involved that angered her. Telling other people something so deeply personal was out of line. He had no right to talk about what she went through. He didn’t know anything about it. He had no idea about what All For One did. 

He calls her my sidekick. She’s like my own personal trainer. A punching bag that hits back. 

A wave of residual nausea surged through her. 

A punching bag that hits back. 

That had to have been the worst of it all. More than owning her, than resenting her and blaming her for their situation, even more than telling others about it, she couldn’t stand this the most. The fact that he would think of her that way, sure, but more so the fact that it was true. 

A punching bag that hits back. 

What was the difference between her and the Nomu? All For One gave her a quirk and unleashed her onto the world, just like he did to it. She was an instrument for violence, just like it was. By Shoto’s standards, she was just as brainwashed as it’d been under Shigaraki’s control. The only thing separating her and that monster was appearance. Noa at least looked slightly human. 

The truth was, she was a failed experiment. A Nomu gone wrong. Shoto was dead on with his comparison, and he didn’t even know how right he was. 

Suddenly, Noa was hit with a flash of a memory she didn't quite recognize. Instead of watching as Endeavor led her through the front door, she was inside the house, watching it open. Through Shoto’s eyes, she watched Enji kick her out from behind his leg. She felt the shock and horror as he explained her purpose. She fought herself in the training room, taking her own punches, feeling every moment of pain she’d inflicted. She saw herself walking away from him after she’d been slapped, pushing away his attempt at comfort. 

Noa lifted her head off her arms, looking blankly at the door to the bathroom stall. She was wrong to be upset with Shoto. She would’ve hated her, too. In fact, she frequently did. Now she understood why everyone else did as well. Who wouldn't hate her, after everything she’d done?

You’re actually despicable.

A bitter huff of laughter rushed out of her nose. She didn’t even blame him. In fact, Bakugo was probably one of the most reasonable people she’d ever met. His hatred for Noa felt so justified it made her sick. She deserved every bit of it, just like Tomura said. 

She unfolded her legs from underneath her, quickly rising off the toilet and unlocking the door to the stall. When she walked forward, approaching the sink in front of her, she placed her hands on either side, shoulders hunched. She could feel her ribs stretching with every breath. She grit her teeth and looked up, staring at herself in the mirror. The dim silver eyes, fragile as glass, just like the rest of her. 

“Who the fuck are you.” She demanded quietly. 

Obviously, she didn't get an answer. She just kept staring at herself, eyes locked on the silver spheres. It was hypnotic in the worst of ways. She squinted, trying to see through her eyes, see past herself and into whatever warped, decayed thing she called a soul. She needed to make sense of it. She needed to discover what she was, what personality lay underneath all the conditioning Endeavor put on her. What did she stand for? What did she want out of her life? 

Noa’s teeth gnashed together harder. Angry tears began to build as she kept looking at herself in the mirror. 

“Who. Are you.”

The silver flashed a violent red. Noa flinched, fist flying forward on reflex. 

The mirror shattered beneath her knuckles, glass splintering in the skin. Her eyes blew wide open. She lowered her arm, staring horrified at the fractured reflection in front of her. A hole blocked out one of her eyes— the other was back to silver, like the flash had never happened. The broken mirror warped her expression till it looked cruel and sinister, just like Shigaraki’s— brows drawn together, chin dipped, mouth downturned. 

Was this what Shoto saw when he looked at her? Was she his villain? Was this the evil alter ego everyone else saw?

Present Mic’s voice reverberated through the hallway outside, traveling through the bathroom door. Noa startled, looking at the ceiling. The first round of the tournaments was about to start. She had to get over herself and make her way to the stands, put on a straight face. She had to keep up appearances. Shoto couldn't find out that she knew what he’d done. 

Noa’s expression set in determination. She turned away, not looking at her shattered reflection as she walked out of the bathroom. She willed her thoughts to stay behind in the stall, emotions trapped in the fragments of glass and hidden away for good. It was done. Shoto said what he needed to say. Noa’s world might’ve been shaken up, but the rest of it was still turning. The earth didn’t stop because she was having a bad time. The festival was still going. All she could do was endure and move on.

There was never an escape.

𖤐✰

When Noa walked into the student’s section of the stands, she was still mentally absent, but at least aware of her surroundings. What caught her attention was the pictures displayed on the big screen, the two boys standing in the middle of the arena. 

Shinso and Midoriya were going up against each other. 

Noa’d been too dazed to realize. As she walked down the stairs, her gaze was locked on the ring. She didn’t know what to make of the situation. Some of her favorite people were about to fight. As much as that miffed Noa, she was still out of it. Her mind was fuzzy as she slid into one of the rows and sat down in a seat without looking. By some stroke of luck, it was Jirou she ended up next to. 

“Hey,” The girl said when she sat down. 

Noa dipped her head, greeting her with as much effort as she could muster. In her peripheral vision, she saw Jirou looking at her curiously, head leaned forward a bit. Noa met her eyes reluctantly. 

“You okay?” Jirou asked quietly, concern lacing through her voice. 

The purple in her eyes held Noa’s captive. They were too knowing. Too caring. To her horror, Noa’s own eyes moistened. Her mouth grew dry, a lump forming in her throat. Before the tears fully formed, she pressed her lips together so hard it hurt. She shook her head once and looked forward. 

Jirou was still looking at her, brows wrinkled in concern. Noa swallowed thickly and shook her head again, unable to explain. She refused to let her eyes move from the arena. 

At the top of the stands, Shoto was leaning against the back wall, not joining the rest of the class. He’d watched Noa walk robotically down the stairs with his brows creased. Normally, she would've gone to stand with him. He didn’t understand why she ignored his presence. Maybe she just didn’t see him, but somehow, Shoto knew better. She was too perceptive not to notice. So what was going on?

Bakugo watched her too, saw her hollow, distracted gaze as she walked past him and sat down. His eyes stayed on her, the gym uniform on her back, the neat ponytail hanging over the collar. He was still stunned by everything that happened. Whatever he thought was going on, the truth was so, so much worse. The information couldn't even formulate in his brain. He couldn’t picture her as a child, couldn’t even imagine the torture she’d endured. 

More than anything, he regretted not listening to her when she told him to leave. 

Present Mic’s voice rang through the arena once again, introducing both opponents as they stood across from each other. Izuku’s expression was wavering, but determined. Shinso’s jaw was clenched, hands in fists as his sides. Because of her sub-par eyesight, it was hard to see, but Noa could tell the look on his face was dark and angry. Shinso was ready to do everything he could. Instead of relying on blurry images, she used her quirk to listen in on their conversation, getting a front row seat to the fight as it began. 

“So you can just give up, huh?”

Midoriya’s eyes opened at the sound of Hitoshi’s voice.

“In a way, this is a test to see how strong your spirit is. If you know what you want your future to hold, you can't worry about what other people think.”

“READYYY?” Present Mic shouted.

“That monkey was going on about his pride earlier-”

“BEGIN!”

“But I just think he’s an idiot for throwing away his chance.”

As soon as Present Mic started the round, Midoriya stepped forward. At Shinso’s words, he paused, expression becoming angry. Then he started running at him.

“Don’t you talk about Oijiro that way!”

In the stands, Noa shut her eyes for a moment, exhaling. There it was. As much potential as he may have had, Midoriya was out of the running in just a few seconds. Shinso smiled as the green-haired boy stopped in his tracks, eyes blank. 

“That’s it. I win.”

Mic’s shocked voice rang through the arena. All around her, the stands erupted in protest. A few rows back, Oijiro stood up, saying that he’d warned him about Shinso’s quirk. Noa, now caught up in the fight and momentarily distracted, covered her mouth with her hand. Shinso was amazing. Distantly, she remembered Aizawa’s file, how she imagined everyone reacting to his quirk. It was the same as now. 

“This is a perfect example of why the entrance exams weren’t rational.” A different voice said over the speakers. The same man had butted into Mic’s commentary. Noa looked up at the press box, barely able to make out Aizawa’s bandaged figure holding a stack of papers. 

“Since we're onto the individual matches, I had records pulled about each of our competitors.” He continued. “Shinso failed the entrance exam to the hero course. Since he also applied for a position in general studies, he probably figured that would happen. His quirk is incredibly strong, but that entrance test consisted of faux villains— robots. It gave a huge advantage to those who had physical superpowers to show off.”

Noa’s expression fell as she listened to Aizawa tell Hitoshi’s story. She already knew it, but hearing it so bluntly reminded her just how bad it was. As she stared down at him, the purple tufts of hair ruffling in the breeze, Aizawa said the hard truth to everyone listening. 

“Despite his abilities, Shinso never stood a chance at passing.”

“So, here we are.” The boy said to Midoriya, his voice seemingly void of emotion. “You’re lucky to have been so blessed. Now, turn around and walk out of bounds like a good little hero.”

Lifelessly, Izuku turned, walking away from Shinso and toward the end of the ring. More protests and chants rang through the crowd. No one knew whether to be scared or impressed. From experience, Noa understood how Shinso’s power made someone feel. She’d taken advantage of the more peaceful side of it, but there was always a duality to quirks. Being so void of control had to be terrifying when you weren't expecting or consenting to it. 

“I happen to have my own dreams of becoming a hero,” Shinso said as Midoriya approached the boundary line. “So lose. For me.”

The crowd continued chanting as they watched Izuku get closer and closer to disqualification. There wasn’t much of a chance for him anymore. Breaking out of Shinso’s quirk would require physical contact from another person. Whatever brilliant ideas Midoriya possessed wouldn’t be used anymore today. Part of Noa was saddened at the thought. She wanted to see what else he could come up with, and knew that Midoriya was gunning for the win just as much as Shinso. It came down to one mistake, one sentence to disqualify him. 

Just as Noa accepted this, Midoriya was taking his last steps toward the boundary line. The strip of red paint was less than a yard away. She looked down, only for a second, picking at her nails. She knew how the fight would end. 

Then a shock of electricity ran through her body. 

Noa’s eyes snapped up, wide and blown. It felt like her body was hooked up to a power line again. As she looked down at the arena, air whipped around Midoriya, blowing green locks of hair around wildly. The hallway before him started radiating a blinding glow. If she squinted, she could just barely notice shadows in the light, like warped silhouetted figures. 

Izuku’s pointer finger rippled with power, the bone shattering from the force of his quirk. He stopped walking abruptly as he broke out of the trance, toes inches from the boundary line. His shoulders rose and fell rapidly as he caught his breath, reaching down to clutch his wrist. Noa watched him with wide eyes, staring in complete shock at the hallway behind him. Seeing whatever that power was… it felt like Midoriya and All Might multiplied by hundreds. When Noa looked to her left and right, looking for similar reactions to her own, she didn’t find any. Everyone was shocked at the move, but no one felt the same thing she did. 

Shinso stepped back when Izuku broke free of his quirk, expression dropping in horror. “ No.”

Midoriya turned his head, looking at Shinso over his shoulder. His eyes were wide and crazed, an intense— and frankly scary — look on his face. 

“Impossible.” Hitoshi said from the other side of the ring, growing angry. “You’re not supposed to be able to do that. What did you do?”

A hand slapped over Izuku's mouth. His eyes were still wide as he stepped forward, refusing to let himself speak. 

“Come on, say something.” Shinso demanded. When the other boy still didn’t respond, he switched tactics, smiling a bit. “I didn’t know you had that much power in your fingers. I’m kind of jealous of you.”

Midoriya continued to step forward with his mouth covered. Whatever frightening aura he tapped into was radiating off of him all the way to the stands. As he got closer to Shinso, the boys desperation only grew. 

“Thanks to the way my quirk works, I’ve been at a big disadvantage.” He said, bracing himself. “But someone as blessed as you wouldn’t understand that!”

He shoved his hands out, pushing Midoriya by the shoulders. There was a grapple for a moment, and Noa could hear the emotion in Shinso’s voice as he pushed him again. “It'll be so easy for you to reach your goal!”

Midoriya kept pushing Shinso back, working him toward the boundary line without uttering a word. Shinso grit his teeth and let his fist fly. Midoriya took the punch like it was nothing and kept going. 

“You gotta be kidding me,” The purple-haired boy shouted. “Get out of this ring, you lucky brat!”

Shinso reached out and grabbed the collar of Izuku’s uniform, switching their positions so Midoriya was hanging over the boundary line. He threw his arms out to push him forward, but he was too slow. With his arms extended, his body was open. Midoriya took the opportunity and latched onto his wrist, gritting his teeth and wrenching Shinso over his head. He landed on the concrete with a harsh thud, the lower half of his body over the red line of paint. 

“Shinso is out of bounds! Midoriya advances to the next match!”

Noa blinked as Midnight shouted Izuku’s victory. It happened so fast. Why did it feel that way? What made Midoriya’s quirk become so much stronger? 

Behind her, Kaminari made a remark about how the suplex move was just like what Izuku did to Bakugo during battle training. Through the haze of everything, the corner of Noa’s mouth twitched. It was the same move. Watching Izuku pull it again was probably irritating to the blonde. But what wasn’t?

“Shut your face, Sparky.” Bakugo snapped. He crossed his arms and looked back at the arena, brows creased. Noa could feel the gears turning in his mind. He wasn’t happy about Midoriya advancing. 

“Why do you wanna be a hero so bad?”

Noa looked back down at the ring, watching as Shinso walked down the stairs. He paused when he heard Izuku, looking over his shoulder. 

“You can’t help the things your heart longs for.”

As he continued walking, people in the stands called out to him, called out praises to him. He finally earned the respect he so deserved. Noa’s chest swelled with pride at the feeling. After looking around at his new fans, Shinso turned around to speak to Midoriya again. He reiterated the fact that his goal was to transfer to their class. He pledged he would be a better hero than any of them. Even though she was all the way up in the stands, Noa believed every word. 

Izuku nodded when he told him this, making a determined ‘hmph’ sound. Shinso smiled, activating his quirk and letting it go just as quickly. 

“People usually tense up around me.” He warned. “You better be on your guard if you wanna be successful. Don't make me look bad by losing.”

Midoriya gave him another earnest nod. “Right!”

Shinso brainwashed him again, just for a moment. At the guffaw that came from Izuku, a smile threatened the corners of Noa’s mouth. A surge of affection swirled in her. She’d picked good friends. 

The thought felt disobedient. It reminded her of the fact that she didn’t necessarily have friends. She turned around slightly, looking at the wall behind the last row of seats. Shoto met her gaze for only a second, the blue and grey ice cold, before turning, walking away with his arms crossed. 

Noa turned back around, looking at her hands. She started picking at her cuticles again as she waited for the round to start. Whatever was going on between her and Shoto was making her feel like the world would fall out from under her at any moment. 

𖤐✰

Shoto’s match was practically over before it started. 

Sero put up a good fight. He came into the ring stretching his elbows over his head, talking about how he didn’t expect to win in the first place. Then he whipped his arms out, strips of tape flying toward Shoto in an instant. 

“But I really don’t wanna lose!”

He spun Shoto in wide circles around the expanse of the ring like he was a discus. Shoto let him, for a second. His arms were pinned to his sides as he was whipped around the arena, eyes low. After about two or three circles, he looked up, a frightening glint in his eyes. 

“Apologies.”

The barrage that encased Sero was the size of an iceberg. As the fragments of ice stretched up to the sky, it tapered off just in front of the stands 30 feet up. Noa, in the front row, blinked hard, eyes wide. A frozen crystal was inches from her nose. Freezing air radiated off of it and into the stands, making the entire crowd go cold. Everyone stared down at the arena, stunned into silence. 

Noa’s gaze was locked on the center ring. She couldn’t even blink. The only visible part of Sero was his face— he was completely immobilized. Shoto walked forward, a lost, impossibly sad look dawning his face. He couldn’t meet his opponents eyes as he pressed his left palm against the wall of ice, letting heat seap in. 

“I’m sorry.” He told Sero quietly. “I went overboard. I was angry, is all.”

When the other boy was able to be removed from his frozen cocoon, the round was over. Multiple UA staff members arrived to clear away the ice for the next round. The crowd slowly broke into a chorus of chants, yelling ‘nice try!’ to Sero down at the ring. Noa was staring, watching Shoto exit into the hallway. Her hands were shaking on her lap, and it wasn’t from the cold. Was she what made him mad? Did he go overboard because of her, or was it just a combination of everything? 

“Isn’t your fight after this?” 

Noa jumped a little. She looked at Jirou, then the screens with Kaminari’s face and a girl from class 1B on them. Jirou was right. Once Denki’s round was over, her match with Aoyama would begin. A slow, suffering sigh escaped her as she placed her hands on her knees and stood. 

“Good luck.”

Another pang of affection ran through Noa. She looked at Jirou for a moment, her face flat. She still couldn’t bring herself to say anything, but leaving the girl without a response felt wrong. In a gesture she’d only seen from Kirishima a handful of times, she put her hand in a loose fist and held it out. Jirou grinned and tapped their knuckles together. A sad smile was all Noa could offer in return. 

When she walked through the row of seats and started up the stairs, she could feel multiple pairs of eyes on her. It made the surface of her skin buzz. She balled her hands into fists and ignored them best she could. A deep breath raised her shoulders, and she blinked slowly as she entered the hallway. She did her best to force her thoughts to the back most sector of her brain, switching into the correct state of mind for combat. 

Analysis quickly took hold. Aoyama. Moderately strange boy, with a somewhat strong quirk that caused severe bowel movements. Through the haze, a shard of annoyance pierced Noa’s brain. She huffed as she walked down the stairs, reaching the lowest floor where the waiting rooms were. It would be too easy. Part of her felt egotistical for thinking that, but it was true. Their skill sets were just in entirely different states. Her mind was already showing her the multitude of ways she could take Aoyama down. 

She didn’t even realize she’d made it to the door until it was directly in front of her face. Noa blinked, reaching for the handle. It was a pleasant surprise— and a tremendous stroke of luck— that she’d made it without encountering anyone else. Her fingers pressed against the cool metal, twisting the knob to the waiting room. 

“Noa.”

She jumped, letting go of the handle. The voice a few feet behind her made her skin bloom with goosebumps. Her body tensed, and she closed her eyes for a moment, willing her expression into neutrality. Slowly, she spun on her heel. 

“Hi, Shoto.” She said pleasantly. “Congratulations. You did well.”

Shoto blinked a few times, brows creasing. His lips parted, then closed again. She normally would’ve never talked to him like that. She would’ve rushed up and asked if he was okay, why he used such a severe attack. She would’ve been worried about his right side. She would’ve called him Sho, if nothing else . 

“Noa?” He tried again, expression slackening in concern. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I have to prepare for this match.” She responded, not looking at him as she reached for the handle. The door opened behind her, and she slid inside quickly as possible. “Good luck on your fight with Midoriya.”

“N-“

The door shut before Shoto could finish saying her name. Noa closed it with her back, feeling the latch click, the silence ringing after it. Her eyes shut, and her head leaned back, resting on the metal panel. Her brows wrinkled as she felt her breath coming in and out in spurts. She clenched her teeth, trying to keep her emotions at bay. 

Being so cold with him, so dismissive, felt wrong. But seeing him, having to meet his eyes after hearing what he thought of her… that was impossible. It was so hard, having to face him after everything. This was one of the most difficult days she’d ever had (which certainly said something). The soles of her boots dragged against the floor as she trudged over to the table in the center of the room and dumped herself in one of the seats. Her knee bounced up and down as she stared at the ground, not blinking. 

Shinso and Midoriya’s fight had been a decent enough distraction from everything. Now that Noa had another moment to herself, it all came rushing back. She could feel that void in her chest like it was burning its way through her. That empty shell of a personality was all she could think about. How much of it was her, and how much of it was Shoto? At the very least, how much of her was influenced by him? Was there any part of her that was individual to her alone? 

Noa closed her eyes, envisioning two separate orbs of color. One was a brilliant mix of bright red and crystal blue, evenly sharing the space in perfect hemispheres. The other globe was dark, mostly black with shades of deep maroon, streaks of metallic silver. The two swaths of color began to meld together, the blue and red seeping into the darkness, changing it, molding it to a completely different color than it’d originally been. The individual colors were detectable at the very outer edges, but in the center, the deep blend of purple was indistinguishable. There was no telling where one ended and the other began. 

Her eyes opened. The waiting room came back to her in a flash of bright fluorescent lights. Where did Shoto end? Where did she begin?

“Kaminari is immobilized! Shiozaki advances! ”

Noa blinked slowly, wincing at the sound of Midnight’s voice blaring over the intercom. The commentary was seriously ill-timed, and starting to get annoying. When her round was announced, a long, deep sigh lifted her chest. She pushed her chair back, the legs squeaking against the linoleum as she stood up and left the room. It was a short walk from there to the arena’s entrance. She stopped just in front of the opening, listening to the roar of the crowd as Present Mic finished introducing Aoyama into the ring. 

“Also from class 1A: Noa Todoroki!” 

Noa took a deep breath in, her hands fisting at her sides. As she stepped out of the hallway and onto the grass, the cheers grew deafening. She ignored it best she could and approached the ring, walking up the concrete stairs. Torches flickered on either side. When she stepped over the red line of paint, Present Mic continued his introduction.

“Like her brother, she was also let in on recommendations.” He said enthusiastically. “Let’s see if she’s as good as him after that devastating display.”

Noa’s eyes lifted, glaring at the press box. Where did he end and she begin?

“Really?” Someone else said tiredly. 

Noa blinked, surprised to see the bandaged form of Aizawa looking at Present Mic with irritation. She pressed her lips together to hide a smile. It felt nice that someone was defending her, and even nicer that it was Aizawa. 

She tore her eyes away from the press box, and they traveled to the stands, scanning the rows of people, the cheering faces, the screaming mouths. Roars echoed around the arena. For a moment, everything went out of focus. The seats became stone benches, the metal walls morphing into marble columns. When she looked down, it wasn’t the UA gym uniform on her. She was wearing a full suit of armor. 

She looked back up at the people in the stands. Instead of hero costumes, they were wearing white togas, wreaths of gold placed over their heads. The cheering got louder. The flock of spectators roared and screamed, hungry for entertainment, for action and violence and blood. They wanted nothing more than a fight. 

The spectacle became glaringly obvious, then. The students weren’t people. They were gladiators. They were fighting each other for sport, for the thrill of the public and nothing else. They were cattle being herded to slaughter. This wasn't an arena. It was a colosseum. 

“Bonjour, mon ami.”

Noa blinked, and reality came back in a flash. The modern sports dome, the perfectly normal people in the stands, the TV screens. When she looked down, brows set, Aoyama was smiling at her. 

His expression dropped when they met each others gaze. The emotion that passed across his face was fear. Noa was caught off guard by it, but only for a moment. She was too angry to be concerned about scaring someone. Her mouth was in a firm line as she glared at the opponent across from her.

“Let’s get started, huh?” Present Mic said. “READYYY?”

Noa’s fists loosened. She exhaled slowly and evenly, feeling her lung deflate, her breath mixing with the air. It was an effort to tune out the sounds of the crowd, but she forced it to dull to white noise. She let the anger and adrenaline flow freely, tapping into that emotion she so frequently suppressed. 

“BEGIN!” 

The fight went just as predictably as she expected. Aoyama opened with a big move from his navel laser, shooting the beam of sparkling blue light in her direction. Noa just ducked her head and walked forward, stalking toward the blonde. Wind blew her hair over her face as Aoyama sent out another beam of light. This one was stronger, more precisely aimed. She lunged to the left, evading the blast. His expression grew squeamish, and he sent out another. Noa didn't even have to dodge that one— it flew right past her. 

At that point, she was halfway across the ring. Aoyama grew frantic, shooting out shorter spurts of light from his stomach in rapid succession. Noa kept dodging, making her way toward him, her teeth mashing. By the time she was two yards away, the boy’s knees were pressed together, a look on his face that was both terrified and nauseous. Noa could hear his stomach gurgling. 

She should’ve felt remorse. She was completely snuffing out his chances at proving himself. It should've felt awful, when she reached forward and ripped the belt off Aoyama’s waist, throwing the laser gadget across the arena, but it didn’t. She didn’t have time to be guilty, because when she reached back, fist balled, she was blinded. Another flash of those two swaths of color blending together made white spots bloom in her vision. Her arm snapped forward before she could stop it. 

As soon as the punch connected, Noa knew she’d gone overboard. All of her own strength, blinded by anger, combined with slight assistance from her quirk due to the spike in emotion, put entirely too much power into the blow. Aoyama swayed for a second, eyes rolling back before he crumpled to the ground. 

Silence rang through the arena. Noa stopped, blinking at his figure slumped on the concrete. Her chest heaved as wind whistled around the ring, blowing her hair around. A bird chirped somewhere in the distance. She could feel the shock reverberating through her knuckles.

“Aoyama is KO’d.” Midnight said after a few long moments. “Todoroki advances!”

The crowd broke from their stunned stupor, erupting into applause. Cheers roared, making a high-pitched ringing begin in Noa’s left ear. She winced and turned around, walking away. She should’ve been feeling something. She should’ve been thinking about the boy in a heap on the concrete behind her, at least feeling sorry about how brutal she’d been. If anything, she should’ve been scared by the fact she didn’t experience any of that. But as she ducked into the hallway, finally escaping the spectators, all she felt was glad that the round was over. 

An orange glow emanated from the end of the hallway. The ringing in Noa’s ears stopped abruptly, like a hearing aid being ripped out. The relief evaporated. She stopped walking, standing up straight, arms clasped at her back. Crystal blue seared right through her. 

“The round went well.” Endeavor said, looking down at her with his arms crossed. “But they won’t all be so easy. I expect more. You’re fighting without thinking— do better. Focus on what’s in front of you.”

Noa just stared, looking him in the eye. She wasn’t scared, or intimidated, or even angry, like she usually would be. She was irritated. She was annoyed. And she was tired. 

“Fix your face.” Endeavor snapped. 

Noa blinked, realizing her feelings were written all over her expression. She unclenched her teeth, forcing the downturn of her mouth into neutrality. 

“Don’t stop keeping up appearances.” He snapped after a moment. “Keep your weakness to a minimum in front of the cameras. Fight the opponents you’re pitted against, and win at any cost. Show off, but make it to the finals. When you go against my son, you will draw out the fight. You will make him use his fire. And when he does, you will lose.”

Noa’s jaw ticked. She felt her chest rise when she inhaled, anger making her ribs tight. Ordering her around like this was one thing, but adding Shoto’s quirk into the mix was a problem. Her and Endeavor both knew there was no forcing him to do anything. Making her try would be an act of betrayal. 

Noa broke eye contact, looking at the floor. “I will do my best.” 

Endeavor wrenched Noa’s arm from behind her, squeezing her elbow. Flames flickered off his fingers and lapped against her skin. 

“Your best isn’t good enough.” He seethed, lip curling as he leaned toward her. “Get it done. Do whatever it takes.”

Noa’s jaw shook. She clenched it together again as she forced her gaze to meet her father’s, glaring. When she spoke, her voice was surprisingly hard.

“Yes, sir.”

His flaming fingers tightened around her arm, pressing into the bone before releasing her with a push. Endeavor brushed past her in a wave of rippling heat and walked down the hallway. As he stepped up the staircase to the stands, stomping out of sight, Noa’s chest started heaving. Angry tears built, her arm searing in the shape of Endeavor's hand. It’d tattered the sleeve of her uniform. 

She stepped forward, vision blurry as she walked the other way. She didn’t know where she was going, but knew she needed to be far away from Endeavor. The burnt arm lifted, going to grasp her other elbow, adding pressure to try and balance the uneven pain. Her fingers scraped against three shallow scars in a line. Without thinking, her nails sharpened and dug back into the flesh, reopening the claw marks. She didn’t even have the strength to feel a certain way about what she was doing. She needed some kind of reprieve. 

Keep your weakness to a minimum. 

Noa squeezed her eyes shut. She almost lost it back there. The rubber band holding her sanity together was growing thinner and thinner with every interaction she had that day. She was inches away from snapping on Endeavor and saying something awful, and who knew what he’d’ve done then? All she knew was that she would have to restrain herself from lashing out at the next person she saw. 

Noa hardly made it twelve paces when she passed a corner. She was so out of it she almost didn’t notice the figure leaning against the wall. Then a flash of blonde caught her eye. 

Noa’s boots screeched to a halt over the linoleum. She turned around slowly, eyes wide and crazed. 

Bakugo wasn’t surprised to see her. His expression didn’t move. He pushed himself off the wall, eyes flicking to the burn on her arm, the blood dripping down the other wrist. It was glaringly obvious he’d been well within earshot of Noa and Endeavor’s conversation. She couldn’t bring herself to care. It was his fault for eavesdropping again. 

Noa took one step toward him, the anger rippling off her for a change. She didn’t yell or scream or even sound mad. She was serious, and cruel. 

“You can’t ever mind your own fucking business, can you?” 

“I’m getting ready for my fight with Pink Cheeks.” Bakugo replied. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Noa looked at him for a moment, glaring. Even he couldn’t have the decency to leave her alone after what he’d heard. He’s not worth it, She repeated as she brushed past him to walk up the stairs. He’s not worth it. He doesn’t matter. Whatever he knows about, I don’t care anymore. I’m done.  

“What IcyHot said-“

The rubber band snapped. Noa surged forward, slamming Bakugo into the wall. 

“You don’t know anything about what the fuck you’re talking about.”

Bakugo’s chest rose and fell beneath her forearm, but he didn’t react. He let his back press into the concrete, simply looking at her, not blinking. 

“I know.”

“Don’t lie to me.” She seethed through her teeth, pressing down on his collarbones. “You think that because you got a sliver of information, you know the whole story. I can see it. You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you? You must have me all figured out by now. Poor little Noa, right? Fuck you.” 

Bakugo listened to her with a calm, earnest expression. The red in his eyes held hers captive. “I don’t know anything.”