Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori stood in front of the gates of U.A. High School, staring up at the building like it was a final boss arena.

She looked like she belonged in an old samurai game.

Pale blue hair tied back in a loose, kinda messy ponytail.

Traditional pink and red hakama flowing in the breeze, dark boots and a sheathed sword at her side.

Elegant. Mysterious.

To everyone passing by, she looked cool. Collected. Maybe a little intimidating.

Inside her brain?..

Okay so this has gotta be a cutscene or something, right? Why is this place built like a raid dungeon lobby?

She swallowed hard, trying to act normal. Not that it was working. No one was coming near her. Most were straight-up avoiding eye contact.

Nice. Stealth stat maxed. Charisma stat? Dumpster fire.

She still didn’t fully get how she got here.

Last thing she remembered in her old world was walking home from school, ranting in her head about lag during her last ranked match… then darkness.

Then she woke up in a hospital bed with unfamiliar parents, unfamiliar doctors, and a chart that said her name was "Kazehana Hiyori."

Apparently, she’d been in a coma after some “villain incident.”

She was told she'd been a cheerful, friendly, kind girl before the accident. Now she was... this.

Silent. Distant. Cold, apparently.

The adults all assumed it was trauma.

Sure. Let’s go with that. Easier than “I accidentally isekai’d into some game-looking dimension with zero patch notes.”

The Exam Area

“GOOOOO!” Present Mic’s voice exploded from the speakers.

Hiyori blinked at the gates as they swung open and everyone else bolted.

“NO COUNTDOWN IN REAL BATTLES!”

Sir. Chill. I haven’t even buffed yet.

She moved quickly, quiet as a whisper. Light blue fire curled around her boots as she launched forward, hovering just slightly off the ground. Her pupils glowed gold-blue giving her a phoenix's vision.

Lines traced themselves across the battlefield. Attack paths, movement patterns, weak points. It was like the game was doing aim assist for her.

Yo this vision mode is cracked. Is this what wallhacks feel like?

She drew her sword, and a flicker of blue fire wrapped around it, and she darted into the chaos.

One robot down. Another. She weaved between attacks, landing hits with surgical precision. No wasted movement. Her stamina bar was full. She was gaming.

A loud crash to her left.

She turned.

A boy had fallen mid-air, probably flung off-course by a blast.

I guess a rescue event triggered..

She sighed, dashed over, and caught him before he hit the ground. Her healing flames activated on instinct, sealing a gash on his arm.

“Wh-your fire healed me…?” he stammered, blinking.

Bro don’t say that out loud! You’re gonna make me get support classed!

“…You’re fine,” she muttered, deadpan, before speedrunning her way out of the convo.

By the time the test ended, she had racked up enough points to pass three times over, not just from kills, but rescues too.

She stood on the edge of the rubble, surrounded by broken robot parts and stunned students. Calm face. Hair swaying in the wind.

Inside?

Okay so either I accidentally no-hit a boss rush mode, or this entire world is on easy mode and I’ve been over-leveled from spawn. What even is this game??

Also why is that green-haired kid staring at me like I’m a cutscene character. Go away before I aggro something.

----------

The letter arrived on a Tuesday.

It sat on the table like a cursed item from a horror game. Thick envelope. U.A. High’s crest stamped in gold. Way too official. Way too threatening.

Kazehana Hiyori stared at it with the exact same expression she used when encountering boss chests in games: suspicious and tired.

Her “mother” beamed from across the table. “Hiyori-chan, it’s your results!”

Her “father” looked up from his paper. “Go on. Open it.”

Okay. Casual. Normal. Just a letter. Not a trap. Definitely not a mim—

She opened it.

And a glowing hologram of All Might exploded out of the envelope.

She did not flinch. On the outside.

Inside?

OH MY GOD I’M BEING JUMPSCARED BY A GIGA-CHAD. WHY IS HE SO LOUD. TURN DOWN THE NPC VOLUME.

“YOUNG KAZEHANA!” boomed All Might’s voice, like thunder in an anime convention hallway.

She blinked.

“You showed outstanding bravery and skill in the U.A. entrance exam! Your combat score was impressive, but more than that-”

The screen split to show a flashback of her catching that random kid and healing his injuries mid-fall.

“-you scored high on rescue points as well. A true hero saves others! And with that..”

“YOU PASSED!”

The screen burst into sparkling gold.

Her parents gasped. Her mother clapped with teary eyes. Her father smiled with quiet pride.

Hiyori?

She was frozen.

…I what.

I passed?

BRO I WAS JUST MESSING AROUND. I WAS TRYING TO FARM XP, NOT ACTUALLY WIN. WHO THE HELL BALANCED THIS DIFFICULTY CURVE.

She went to her room in a daze and shut the door behind her.

She lay down on the futon.

Then immediately curled into a fetal position and shoved her face into a pillow.

“Mmmgggghhh,” she mumbled into the fabric.

She flipped over.

Stared at the ceiling.

Okay. So. Pros.. I’m not dead. I’m apparently accepted into some anime? game?? with superheroes?? school??? I have phoenix powers and vision hacks.

Cons.. I still have no idea what the hell is going on. I don’t know any of these people. Everyone thinks I’m “traumatized” and mysterious when I’m just socially scuffed. And now I’m gonna have to survive high school AGAIN, but this time with explosions.

She sat up slowly.

“…What kind of cracked game did I get isekai’d into,” she whispered.

That night, her mom left a tray of dinner outside her room, gently calling, “Hiyori-chan… I’m so proud of you.”

Hiyori opened the door once the coast was clear, took the tray, and whispered, “Thanks.. fake mom.”

Then immediately felt guilty.

Okay. That was rude. She’s nice. She didn’t ask for her daughter to get replaced by a sword-obsessed gremlin with commitment issues.

Before bed, she stood in front of the mirror, hair down, loose and soft.

She looked at her reflection for a long time.

“…U.A. High School,” she murmured. “Let’s hope.. this game.. has save points.”

She tied her hair into a loose, messy ponytail.

The blue strands shimmered under the light.

New arc begins tomorrow. Please don’t let me party wipe on day one..

----------

The school uniform fit surprisingly well.

The skirt fell neatly around her knees, the blazer crisp and neat. She wore her usual black boots with it.. technically against dress code, but no one stopped her. Her light blue hair was tied back into a messy ponytail, wisps framing her face in that “I don’t try, I just wake up like this” way.

She looked cool. Untouchable.

Like an ice-type rival in a JRPG who’d probably betray you in Act 2 and then die dramatically in Act 4.

Inside?

I am a fraud. I am a fraud with blue flame and social anxiety and a dangerously low Charisma stat.

She arrived early and sat in the back corner of Class 1-A. Quiet. Unmoving.

The other students trickled in, laughing, chatting, buzzing with nervous energy. Nobody talked to her. A few glanced her way and whispered.

One pink-haired girl leaned over to another student and whispered, “Whoa… she looks so cool.”

Hiyori heard it.

She didn't react.

Inside?

Oh my god they think I’m the raid boss. Abort. I didn’t mean to speedrun the entrance exam this hard.

Then someone walked in. Loudly.

Him. The green-haired boy from the exam.

Izuku Midoriya.

He paused when he saw her.

Then lit up.

“Oh, you’re the girl who—!”

Nope.

She stood up and walked straight past him.

Not because she was rude.

Because her brain blue-screened.

Everyone was seated when Aizawa walked in, wrapped in his sleeping bag aura of exhaustion and disappointment.

“I’m your homeroom teacher, Aizawa. Get changed and meet me outside. We’re doing a Quirk Apprehension Test.”

Gasps. “But orientation-!”

“Go complain to the principal,” Aizawa said flatly. “This is a hero course. Not kindergarten.”

They changed into gym uniforms. Hiyori tied her hair tighter. Her sword was locked away, so she felt… off. Like missing a piece of herself.

Still, the blue phoenix mark on the back of her neck glowed faintly.

She lined up quietly.

Then, Aizawa handed her the ball.

“You got the highest score in the entrance exam,” he said. “You go first.”

Every head turned.

She blinked.

WHY. WHY AM I ALWAYS THE AGGRO MAGNET. I’M NOT EVEN TRYING TO BE.

She stepped forward.

Lifted her arm. A soft glow spread around her shoulder. Her hand lit with faint blue fire.

Then she threw.

The ball flew..trailing a streak of sapphire light..and vanished over the horizon with a loud sonic BOOM.

The class gaped.

Hiyori turned around, blank-faced, and walked back to her spot like nothing happened.

Inside?

W-What!?? I didn't mean to throw it that hard!!! Now I am going to get so much attention! Someone please punch me in the face so I can log out..

Bakugo narrowed his eyes. “Tch. Tryhard.”

Uraraka whispered, “She’s so cool…”

Midoriya was scribbling notes furiously. “Kazehana Hiyori… Quirk: Unknown flame-type. May include mobility, ranged, and healing capabilities??”

Aizawa rubbed his face. “...”

By the end of the test, Hiyori had aced almost every event.

But as they walked back inside, someone finally worked up the nerve to speak to her.

“Hey!” It was Uraraka. “Your Quirk is so pretty. What’s it called?”

Hiyori froze.

Words. Speak. Use your voice.

“…It’s…”

Come on, just say something normal. Say “thanks” or something. Don’t overthink it-

“…Blue…...pho… Birb”

Uraraka blinked. “Huh? Birb?”

“Nothing.” She turned and fast-walked away.

Inside?

I wanna uninstall myself.

Chapter Text

Hiyori tried to prepare for Day 2.

Hair up. Boots on. Face neutral. 

Heart: anxious mess. 

Mind: total chaos.

She walked into Class 1-A early again and retreated to the back corner, dropping into her seat with all the grace of a silent boss cutscene.

Outside? Cool. Unreadable.

Inside?

Okay. Goal: don't talk. No words = no mistakes. Just blend. Do tasks. Be quiet. Die with dignity if necessary.

“Um. H-Hey.”

Incoming.

She looked up. Green hair. Round eyes. Nervous smile.

Midoriya. Entrance Exam Guy. Friendly. Overly friendly. Help.

“I just… wanted to say thank you for saving me the other day. Your quirk is amazing,” he said. “Do you mind if I ask what your quirk is?”

She blinked once. Her mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

Words. You need words. Come on. Just. Say. Something.

“…flames,” she mumbled.

“…Huh?”

“…healing flames.”

“Oh! Right! Yeah, I saw! Is that, like, your main ability? Or does it have other functions too? What’s the activation trigger? Is there a—?”

He was spiraling.

She stared.

Oh no.. He’s me. If I ever spoke out loud.

“…It’s…blue..” she offered.

Midoriya nodded, 100% taking that as a deep answer. “That’s so cool.”

Okay.. Thanks for the side quest type dialogue..

Then came thunder.

Well, Bakugo. But same thing.

He burst in, energy crackling behind his eyes like he was unstable. He scanned the class, scoffed.

Saw her.

Tch.

Great. He is aggro’d. I haven’t even moved yet.

He stomped over. “You. Sword girl.”

She stared.

“You got first place, right?”

He narrowed his eyes. “What’s your Quirk?”

She hesitated.

Don’t say “birb.”

Don’t say “birb.”

Don’t say-

“…birb,” she muttered.

F**K

“…Huh?”

“…healing...” A pause. Then..“flame...”

Bakugo clicked his tongue. “Hah. Sounds like support.”

Oh hell no. No way in hell I am ever going to be a support.

“…I fight,” she said.

He scoffed and walked off. “Freak.”

She didn’t react.

Inside?

Okay. That went exactly as bad as expected. Achievement unlocked: Speedrun making enemy??

-----

Later, during break, she was on the roof. Alone. Lunch tray on her lap. Quiet sky overhead.

She poked at her rice with her chopsticks. It was shaped like a baby bird. Again.

Birb.. Seriously Birb? I totally wasn’t trying to say firebird..

Maybe I should name the Quirk "Birb Fire." It would be funny. No. Stupid. Shut up.

She sighed.

Then-

Clatter. Door open.

She turned.

Midoriya stood there, panting, holding his bento like a peace offering.

“C-Can I… sit?”

She blinked. Stared. Words failed.

Then scooted over three inches and nodded once.

Midoriya beamed.

She stared back at her rice.

Inside?

Achievement Unlocked: First Friend (???)

But please stop yapping nonstop.

----------

U.A. Training Grounds – Battle Simulation Exercise 1

“Three-person teams,” Aizawa droned. “Infiltrate the enemy’s base. Secure the objective. Try not to blow anything up too badly.”

The class buzzed with nerves and excitement. The big screen lit up with randomized teams.

Kazehana Hiyori – Kaminari Denki – Mineta Minoru.

Hiyori stared at the board.

Her eye twitched.

No. Nope. No thank you. I would like to uninstall this team. Please let me solo queue instead. Please.

“Ohhh crap,” Mineta groaned, clinging to Kaminari’s sleeve. “We got her. We got the blue flame sword girl .”

Kaminari grinned, unbothered. “Dude, come on. She’s, like, drop-dead gorgeous. And she never talks. That’s a win-win.”

Hiyori blinked at them.

Mineta swallowed. “W-Wait. Do you think she can hear us?”

“…She’s literally standing right there, bro.”

“I don’t know, man! She’s too quiet! She could be plotting our deaths with that cold stare!”

Hiyori continued staring.

Dead silent.

Hair swaying slightly in the breeze.

…Why are they acting like I’m gonna eat them. I’m not. Probably?

Kaminari elbowed Mineta. “Hey, hey~ Watch this. I’ll break the ice.”

He walked up to her and smiled way too confidently. “Soooo… you, uh… do flame stuff, huh? That’s hot.”

A long pause.

“…That's… hot. Haha. Get it? Fire? Hot?”

Just one word.

Say one word.

You practiced this.

You can do this.

Go.

“Too close.”

Flat. Cold. No tone. Just fact.

Her eyes didn’t narrow, but somehow still looked sharper. The light blue in her irises flared faintly with phoenix fire. Her expression didn’t change at all.

Kaminari froze.

Mineta made a noise like a dying balloon.

Mineta squeaked. “I KNEW IT. SHE’S GONNA SNAP AND KILL US.”

“She didn’t even blink when she said that,” Kaminari whispered. “She said it like she is about to murder us!”

Hiyori turned away, walking toward the staging zone. Calm. Silent.

Inside?

I SAID IT.

I FREAKING SAID A WHOLE SENTENCE WITH OUT STUTTERING.

Let’s gooooo! That’s right, self! One full sentence. Clean delivery. Minimal voice crack. No full shutdown. That was a critical success. I am killing this. Social interaction? Crushed. Boom.

Wait...

…Wait. Why are they so quiet?

She glanced back.

Kaminari was whispering something to Mineta while keeping a solid five-meter distance behind her. Mineta was sweating through his hero suit.

Shoot. I said it wrong?? Did I say it wrong? I didn’t mean it like a threat... It must have sounded like a threat. It 100% sounded like a threat.. Ahhhhh...

She looked back ahead.

Face neutral.

Heart? Full spiral.

Never speaking again. I'm retiring. This was my social peak and it still failed. I’m going to commit to full mute mode and just communicate in sword swings from now on.

-----

The whistle blew.

Simulation: START.

Hiyori vanished in a streak of blue.

No hesitation. No words. No warning.

Kaminari blinked. “Wait..was that the plan??”

Mineta squealed. “We didn’t even have a plan!! She just left us!!”

Inside the arena, Hiyori dashed past the first wave of dummy guards. Phoenix vision activated and glowing rings outlining enemy movements before they happened.

She twisted, flame surging around her legs, and vaulted off the wall. Her sword flashed out, slicing through a bot’s weak point. It exploded behind her mid-air. She landed without looking back.

Okay. Movement path clear. Four drones on the right. One heavy on the stairs. Core is guarded. Entry point: rooftop skylight.

Another robot lunged.

She sidestepped.

Cut. Exploded.

Gone.

Easy reads. Feels like a rhythm game. Heh.

Meanwhile…

Kaminari peeked around the corner of the base’s outer wall. “So… should we go in or…?”

Mineta was flat on the floor, hiding. “Do you hear those explosions? Do you want to die..?”

“Okay but like, maybe we should help ??”

“Bro she told us too close . I think we’re better off here.”

Kaminari sighed. “We’re gonna get an F..”

Hiyori shattered through the skylight, crashing into the core room like a blue meteor. Her wings flared, blade ablaze. Enemies locked on instantly.

Too late!

She swept across the floor in a cyclone, cutting down every guard bot before they could even raise their blasters. The last one exploded midair as she slashed upward and spun.

Silence.

Core secured. Heh~

She stood in the center of the destruction.

Not breathing hard. Not injured.

Alone.

Ah… I did it again..

I didn’t wait. Again. I didn’t explain. Again. I just went full damage carry mode and ignored literally every objective except "kill things fast."

I was supposed to team. Supposed to work together. Or… try. At least?

She picked up the glowing “objective” capsule.

Behind her: the building crumbled slightly from all the unintentional AoE damage.

Whoops.

Simulation: FAILED.

Aizawa looked up from the control booth.

“Your teamwork was garbage,” he said flatly. “No coordination. One of you did everything. The other two did nothing. You fail.”

Mineta looked like he was about to cry. “I KNEW SHE’D DO EVERYTHING AND TRY TO KILL US ALL.”

Kaminari pointed weakly. “We didn’t even get in the building…”

Hiyori stood off to the side, blank-faced.

Inside?

I carried too hard. I carried so hard we failed.

This is why I mute lobbies. This is why I solo. I am the problem..

-----

Later that night, she sat on her futon, arms around her knees.

Her sword rested on her lap.

She stared at the floor and whispered:

“…team….work..”

Then laid face-down and didn’t move for an hour.

Chapter Text

She was just walking to class.

That was all.

Just minding her business. Sword on her side. Hair in a messy ponytail. Standard Monday vibes.

Then she saw it.

Pinned on the school bulletin board.

“U.A. LOOKING FOR MORE SUPPORT-TYPE STUDENTS!”
“HEALERS & UTILITY QUIRKS IN DEMAND!”
“Are YOU the next great team medic?”

Hiyori stopped.

She stared.

The fire at her fingertips fizzled.

Her soul ascended.

No.

No no no no no no no.

This is how it starts. This is how it ends.

First they put you in “support,” next thing you know you’re off-screen half the time giving pep talks while everyone else does the cool combo moves.

I didn’t reincarnate with sword skills and phoenix powers to be put at the back of a raid. I want to be at the front! FRONT!

I want to fight!! I want actions!!!

She slowly turned her head.

Someone had written a little sticky note on the poster:

“Hiyori-chan should totally apply!”
Smiley face. Probably Uraraka’s handwriting.

She nearly passed out.

-----

In class, she sat down in her usual back-corner seat and arms crossed. The phoenix tattoo on her neck glowed faintly under her collar.

She didn’t speak.

She didn’t move.

Inside?

Okay. New plan. Never heal anyone again. Even if they’re dying.

Especially if they’re dying.

From now on, sword only. Offense only. Healing fire? Never heard of her. My flames hurt people now. They BURN. 

No one can find out my flames actually can’t burn anything.. T-T

Her eyes drifted to Midoriya’s notebook.

He was scribbling again.

She caught the words “Healing Properties?” and “Can blue flames burn just like a normal one??”

Delete that page. Burn the notebook. Silence the witness.

Later, at lunch, Midoriya ran up to her with a tray in one hand and a bruised elbow.

“Yo, hey, uh..Kazehana-san? I tripped down the stairs like an idiot, haha. Could you-?”

He pointed at his arm.

Her eyes narrowed.

A flicker of flame lit at her fingertip.

I can’t!! Don't even think about it me.

“…No.”

Kaminari blinked. “Huh?”

“It hurts.”

“...Yeah. That’s why I was asking-”

“Mine Hurts.” She waved vaguely at her own elbow as if it was injured. It was fine.

He stared.

“Oh. Uh… right. Cool. Never mind. All good. Totally fine.”

He walked away slowly, eyes wide.

Inside?

Nice save. Smooth. Very convincing. Definitely did not sound like a lie. Plus no notes!

Back in her room that night, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She ignited her flames in her palm. They flickered gently, warm and soothing. Comforting.

She scowled at them.

“…can’t..let them..know” she muttered.

Then extinguished them and went to bed face-down.

----------

The next day.

Team combat drills.

Two-on-two.

Objective: “subdue your opponents or capture the flag.”

Pairings assigned: Kazehana Hiyori & Midoriya Izuku vs. Iida Tenya & Yaoyorozu Momo.

Hiyori stared at the pairing list.

Of course it’s Midoriya. Of course it is.

RNGsus, you cruel god.

I literally just started hiding my entire healing power in a vault and now you’re putting me with the one person who’s trying to unlock it.

“Hi, Kazehana-san!” Midoriya greeted with a little wave. “I’m really excited to work with you again!”

She nodded once.

He’s smiling again. Why is he always smiling. It’s making it harder to lie.

“We’ll probably need your healing flames during this one,” he added. “Iida’s fast..if I get hit, I might not recover in time.”

She blinked.

Panic.

No. No. You. Will. Not. I am not the team cleric. I am a menace with a sword. That’s what I am. That’s who I am. If you get hit, just… don’t. Dodge harder.

“…don’t need,” she said softly.

“Huh?”

She pointed at him. “You are strong.”

Midoriya flushed slightly. “O-oh, uh… thank you?”

Good. Distract with compliments. Flatter him. Maybe he won’t die.

The match started.

Midoriya charged forward with sharp reflexes and fast footwork. Hiyori stayed behind, eyes glowing faintly with her Phoenix Vision on.

She spotted Iida’s flank pattern immediately.

“Left..” she whispered.

Midoriya adjusted his trajectory just in time to dodge a burst of speed.

“Thanks!” he called out.

She didn’t answer.

Inside?

If I say more, I’ll ruin it. Just act like the mysterious DPS with main character syndrome. Quiet equals cool. Cool equals not healing.

Things were going fine until Iida caught Midoriya in a shoulder tackle and slammed him into a wall.

“Midoriya!” Yaoyorozu called. “You’re wide open!”

Midoriya rolled out of the way and ducked behind cover, panting. His shoulder looked bad. Bruised deep. Probably cracked.

He winced. “Ugh… Kazehana-san?”

She hesitated. Sword still lit. Flames in her hand.

Midoriya peeked up at her.

“Can you…?”

She stared at him. At the injury. At her hand.

Don’t.

Don’t do it.

Be selfish. Be mean. Be cool. Be DPS. This is not a healing moment. This is not..

Her hand moved on its own.

She pressed her palm to his shoulder.

A warm, soothing glow spread across his skin. The bruising faded immediately. Pain gone. Tissue restored.

Midoriya blinked. “...The fire doesn’t hurt?”

Hiyori yoinked her hand back.

“It does hurts,” she said quickly.

He stared at her, confused. “But it… healed me.”

She shook her head slowly.

“Didn’t.”

“But-”

“Didn’t.”

“…It was literally glowing-”

“Placebo effect.”

“...”

Midoriya stared.

Hiyori looked away.

Inside?

Abort. Abort. Lie spiraled out of control. Damage control failed. I’m gonna get transferred to the support class and renamed Birb Nurse. This is the worst timeline.

Later, after they won the match, Hiyori sat on the edge of the training platform, legs swinging like she wasn’t in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis.

Midoriya sat next to her, holding his previously-injured-now-perfectly-fine shoulder.

He kept glancing at it.

Then at her.

Then back at his shoulder.

“…Soooo,” he said casually, “just checking..your fire doesn’t burn?”

She stared straight ahead.

“…It burns,” she said firmly.

Midoriya poked his own shoulder. “Then why does this feel… healed?”

She blinked. Slowly turned her head toward him.

“Placebo,” she whispered.

“…It closed a wound.”

“...Advanced placebo.”

“…You used it on me before during the entrance exam.”

“Fear-based placebo.”

Midoriya squinted. “You definitely called it ‘healing flame’ on the second day of class.”

She froze.

Oh no. He remembers lore. He’s reading old dialogue trees. He unlocked my pre-nerf stats.

Midoriya nodded slowly, scribbling something in his notebook. “Interesting… I think your Quirk might have a really good battlefield support potential.”

She stared at him in horror.

SUPPORT???! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

She stood up so fast she kicked the bench.

Midoriya jumped, scared. “W-Whatt-?”

She pointed at him.

Firm. Intense. Like a wild bird trying to assert dominance.

“…DPS.”

Midoriya blinked. “Huh?”

She pointed again, this time at herself.

“D. P. S.”

Then spun around and stormed off like she’d just rage-quit a dungeon run.

Midoriya just sat there, blinking.

“…She’s definitely a support,” he mumbled.

Behind a nearby pillar, Kaminari whispered, “That’s what I’ve been saying, bro.”

After the team match, Hiyori made a vow.

A quiet, internal vow.

No more healing. No more gentle glows. No more “oh wow that fire’s so soothing” comments.

She was DPS now.

She was a problem.

She would be feared.

----------

The next day.

Today’s objective: “Show off your Quirk’s offensive capabilities in a combat dummy simulation.”

Perfect.

Hiyori rolled up her sleeves like she was about to fistfight God.

The class gathered around the outdoor training range. Dummies lined up, reinforced for heavy attacks.

Aizawa stood to the side with a clipboard. “Try not to blow anything up too much.”

“Accidentally,” he added, looking directly at Bakugo.

Bakugo sneered. “I’M NOT PROMISING THAT.”

Aizawa sighed.

Midoriya was bouncing excitedly beside her. “This is great!”

She nodded once. Calm.

Internally?

This is my chance to show off my firepower. Like a DPS!

Offensive. Offensive. Offense-only. Burn things. Break things. Destroy. Let’s go.

When it was her turn, Hiyori stepped up.

Flames already curling around her arms, bright and brilliant.

The class leaned forward.

Kaminari whispered, “Here we go…”

She narrowed her eyes at the dummy in front of her.

Summoned the largest fireball she’d ever formed.

Charged it.

Pushed all her power into it.

This is it. This is my moment. No more gentle glows. No more healing lies. I’m not a priest, I’m THE FINAL BOSS.

THIS ONE’S FOR THE DPS CLASSIFICATION.

She threw the blue-flame ball at the dummy.

The flames erupted in a bright wave of blue light on impact-

and the dummy stood completely unharmed.

Silence.

Then-

The dummy sparkled.

Literally.

Sparkled.

Aizawa blinked. “…Did that thing just… glow?”

Kirishima tilted his head. “Wait, is it shinier now?”

“It looks really relaxed,” Sero added.

Uraraka clapped. “Aw, it healed!”

Hiyori froze.

No.

No no no no no no-

She stared at the dummy.

The flame had restored the damaged marks from the previous student’s test.
It looked better than before.

Her attack healed it.

She just cast healing on a punching bag.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I HEALED A DUMMY. IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CLASS.

I CAN NEVER SHOW MY FACE AGAIN.

I’M GONNA BE PUT IN THE “GENTLE VIBES ONLY” CATEGORY.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW I’M PASSING OUT BANDAGES AND EMOTIONAL ADVICE LIKE A SUPPORT.

Midoriya gasped. “I knew it!”

She turned slowly to look at him.

He was grinning. “Support-type confirmed!”

Hiyori just stared in horror.

Kaminari from the back: “SHE BUFFED THE DUMMY.”

Mineta: “SHE’S MAKING IT HARDER FOR ME TO ATTACK BECAUSE I’M NEXT! I KNEW IT! SHE WANTS TO TORTURE US! SHE’S STILL MAD FOR LAST TIME!”

No. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not happening. I am not getting typecast as A SUPPORT. I will not be the designated band-aid dispenser.

She walked up to the dummy.

She unsheathed her sword and channeled her blue flame, which strengthened it.

And sliced the dummy.

Hard.

The head popped off.

It bounced three times before landing in the dirt.

The rest of the dummy collapsed in slow motion.

Everyone went quiet.

She pointed at it.

“…Dead.”

Silence.

Everyone watching: “…”

Inside?

I want to log out of life.

-----

That night, Hiyori lay on her futon staring at the ceiling in complete silence.

She put her pillow over her face.

Her voice, muffled.

“…I’m going.. to be.. a birb nurse...help……”

Chapter Text

The classroom was buzzing.

Aizawa stood at the front, looking like he hadn’t slept since the Edo period.

“Today’s task is submitting your initial gear and costume designs,” he said. “The support department will handle builds based on your Quirks. Function over fashion. No nonsense.”

Everyone got loud all at once.

“My gauntlets are gonna be SO cool!”

“I hope mine has jets.”

“Ooo I’m totally doing something pink.”

Hiyori sat in the back. Blank sheet in front of her. Blank face, too.

Okay. Don’t panic. Just pick gear that says “I am a sword-wielding DPS menace,” not “I hand out heals and emotional stability.”

She picked up her pencil. Wrote one word.

SWORD

Then underlined it. Twice.

“Kazehana-san!”

Midoriya appeared beside her like a random encounter.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said breathlessly, notebook in hand, “if your healing flame had a channeling focus, you could really expand your range! Maybe even create a field aura that heals everyone inside all at once. Oh! Or cooldown reduction gear, if there is a limit on how lo-”

Field aura?? Cooldown reduction?? Bro thinks I’m trying to main cleric in a PvP zone.

She blinked at him.

“…No.”

Midoriya blinked. “Oh. Well, what are you thinking, then?”

“…Sword.”

“Oh! So, like... a healing sword?”

She stared.

Flat. Cold.

“…It cuts things,” she said.

“Oh! So it’s both offensive and-"

“Just. Sword.”

Someone help me!! He’s trying to reassign my class mid-match. I’m being support-locked in real-time.

“Kazehana-chan!”

There's my savior! Please get me out of this conversation before I lose my entire DPS identity.

Uraraka leaned over, holding a sketchbook full of stars and hearts. “What about a cloak that glows when you use your flame? That’d be so pretty! It can also heal and protect you!”

No. Nooooo. This is worse. I asked for a distraction, not a magical girl makeover with passive regen.

This is how it begins. First it’s a glowing healing cloak. Then sparkles. Then matching support boots. And before I know it, I’m head patting teammates and passing out post-battle tea like some emotional cleric character.

“No,” Hiyori said calmly.

Uraraka pouted. “Aww, but it’d match your vibe!”

My vibe is “accidental boss fight with unlooted trauma,” thanks.

Sero nudged Kaminari across the room. “What do you think Hiyori’s gonna get?”

Kaminari whispered, “Honestly? I bet she gets something that boosts her healing powers.”

Hiyori overheard them and almost passed out.

Aizawa made the rounds. He stopped at Hiyori’s desk.

He looked down at her paper.

“…Just sword?”

She nodded once.

“Nothing else? Armor? Tools? Anything defensive? Any add-on to boost your Quirk?”

She stared at him.

“…Longer sword,” she said.

Aizawa blinked slowly.

“…Right.”

She glanced around the room again. Everyone was talking, laughing, sketching capes and helmets and gloves. Her paper still said sword and nothing else.

Inside?

No healing bands. No restorative crystals or pretty cloaks of regeneration. I’m not here to cleanse your status effects. I’m here to slash them into negative HP.

Midoriya was still drawing.

Probably more ideas for how to “optimize” her.

She narrowed her eyes at his notebook.

He’s trying to overwrite my skill tree. I can feel it. I’m gonna wake up with passive healing aura in my backstory at this rate.

She picked up her pencil again.

Underlined sword a third time.

In all caps.

Aizawa stood at the front of the class.

“Most of you rely too much on your Quirks,” he said. “That’s going to get you hurt.”

Bakugo scoffed.

“Gear saves lives,” Aizawa continued. “It protects you. It can hide your weaknesses, boost your strengths, and it will make a difference in a real fight.”

“I want you to think about what your Quirk can’t do. And how gear might help fill the gap.”

“Take your notes home. Dismissed.”

-----

That night, Hiyori lay on her futon.

Blank ceiling above her. Warm blue flicker in her palm.

She stared at it, expression blank.

Okay. This is getting out of hand. They think I’m a field medic with a tragic backstory. I can’t keep panic-healing people mid-battle. It’s ruining my brand.

The flame danced across her fingers. Gentle. Calming. It didn’t even crackle.

She scowled at it.

You’re too nice. Stop that.

She flicked her fingers. The flame flared, briefly brighter.

She blinked.

Paused.

Then sat up slowly.

Wait.

She pulled the sword into her lap and lit her hand again, pressing the flame along the edge. The blue glow wrapped around the blade like it belonged there.

Still soft. Still warm. Still… healing.

This is the problem. This fire is too friendly. It’s a walking regen buff. It screams “cast this on allies.”

She narrowed her eyes.

But what if I change how it is shaped?

She gripped the hilt.

Focused.

Forced the flame sharper on the edge of her sword.

Then she swung the flame out fast from the sword.

The flame tried to follow the motion.

A crescent shape formed midair-

-and immediately broke apart. Scattered. Flickered. Gone.

She blinked.

Tried again.

Same result. The flame pulsed outward in the right shape, but never held. It dissolved too quickly in air.

No structure means no cut. Just a soft light in a cool shape. That’s not damage. That’s a sparkle animation.

She sat down, frustrated.

The concept is there. The arc. The slash. The “cut everything in my path” vibe. But it can’t hold its shape long once it leaves my sword.

She lit the flame again. Pushed it along the blade. Tried to hold it steady.

No good.

I need something to keep the flame in shape. A normal sword isn’t enough. I need one that’s made for this.

She opened her notebook.

Wrote quickly:

Sword

Current sword = too basic

New design = shape the flame into an arc in air

She paused.

Then scribbled:

Crescent Phoenix Cut!!

Launchable. Ranged. High AoE.

Then, underneath in all caps:

NO HEALING.

NO SUPPORT TRAITS

NO BUFFS

She exhaled.

And added:

Sword = Slash

She set her notebook down and stared at her sword again.

The flame flickered quietly at her fingertips.

----------

The next day.

Hiyori stood in the support lab like she’d walked into a blacksmith’s forge mid-side quest.

White lights. Clipboards. Moving parts.

People everywhere in goggles and gloves.

Sparks flying in the background for no reason.

She blinked.

Okay. Don't be weird. Just explain the plan. No stuttering. No panic. Pretend you’re talking to an NPC giving a weapon upgrade.

A friendly tech student looked up from their station. “Oh! Kazehana-san, right?”

She nodded.

“You’re here to request costume modifications?”

“…Yes.”

“Great! What can we help with?”

She froze.

Inside?

Okay okay okay just say it. Just say ‘sword that shoots a crescent of flame.’ That’s normal. That’s totally fine. No one will call you support for that. Right??

She cleared her throat. “…I want sword.”

The student nodded and grabbed a form. “Alright! Flame-conductive alloy? You want a heat-resistant grip?”

“…I want it to shape flame.”

He paused.

“…Shape?”

She nodded again. “Into a crescent. Mid-air. Launchable.”

He blinked. “You mean like… a ranged attack?”

“Yes.”

“Like a projectile?”

“No.”

A longer pause.

“…Okay, so… what is it, then?”

She looked him dead in the eye.

“An arc of death.”

There was silence.

He slowly wrote: “...arc-shaped ranged flame attack???”

“Not healing,” she added quickly. “Never. No healing.”

“Got it,” he said, confused but smiling. “Definitely offense, not support.”

She nodded.

“Like a… flaming sword wave?” he tried again.

“Yes. Crescent Phoenix Cut,” she muttered.

He raised an eyebrow. “...That's a name?”

“WIP,” she said.

Don't say it's my ultimate. Don't say it's my ultimate. Don’t say “mana cost” or “cooldown.” You’ll never recover socially.

Then-

BOOM.

A loud metallic crash from across the lab. A pink blur zoomed toward them through a cloud of smoke.

“DID SOMEBODY SAY FLAME-STABILIZING SWORD ?!”

Hiyori flinched back.

The blur stopped, revealing a girl with wild pink hair, giant goggles, and grease on her face. She sparkled with pure chaotic ambition.

“I’m Mei Hatsume!” she grinned. “Support Department’s top genius-slash-inventor-slash-occasional-danger!”

She didn’t blink.

Hiyori blinked once.

Inside?

Oh no. She’s the kind of player who builds weapons with friendly fire ON.

Mei leaned way too close. “Crescent-shaped launch attack, you said? Mid-air stabilization of flame constructs? I’ve got prototypes for that!”

The tech guy coughed. “Mei-”

She held up a hand. “Shhh. Let me live. This is the best idea I’ve heard all week.”

She whipped out a sketchpad from seemingly nowhere. “So! You’ll need a channeling blade with open core, vented edge, reinforced with a flame-guidance lattice. I can whip one up in, like, two days if I don’t sleep. Three if I accidentally explode a few test chambers.”

Hiyori just nodded slowly.

“…No healing,” she said again, just in case.

Mei’s eyes sparkled. “Ohhh trust me. This baby’s not gonna heal anyone. If it does, that’s an accident. And also a war crime.”

This girl is absolutely insane. I love her. Please build my sword.

Chapter Text

It started with a test run for her prototype sword.

Hiyori had woken up early. Sky still dim. Campus still quiet.

She snuck out to a training field like she was launching a secret patch update for her Quirk.

Okay. Solo session. Time to test the hidden branches of my skill tree and my new sword.

She rolled up her sleeves. Lit her sword with a slow blue flame.

Base fire? Check. Healings off unless I think about it too much. Cool.

She gripped her sword.

Swung.

Blue energy followed, sharper than before.

Still not perfect. But the crescent shape held longer and made a small cut on the wall.

She almost cried from tears of joy.

So beautiful T-T

Getting closer to Crescent Phoenix Cut 1.0. Maybe.

She exhaled.

Then activated her Vision.

Her eyes sharp and glowing, scanning the surrounding and heat trails.

Phoenix Eye mode: online.

Her flames lit up around her boots. She moved and dashed forward. Fast. 

Then she tried channeling energy upward, pushing power between her shoulders-

And-

Wings.

Not physical ones. Made of blue flames, translucent and elegant.

They burst out behind her in a flare and lifted her off the ground. She tried to flap her wings and made it a few meters off the ground

Then the flames runned out half-way

She yelled.

Loudly.

Immediately fell on her face.

Okay. Note to self: wing takeoff is not unlocked yet. Still in early access.

She got up slowly, brushing dust off her clothes.

So far: slash, dash, wing jump?, aim vision. Not bad. Feels like I’m building a DPS mobility kit.

Then something changed.

The energy around her shifted.

A warm hum at the base of her spine.

A strange surge. Like something slipped past a lock.

Wait…what did I just activate?

Then-

She felt it.

And then saw it.

Five glowing tails swaying gently behind her like wisps of living light.

Long. Elegant. Blue-gold at the ends.

Her soul left her body.

WHY DO I HAVE TAILS. THIS WAS NOT IN THE PATCH NOTES. WHO GAVE ME LEGENDARY COSMETICS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

She spun around. They followed.

She crouched. They puffed out.

She tried to grab one and it moved away.

They're just dumb. And floaty. And way too visible. I look like a boss from a dungeon raid.

And they are screaming look at me. It's for sure going to attract too much attention.

Welp. Time to put them away and have them locked in my skill inventory forever.

She tried to suppress them.

They refused.

She tired hide them in her skirt.

They phased straight out of it.

She tails wouldn’t disappear.

Then the bell rang.

...

Great. I’m glowing. I’m floaty. I’m visible from orbit. I’m gonna have to walk into class looking like a mythical bird mascot.

She stepped into the classroom.

Dead silence.

Every single head turned.

Uraraka: “Oh my gosh.”

Kaminari: “She’s got tails now??”

Midoriya, already pulling out his notebook: “New ability unlocked? Manifested tail constructs? Supportive? Defensive? Mobility boost?”

Hiyori sat down.

Did not speak.

The five flame tails curved around her chair like glowing ribbons.

Inside?

Do not explain. Do not react. If I pretend this is normal, maybe everyone will just accept that I’m now a legendary drop.

Midoriya whispered, “Kazehana-san… is this part of your Quirk?”

She blinked.

“…Visual flare,” she said flatly.

“A passive effect?”

She nodded once.

“…Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“…Does it heal?”

“ No. ”

Kaminari leaned over to Sero. “Dude. She’s like… evolving.”

Sero replied, “Her hair might start glowing soon too.”

Aizawa walked in.

Saw the glowing tails.

Paused.

“…Are those permanent?”

“…No,” she said softly. “Just… stuck.”

He rubbed his face like he already regretted asking.

“As long as they don’t set anything on fire.”

“…They don’t,” she replied a little too fast.

Aizawa narrowed his eyes. “So they don’t burn.”

A beat.

She blinked.

Pouted.

“…They burn,” she mumbled.

“…You just said they don’t.”

“They… might..”

He stared.

“…Do they heal then?”

She froze.

Internal screaming.

Why. Why must you ask if they heaaaaal? Why can’t you just ask if they are like special effects or something??

She opened her mouth.

Paused.

“…They burn,” she repeated, deadpan.

Aizawa’s expression didn’t change, but Hiyori swore she saw a hint of future paperwork trauma in his eyes.

That was the worst possible save. I said it like a twelve-year-old lying about a pet dragon. He definitely knows. Everyone definitely knows. I’m gonna get “Support Quirk Potential” stamped on my forehead like a curse mark.

Aizawa let out a sigh older than time.

“Just don’t set anything on fire.”

Hiyori nodded.

Mission failed successfully. DPS identity: unstable. Lies: inconsistent. Tails: still here.

By the time lunch came around, everyone had adjusted.

Sort of.

Uraraka said she looked cute and wanted to braid the tails. She was denied.

Iida asked if they were aerodynamic. She stared until he left.

Midoriya sketched four pages of tail diagrams.

And Hiyori?

She ate quietly in the corner, tails coiled like glowing streamers behind her chair.

Face cold.

Aura unapproachable.

Inside?

If one more person says I look “cute,” I’m detonating this entire visual effect like an AOE spell.

Cute? These are combat tails!! I will delete that adjective from the dictionary.

----------

The next day.

The tails were still there.

Five glowing phoenix flames trailed behind her like she had accidentally equipped a legendary cosmetic and couldn’t find the settings menu.

Hiyori walked into class like everything was fine.

It wasn’t.

Okay. Day two of tail debuff. Cool. Fun. Nothing says “please respect my personal space” like having five glowing light noodles swaying behind me.

Everyone else had kinda... accepted it.

Iida no longer asked questions.

Midoriya had stopped sketching and started graphing.

Kaminari kept a minimum safe distance like she was an unstable mob boss.

Uraraka still wanted to pet one.

Hiyori said no with her eyes.

They were dismissed for solo Quirk review and note-taking drills. Hiyori wandered toward the practice range for some peace.

Finally. No one trying to ask if my fire “tingles.” No Midoriya with a binder. No Uraraka asking if she can touch the glow. Just me, my sword, and an empty field.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

Calm. Crisp. Controlled.

Not Midoriya. Too focused. Not Mei either. No “accidental” explosions yet.

She turned-

Shoto Todoroki.

Oh. The Ice-and-Fire Prodigy. Half freeze, half burnout, full “I will not be unpacking my trauma today” vibes.

She blinked.

They’d never really talked.

He’s always in the background. Not loud. Not pushy. Just there. The guy whose hair looks like a perfectly split popsicle.

He stopped a few feet away.

Stared at her tails.

She tensed slightly. Braced for commentary.

He tilted his head. “Part of your Quirk?”

She nodded.

“…Do they do anything?”

She hesitated.

“…They… burn..”

Todoroki looked mildly impressed. “Cool.”

She blinked. “...Thanks.”

Then silence.

They just stood there.

Two emotionally unavailable teenagers side by side, like an unspoken RPG party that hadn’t unlocked dialogue trees yet.

Inside?

What is this energy. Are we bonding? 

Wait. Did we just vibe? Is this our friendship tutorial? 

He walked off without another word.

I guess not…

-1 potential friend..

Later, Hiyori sat on the bleachers after drills, sword resting across her knees. Her tails still glowed softly behind her.

She stared at them.

Then at her hands.

Then at the sky.

“…Okay,” she muttered. “Off.”

Nothing.

“…Deactivate.”

Still nothing.

She frowned.

Okay. This is dumb. Everything else turns off. Vision? Off. Wings? Off. Why are the tails bugged?

She closed her eyes.

Focused.

The flame at the base of her spine was still lit. Still flowing.

She reached for it mentally. Like finding a button on a HUD.

Dismiss summon. Close buff. Deactivate visual flair. Come on!!!

She exhaled slowly.

And one by one-

They vanished.

Silence.

Hiyori stared at the air behind her. Blank. Clear.

No more glowing tails.

“…Oh my god,” she whispered.

YES. Finally. Tail toggle unlocked. Social stealth restored. DPS main reactivated. Burn aura: silent mode.

She stood.

Walked back to class.

Expression calm.

Power hidden.

Aura? Still intimidating.

And for once?

She actually felt like the cool character people thought she was.

Chapter Text

A few weeks passed by.

The bus ride to the rescue facility was loud.

Too loud.

Hiyori sat in the back corner, head against the window, pretending to be asleep.

She wasn’t.

She was very awake.

And deeply regretting not bringing headphones.

Why are they all yelling. What is this energy. Why is Mineta talking about “rescue opportunities” like it’s a dating sim. I want off this bus..

“Hey, hey,” Kaminari called out from the front, “what do you think Hiyori’s Quirk would be good for in a rescue scenario?”

“She could fly people out, right?” Sero said. “I have seen her fire wings before?”

Well.. I haven’t exactly unlocked flying yet. But I could jump super high by flapping my wings.

“Or heal them if they’re injured,” Midoriya added helpfully.

Hiyori didn’t move.

Didn’t open her eyes.

But inside?

I will punch this entire bus. Starting with Midoriya. I will light myself on fire and throw myself out the emergency exit if someone says the word “healing” again.

They arrived at the U.S.J., a massive indoor simulation dome full of disaster zones.

Earthquakes, floods, fires, collapsed buildings, each zone designed to replicate real-world rescue conditions.

Thirteen greeted them with a warm wave.

“Welcome, Class 1-A! Today we’ll be working on non-combat Quirk usage for disaster rescue!”

Hiyori twitched.

Non-combat. She said non-combat. I need to show everyone that I am not suited for non-combat.

Yeah! This way they will never think of putting me in support.

As Thirteen explained the zones, Hiyori stayed in the back.

Cool. Still. Untouchable.

To the others, she looked like she was calculating every word Thirteen said.

In reality? She was thinking of ways to get rid of her support image.

Then the lights flickered.

And the air went cold.

A strange portal opened near the center platform.

And then..

Villains came out. 

Class 1-A froze.

Thirteen stepped forward. “Everyone stay calm-”

But it was too late.

Kurogiri appeared. Then Shigaraki with a giant creature behind him.

The League of Villains had arrived.

Chaos broke out.

Kurogiri’s warp activated.

In the blink of an eye, Hiyori was gone.

She landed hard.

Somewhere unfamiliar.

Wet. Metal creaked beneath her.

Her boots hit a ship’s deck, and she was in U.S.J.'s flood zone.

Two students nearby.

Tsuyu.

Mineta.

Hiyori stared at them.

They stared at her.

“…Group assignment?” Mineta asked nervously.

She didn’t respond.

Inside?

Okay. First villain slaying quest?? No time to panic. No time to speak. Be sword. Become sword. Cut first. Process emotions later.

Water lapped against the side of the ship.

Waves churned, dark and chaotic, as several villains surfaced from the surrounding flood zone, treading water like sharks circling prey.

Hiyori stood still with her eyes glowing golden.

Her boots thudded softly on the rusted deck as she assessed the situation.

One frog girl. One gremlin. Seven enemies.

Average level: trash mob.

Stage: mid-boss tutorial??

Okay. No sword-shy panic. No healing. Just clean-up. Stay cool. Stay DPS.

Mineta screamed.

“WE’RE GONNA DIE!! I CAN’T SWIM!! I HATE WATER!! I HAVEN’T EVEN KISSED ANYONE YET!”

Tsuyu blinked. “You okay?”

“NO.”

Hiyori turned to face them.

“…Plan?” she whispered.

Tsuyu nodded calmly. “I can jump us to higher ground if we distract them. Mineta’s Quirk can trap them if we buy time.”

Mineta whimpered. “I-I have trauma.”

Tsuyu looked at Hiyori. “Can you stall them?”

She nodded.

I was born to stall. I’ve been emotionally stalling since Day 1. This is just physical stalling. Same thing.

The villains charged.

Hiyori moved.

She jumped down from the ship’s deck and landed on a lower platform, sword already lit in blue flame. The glow painted the metal around her in cool, ghostly light.

“Hey!” one villain yelled. “That’s the healing girl!”

Her eye twitched.

I will absolutely heal you with blunt force trauma.

He lunged. Hiyori's eyes tracked his movement instantly.

She sidestepped, spun, and hit him across the face with the flat of her blade. He dropped instantly.

Another swung at her from behind. She ducked low and jabbed the hilt into his gut.

Two down. Five to go.

Up top, Tsuyu was prepping a leap with Mineta.

“Now!” she called.

Mineta threw his sticky balls (gross, but effective). They jumped using the balls as a jump pad.

As Hiyori turned to retreat as well, a villain threw a harpoon from the water.

She couldn’t dodge in time.

Her instincts kicked in.

Flame surged up her back, and her phoenix tails came out. It was uncontrolled and purely reactive.

They protected her and knocked away the harpoon..

… which grazed Mineta’s arm on the rebound.

He screamed.

She landed hard, skidding across the deck, sword still in hand.

Looked back.

Mineta, clutching his arm. Thin cut. Not deep. But bleeding.

Her flame flickered.

Her eyes narrowed.

Of course. Of course my tail finally does something useful and it backfires into friendly fire. What is this PvP toggle I didn’t ask for?

She landed hard, sliding across the deck, sword still in hand.

She looked over.

Still me. My fault. My bad..

Her fire flared again.

She reached out before she could stop herself.

Just a touch. Just enough. He doesn’t need to know. No one needs to know.

A soft pulse of light spread over his shoulder.

The cut vanished.

Mineta blinked. “Wait. Did you just heal-”

She turned to him.

Cold stare. Blank face. Voice flat.

“…You imagined it.”

Don't you dare..

“But I-”

“You. Imagined. It.”

Gaslight the gremlin. Gaslight him so hard he forgets what pain is.

Hiyori kept staring at him, and her eyes glowed brighter.

Mineta held up his hands. “YEP. DELUSIONS. THAT WAS A HALLUCINATION.”

Good. Go with that. Excellent choice.

-----

After the boat fiasco, Hiyori regrouped with Tsuyu and Mineta on a cracked platform near a collapsed plaza. They were soaked, scuffed, but alive.

Midoriya and Iida sprinted over, relief written all over their faces.

“You guys okay?” Midoriya asked.

Tsuyu nodded. “Escaped the flood zone.”

Mineta collapsed dramatically. “I emotionally drowned.”

Same, honestly.

Midoriya turned to Hiyori.

“I saw what happened on the boat from a distance,” he said, breath catching. “Your tail deflected that harpoon, right? It moved on its own. That was amazing!”

She blinked.

Oh no. He noticed. He’s initiating dialogue. I am not ready for a patch note interrogation.

He kept going, eyes sparkling like he just got a new data file.

“Do they always react like that? Is it a defensive reflex? Do you control them? Can you? Do they act like shields or-”

She blinked again.

“…They move... on their own sometimes,” she said flatly.

Midoriya gasped. “So it’s a semi-autonomous Quirk extension!”

Please stop giving my random glitches cool names.

“I think it shielded you,” he added. “But it also grazed Mineta afterward. That means there’s enough force behind them to act offensively, right? Or at least deflect projectiles. It might be able to heal-”

She tensed.

“…It was… a miss input,” she muttered. “Bugged reflex. Unstable feature.”

Midoriya blinked. “Wait, are you saying your Quirk’s still… growing?”

“…Patch still downloading.”

“…Huh?”

She turned away.

Please stop uncovering my upgrade path. I’m still figuring out what button does what.

A tremor rocked the platform beneath them.

Iida shouted, “Six hostiles approaching fast!”

Mineta dove behind the rubble again. “I vote we die quietly!”

Hiyori stepped forward calmly.

Sword drawn. Flame steady. Wings came out behind her back.

Her tails hovered low behind her, glowing, twitching slightly.

“…I’ll take care.. of them,” she said.

“You sure?” Tsuyu asked.

She nodded once.

Because I need space. And fewer witnesses. What if my flames hit someone accidentally and heal.

Mhm. Plausible deniability. They will be too far away to see clearly.

Midoriya: “She’s really cool under pressure.”

Iida: “She’s reliable.”

Mineta: “She's the best!”

Concrete cracked beneath her boots.

Hiyori stood in the middle of the broken plaza, sword drawn. Blue fire wrapped along the blade, her wings flickering faintly behind her like ghostlight. Her messy ponytail swayed in the wind.

Six villains stood in her way.

Armed. Loud. Overconfident.

“Hey, she’s alone,” one snorted. “Let’s wrap this up fast.”

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t blink.

Instead, her eyes lit.

Gold-blue glow. Irises sharpened.

Lines shimmered in her vision, movement paths, weak points, enemy trails. The battlefield lit up.

Okay. Trash mobs incoming. Agility stat: mid. Defense: low. Threat level: low. Hit that background music. Let’s go.

The first one rushed her with a steel pipe.

She moved only when he swung.

Step. Pivot. Slash.

Her blade carved the air, and a blue crescent of fire surged forward.

Crescent Phoenix Cut!

It hit like a truck. Sent him flying back into the rubble, unconscious before he landed.

She exhaled softly.

Nice. First hit clean. Zero healing by accident. DPS energy intact.

A second villain tried to flank her, but she knocked him out with her tails.

Boom. Down. I think I am getting the hang of controlling my tails.

Two more came from opposite sides.

Her eyes tracked them before they even moved. One tried to duck low. The other aimed for a grab.

She leapt, using her wings for a burst jump, then came down hard, flames curling around her boots.

Wham. Sword strike. Thud. Flame-assisted kick.

Both hit the ground, groaning.

Behind her, a fifth villain threw a smoke bomb.

Bad move!

Her Phoenix Eyes filtered through it instantly, the tracking and movement lines still clear.

She spun. One of her flame tails snapped forward, slamming into him like a divine whip.

He crumpled.

Last one hesitated.

Hiyori stared him down, eyes glowing.

He ran.

Not today~

She launched forward, flapping her wings, and landed a clean uppercut to his chin with the flat of her blade.

He dropped.

Silence followed.

Hiyori stood in the center, calm and cool, like the final phase of a raid.

Inside?

YES. YESSSSS. NO HEALS. ALL DAMAGE. PURE CRITICAL STRIKES. I AM THE BESTTT!!

Behind a busted pillar, Tsuyu peeked out.

“That was… insane,” she said quietly.

Midoriya stared, notebook halfway open, too stunned to take notes. “She tracked every movement before they even happened…”

Mineta trembled. “She wiped out all of them alone…”

Iida adjusted his glasses. “Not a wasted movement.”

Hiyori let her Phoenix Eyes fade. Her wings and tails receded into faint sparks. The light at her blade’s edge flickered once, then faded.

She sheathed the sword with practiced grace.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t smile.

Inside?

Perfect run. No cooldown glitches. No panic heals. Not even one traitor sparkle. The streak is alive. My role queue is secure.

She walked past them without a word.

Mineta whispered, “I'm never going to make her my enemy.”

Midoriya awestruck. “She is SO cool.”

She paused.

Turned her head just slightly.

“…DPS,” she said flatly.

Then kept walking.

Inside?

Hehehehe. Let my DPS legend grow. Let them think I’m unstoppable. As long as no one asks about my healing, we are solid.

No one will put me in support now! Right? Right?? Could a support do this?!

MWAHAHAHAHA~

Mission cleared.

Plot unlocked.

Next zone: load in.

Little did she know..

She's about to be labeled as a healer very soon.. T-T

Chapter Text

Right after defeating the six villains…

The ground trembled again.

“Something’s heading this way!” Iida shouted.

Before anyone could react, a large shockwave hit, shattering the ruined concrete and splitting the ground between them. The group stumbled back.

“MOVE!” Midoriya yelled.

But it was too late.

A collapsing section of the platform gave way beneath Hiyori’s feet. She tried to jump away with her wings but got knocked by a rubble.

“Hiyori!” Tsuyu called.

She didn’t fall far, but enough to vanish into the lower ruins. She landed hard in a half-flooded chamber below, cut off from the others by crumbled debris and broken steel.

She tried to jump back up, only to be stopped by a shadow stepping into view.

Nomu.

Massive. Mutated. Breathing heavy.

And unfortunately... aware.

Hiyori straightened, blade out, breath tight in her chest.

Okay. Great. Love this. Definitely didn’t want backup anyway. Solo boss fight? Sure. Let’s freaking go.

The Nomu roared.

Hiyori activated Phoenix Vision. Eyes glowed gold-blue, tracking every movement. 

But it was fast. Too fast. Every weak spot blinked in and out like a glitched overlay.

She raised her blade.

It slammed into her before she could even react.

CRASH.

She flew backward, wings bursting out to break the fall, but still crashed through a concrete slab.

Pain flared. Her healing flame kicked in automatically.

She staggered up, coughing.

Okay. Good news: not dead.

Bad news: it hurts.

Also bad news: I think I cracked something.

Also also bad news: HE’S STILL COMING.

Nomu roared again and charged.

She summoned her tails. Tried to block .

But he punched straight through them. Her tails shattered like light.

She then retaliated with Crescent Phoenix Cut.

Slash. Burst of light. It staggered him.

Yes!! DPS ACTUALLY WORKING-

But then he regenerated.

Oh COME ON

The fight had dragged on longer than she expected.

Bruises layered over bruises. Her breathing was ragged. The flames at her back were flickering lower with every exchange.

Then it happened.

She jumped. One last desperate strike from above.

And Nomu caught her mid-air.

By the leg.

Like swatting a fly.

He slammed her into the ground.

You monster! That really hurts! Must have been a crit hit..

The entire platform cracked beneath her.

Her breath hitched. She tried to move-

Her hand lit with flame. She pressed it to her ribs.

Healing kicked in. But slower. Weaker.

Wait. That felt... less. Why was that less? Is my MP bar draining? Is this a cooldown thing? WHY IS NO ONE PATCHING THIS MID-FIGHT?

The Nomu lunged again. She lit her wings and used them to deflect, redirecting the attack just barely.

Pain spiked through her shoulder. She blocked again with another tail, shielding the hit.

But it flickered.

Her flame was dimming.

Nonono. I am a phoenix. Infinite regen. Immortal bird of fire. Please don’t nerf me now.

She swung again out of pure desperation and it barely scraped him.

Then he punched her across the field.

She skidded. Didn’t get up right away. Her fingers trembled. Her vision blurred.

Her flame...flickered.

Gone.

Her healing was failing.

“…I’m...out of charges?” she muttered, dazed.

Nomu stomped forward.

She tried to stand.

Did. Just barely.

Sword raised. Barely lit.

Her hands were shaking. Her eyes have lost their glow and returned to her normal light blue color.

The blade trembled in her grip like even it knew this was a bad idea.

Okay. So that’s it. That’s the bar.

I have a flame meter. An actual resource pool.

My fire is limited . I can’t spam heal, can’t spam slash, can’t even spam dramatic stances anymore.

I’ve run out of juice. My whole Quirk just hit a forced cooldown.

Fair? Maybe.

Balanced? Sure.

RIGHT NOW? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Her knees buckled slightly.

She bit her lip just to stay upright.

“I’m not support,” she muttered, “I’m… DPS …”

Then Nomu moved again.

She didn’t dodge in time. She couldn’t see the attack paths anymore without her Phoenix Vision.

The punch hit her dead-on.

Full force.

The sound cracked across the field like a broken cutscene trigger.

She flew. Slammed into the wall. Slid down like a dropped action figure.

Debris scattered around her. Her sword clattered across the floor, flickering out.

She didn’t get up.

Couldn’t.

Her body screamed. Her flames didn’t answer.

But she opened one eye. Just barely.

Still breathing. Coughing.

She reached for the sword again. Hand trembling.

Didn’t make it all the way.

“…I can still fight,” she muttered from the ground, voice hoarse.

Not true.

But it felt true.

Because in her mind, she was still fighting.

Even if her body was down, her stubborn, class-denying soul was very much up.

She didn’t know how she was still conscious.

Probably adrenaline. Or vengeance.

Or the overwhelming power of being too petty to stay down in front of a monster.

But her vision blurred..

And the once-vivid flames at her back had dulled to flickers. No tails, no wings, just embers hanging off her.

Nomu loomed closer.

Its steps shook the ground like an earthquake in boss music form.

Okay.. So I’ve hit the post-raid cooldown crash. HP at 1. MP at 0. All potions on cooldown. The healer is the damage dealer and she’s currently dying. Help..

Nomu raised its fist.

She couldn’t move anymore.

I really really hope there is a respawn.

But then-

A red streak split the air.

BOOM.

A gust of wind sent the monster staggering back, and a second blur followed by a blond hair, a glowing smile, and the raw power of an S-rank legend.

All Might.

“Fear not, young hero!” he shouted, voice ringing across the broken chamber. “For I AM HERE!”

Hiyori looked up at him with tears almost in her eyes. 

The Giga-Chad is here. No. Nope. I’m not crying. That’s just sweat. Ignore it.

Nomu turned. Roared.

All Might stepped forward. Shoulders wide. Cape fluttering.

“Can you stand?” he asked, just loud enough for her to hear.

“I am standing..” she muttered.

Do I look like I can stand, kind sir?

All Might nodded once, voice steady. “You’ve done more than enough.”

Hiyori gritted her teeth, fist curling tight, one last flicker of blue flame sparking to life.

“Still… got some DPS.. left in the tank,” she muttered, breathless but defiant.

All Might smiled, just a little. “Then let’s finish this. Together!”

Well.. Actually... He is all yours. You can have the loot. I am out of juice. Everything is on cooldown.

Nomu charged.

All Might met it head-on.

The ground shook under the force of their blows.

And for a moment, it actually looked even.

The fight went on for a while.

Hiyori, still half-collapsed, watched from behind rubble, tiny flames started flickering around her again.

Whaaa??! My skill is recharging!!

Then she saw it immediately.

All Might…was bleeding.

Tiny cracks in his armor of strength. Slower steps. Grimaces hidden behind smiles.

He’s…hurt.

Her chest tightened.

He is getting hurt.. To protect me. To protect everyone..

I.. I have recharged enough to heal one more time I think.. 

My body hurts everywhere. I could silently heal myself..

But..

But...

Even if it means.. He will find out..

And before her brain could catch up-

Her hand lit with a soft blue flame.

A burst of healing fire shot outward.

A wave of faint blue light washed over the field.

All Might straightened a little. His wounds pulsed and closed slightly.

...ah… now I have really gone and done it T-T

Then Nomu twitched.

The small wounds it had suffered, tiny cracks, sealed up too.

Her soul left her body.

NO NO NO. AREA-OF-EFFECT HEAL. WHY DID I MAKE IT AOE. I HEALED THE BOSS IN A RAID. I'M GONNA GET FLAMED HARD BY MY TEAM.

All Might looked down at himself, momentarily confused, flexing his arm. His eyes widened slightly, surprise crossing his face.

“You healed me…?” he muttered.

Meanwhile, Nomu roared with even more rage, fists cracking the floor beneath it.

Hiyori froze.

“I-I didn’t mean-”

All Might laughed, booming.

“No matter! We’ll just hit him HARDER!”

Inside?

I have committed war crimes. I am the enemy team’s pocket healer. End me.

The fight continued.

All Might moved even faster now with every strike landing heavier.

Nomu, partially healed, fought back even harder.

Hiyori, despite feeling like she’d committed actual tactical sabotage, dragged herself upright one last time.

Sword in hand.

Even if she was running on fumes. 

Even if she has to be a support against her will.

Even if she’d accidentally healed the boss.

She would fight .

She would never run away from one.

Hiyori forced herself to stand.

Her flames were practically dead. Just weak embers trailing off her hands.

But her eyes-

Her eyes burned once again.

Phoenix Vision flickered back online.

Okay. MP at zero. HP at 1. Buff slots unavailable. But my mini-map and enemy tracking? Kicking again. Good enough.

She stumbled over to All Might’s side like a half-resurrected raid member.

All Might blinked. "You’re back?"

She lifted her sword. It barely lit at the edges.

"Backline support," she said hoarsely, deadpan.

All Might gave a short laugh. “Then let’s do it.”

Nomu roared and charged again.

This time-

Hiyori’s Phoenix Eyes mapped his movements like flashing danger zones.

She pointed weakly.

"Left! No—right! Dodge roll!!" All Might pivoted mid-punch and barely missed a full-body slam.

Oh my god. What am I thinking trying to coach All Might?? He's the actual boss of hero society. Help.

The fight turned frantic-

All Might landing massive blows, Hiyori awkwardly trailing behind, pointing at danger zones like a half-dead field commander.

Then it happened again.

Nomu managed to land a brutal counter, smashing his fist into All Might’s side.

All Might winced, barely, but Hiyori saw it.

A crack in the symbol of peace.

But at the same time, she could also feel her flames recharging slowly over time.

Without thinking, she staggered forward, hand lighting up with the faintest blue spark, and a small wave of blue flame hit All Might’s back.

Instant warm pulse.

Healing.

Tiny. Clumsy.

But real.

All Might straightened a little.

His shoulder flexed.

The slight stiffness he had been hiding, the old injury that lingered even through his strength, eased, just a bit.

He blinked.

"...That’s.." he muttered.

Please just ignore my heal and fight, kind sir.

But worse?

The blue healing wave brushed Nomu too.

The monster’s cracked arm visibly reset itself with a horrible squelch.

Nomu flexed

Looked mildly refreshed.

All Might stared.

Hiyori stared.

Nomu flexed again, like he just drank a Power Potion.

Inside?

I JUST HEALED THE ENEMY BOSS AGAIN. OH MY GOD. SOMEONE PATCH THIS.

"I-I didn’t mean to," she stammered. "I swear. Unintentional heal. RNG accident. Bugs in the system-!!"

All Might just laughed.

A full, bright laugh.

"It’s alright," he said warmly. "You’re doing amazing!"

Then he turned back to Nomu-

Smiling wider than ever.

With renewed strength, he charged.

Landing punch after punch, pushing Nomu back.

Nomu reeled.

Weakened. Dizzy.

The final blow came fast.

All Might roared.

A devastating fist slamming down like thunder.

UNITED SMASH.

The force shook the entire U.S.J.

Wind and rubble blasted out in every direction.

When the dust cleared-

Nomu was down.

Unmoving.

The battlefield fell silent.

Hiyori stood at the edge, sword lowered, one eye twitching.

Inside?

I can’t believe I accidentally cast Group Heal during the boss fight.

This is why I don’t queue as Support. THIS IS WHY.

Hiyori exhaled once, then collapsed backward against the broken wall.

Face up.

Eyes wide.

Mission failed successfully…

All Might approached her, smiling wide and bright, despite his clear exhaustion.

He knelt beside her.

“Well done, young hero. Your flame healing was amazing.”

She blinked up at him.

“…It doesn’t heal..”

I have really done it now… I am going to be placed in support category for sure this time..

Pause.

Then All Might laughed, deep and genuine.

“You saved my life back there.”

She blinked again, stunned.

Please just end me right here right now..

And then everything went dark.

Not because of unconsciousness. But because she immediately faceplanted.

Respawn in five business days. Tell my tails I loved them.

Chapter Text

The first thing Kazehana Hiyori felt was pain.

Then shame.

Then pain again.

She cracked open one eye.

White ceiling. Beeping monitors. Clean linen smell.

Hospital wing.

U.A.'s infirmary.

Inside?

Welp. Respawn unsuccessful. Sent to the Defeated Player Holding Zone instead.

She groaned, tried to sit up and immediately regretted it. Every muscle screamed in a different language.

"Good. You're awake."

Hiyori turned her head, slowly and painfully, to see Recovery Girl standing nearby, arms folded like a disappointed guild master after a raid wipe.

"You drained your Quirk stamina far past its safe limits," Recovery Girl said sharply. "I had to top you up with three doses of emergency support healing."

Three doses?

Emergency support?

Oh! She meant she had to use epic grade healing potions on me.

"You're lucky you didn’t burn out your Quirk permanently," Recovery Girl added. "Pushing regeneration beyond your reserves is reckless."

Hiyori bowed her head slightly.

Recovery Girl sighed and handed her a juice box.

"For your blood sugar."

Hiyori took it, sipping miserably like a scolded child.

“Don’t use your quirk for a few days at the very least.”

Hiyori nodded and kept sipping.

-----

When Hiyori finally shuffled back into the classroom later that day, wrapped in an oversized blazer and moving like a zombie with a pulled hamstring, Class 1-A fell silent.

Not the usual excited silence.

The worried kind.

"Hiyori-chan!" Uraraka gasped, rushing over. "Are you okay??"

Tsuyu tilted her head. "You look... very bad,"

Kirishima frowned. "You sure you should be walking around, dude?"

Even Bakugo gave her a brief, twitchy glance. Not that he said anything, but still. A full Bakugo glance. That counted as a national emergency.

Inside?

Okay. Concerned stares. This is manageable. Better than support stares.

"I’m fine," she rasped.

I’m absolutely not fine. Recovery girl said my respawn cooldown hasn’t finished yet, so here we are. I am not even allowed to use my own skill to heal myself.

Midoriya immediately appeared at her elbow, looking like he’d just finished running diagnostics on a nuclear reactor.

"Kazehana-san, I-!" He stopped. Took one look at her half-dead expression. "Uh. Maybe you should sit down first."

She nodded and flopped into her chair, burying half her face in the desk like a defeated player.

That should have been the end.

But then Kaminari leaned in.

"So uh," he said casually, "you healed All Might, right?"

She blinked.

Paused.

Inside?

NOOOOOOO. THEY FOUND OUT!!

"I…no.." she tried, but it was too late.

"I heard she healed him mid-battle!" Sero said, joining in. "And the villain too!"

AHHHHH. I REALLY DIDN’T MEAN TO HEAL HIM!! I’M GONNA GET LABELED AS A TRAITOR.

"Didn't she, like, heal both Almight and Nomu at the same time accidently?" Kirishima added. "They got even stronger after her flames hit them, right??"

Good. Good. At least they know it was an accident!! T-T

Mina gasped. "Wait, so she's can heal and also make multiple people stronger at the same time too??"

"Yes!!" Kaminari said excitedly. "Did you see the video?!"

VIDEO??? WHAT VIDEO?! AND NO?? I CAN’T MAKE PEOPLE STRONGER??? WHO IS MAKING THE PATCH NOTES WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.

Midoriya whipped out his notebook, eyes sparkling with the unholy light of a scholar who had found a new endangered species.

"Kazehana-san’s flames seem to not only offer self-regeneration, but possible support-type field effects... I wonder if there’s an energy amplification property based on Quirk compatibility-"

Hiyori just sat there listening in horror.

Behind Midoriya, Kaminari whispered to Sero:

"Dude, her quirk is like... so versatile."

Sero whispered back: "I bet if you stay really close to her, all your pain would go away automatically."

"Maybe she can revive people too."

"Ohhh! Maybe she can summon like, phoenix minions??"

"I bet if you get hit by her sword, it heals you AND make you stronger too!"

None of that is true. Not even a little. I hit you with my sword you will simply be hit. In the face.

Uraraka beamed. "You're so amazing, Hiyori!"

Hiyori slowly lowered her head onto the desk.

Face-down.

Silent.

Inside?

If one more person give my quirk a random made up ability again, I am gonna lose it and go offline.

-----

Later that afternoon, Aizawa summoned her to his office.

Hiyori sat stiffly across from him, still in her crumpled school uniform, wrapped in a blanket like a war veteran.

Aizawa stared at her over his scarf.

"...You put yourself in a situation against Nomu," he said flatly. "And survived."

Hiyori blinked slowly.

"...Yes.."

"You demonstrated unexpected... healing capabilities," he added dryly.

She tensed.

Inside?

No no no no no no no. Abort mission. Retreat. Escape through the vents. Self-destruct button WHERE.

She straightened and gave her best deadpan.

"...Mistaken.. No heal... That was..…Visual bug..."

Aizawa didn’t even blink. Just stared at her like he was mentally uninstalling her excuses one by one.

"We’ve been… looking for individuals who might be able to assist in healing a certain faculty member," he said vaguely.

She froze.

AHHH. Here it is!! If I accept this request, another one will follow! Then another! By the time I realised it, I will be healing as my full time job!!!

Out loud, she said, "I don't.. actually... heal. My flame.. Its.. like.. a warm... placebo."

She quickly added, “A sparkly.. placebo.. Very common..”

Aizawa just continued to stare.

A full ten seconds passed.

Inside?

Abort. Abort. He knows. He sees through all my lies. I’m made of glass and he’s holding the hammer.

Finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Keep training your main combat skills," he said flatly. "Don’t overuse your Quirk."

She blinked.

Wait... what? I successfully gaslighted him??? Heck yeah!!

"And," Aizawa added, voice dry, "stop fighting when you are clearly hurt. I saw the video."

She stiffened.

"...Yes.." she muttered, saluting with the emotional energy of a wet noodle.

Video?? What’s this video everyone has been talking about??? 

As she left the room, she could swear she heard Aizawa mutter behind her:

"...warm placebo, huh."

She walked faster.

Faster.

Faster.

I survived the support class change.. For now… T-T

-----

By the time she got back to the dorms, the rumors had mutated even further:

"She can heal by just looking at them!!"

"Her flames can make both allies and enemy stronger!"

"She can revive people from the brink of death!"

Please lower your expectations before I start getting party invites from every sad injured bird in this city.

If one more person asks if I can 'buff their party' I’m switching schools.

-----

The next day.

Hiyori thought maybe,  maybe, things would quiet down once the lecture started.

They didn’t.

The whispers just mutated.

"Kazehana-san’s flames can heal up to 100 people at once. Have you seen the other video?!" someone murmured behind her.

The video!! Right! It must be the source of all this.

"No way," whispered another. "She’s totally a secret agent. Like a U.A. experimental healer prototype."

"I heard," Mina said, wide-eyed, "that if you get hit by her sword at the right angle, your Quirk rank goes up one letter."

"Are we even allowed to talk to her?" Kaminari whispered urgently. "What if she's actually, like, an angel?"

“Right?! She got wings! She can heal! Bring people back from the dead! And looks to match too!” Mina added.

I want to die. I want to die right now. Please let me fade into the background like an unlooted side quest.

Even Midoriya had filled two whole pages of diagrams in his notebook before the first break. Little charts that said things like Possible AoE Healer Classification and Field Buff Activation Radius: Unknown.

At some point, Aoyama shyly handed her a homemade thank-you card.

"Merci for saving our hero~" he said dramatically, sparkling.

The card had her name misspelled as 'Kazanana' with a doodle of a bird in a nurse outfit holding a sword and wearing sunglasses.

She almost passed out seeing it.

-----

By the time lunch rolled around, the rumors had reached critical mass.

"She can heal even a broken heart!"

"She can raise the dead! She just doesn’t want to show it yet!"

"She’s secretly in line to be the next U.A. principal!"

"She’s an angel disguised as a student!"

"If you confess your crush to her, your Quirk gets stronger!!"

Inside?

WHAT THE HECK. I HEALED ONE GUY. OKAY 2. BY ACCIDENT. THAT’S ALL. PLUS NO ONE SHOULD HAVE FOUND OUT!!? EVEN IF THEY DID, WHERE THE HECK ARE THESE BASELESS RUMORS COMING FROM???

She ended up eating lunch in the back corner of the cafeteria with her face buried in a book she wasn’t reading, hoping to camouflage herself into the background.

It didn't work.

She had just successfully avoided four classmate conversations, three indirect support requests, and one emotionally intense "are you recruiting for your healing cult?" from Mineta.

She thought she was safe.

Then Yaoyorozu slid into the seat across from her.

"Would you like to see the video?"

Hiyori blinked.

Paused mid-sip of her lukewarm miso soup.

“…Video?”

Yaoyorozu politely turned her tablet around. A high-definition clip was paused on-screen, frozen at the exact moment All Might delivered United Smash and there, in the foreground, was Hiyori.

Half-collapsed.

Arm raised.

Wings flared.

Blue flame exploding outward like a holy blessing.

She looked… majestic.

Too majestic.

It was a footage of her fight with Nomu from surveillance camera and someone got their hands on it somehow,

“Where… you get… this,” Hiyori said flatly.

“It’s trending on HeroTube,” Yaoyorozu replied. “It’s titled ‘Birb Nurse heals All Might – Secret Weapon Revealed?!’”

Birb Nurse…

Seriously?!

Birb Nurse???

I’m going to eat this entire tablet. I’m going to digest it. I’m going to turn into raw data and delete this footage myself.

"There are a lot of reaction videos on it too, discussing about your quirk’s potential powers." Yaoyorozu added.

Hiyori reached for the screen like she could strangle it.

Too late.

From across the room, Kaminari shouted, “SHE’S WATCHING THE VIDEO!”

Every head turned.

Screams erupted.

“YOU REALLY DID BUFF HIM!!”

“I KNEW YOU COULD HEAL!!”

“KAZEHANA-SENPAI PLEASE HEAL MY MATH GRADE!!”

Uraraka waved a piece of toast. “Hiyori-chan! You’re like a magical girl! Can I commission a transformation sequence?!”

Mineta cried, “I HAVE A PAPER CUT.. SACRED FLAME, TAKE ME.”

Hiyori calmly stood up.

Walked out of the cafeteria.

Straight into the nearest vending machine alcove.

And pressed her forehead against the cold steel.

Okay. Think. Think. There has to be a way out. Witness protection? Memory wipe? Self-exile to another universe?

Then her phone buzzed.

A mail from Mr. Principal.

"Come by the staff office after class. We need to talk about your healing powers. - Mr. Principal"

She dropped her phone.

Let it clatter to the floor.

Goodbye World. This is my log-out moment..

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori was in mourning.

Not for a person. For her reputation.

She now sat stiffly in Principal Nezu’s office, wrapped in a loaned scarf like a post-battle NPC. Across from her, Nezu sipped tea with a peaceful expression.

Which made her nervous.

“Thank you for coming, Kazehana-san,” he said kindly. “You’ve become quite the topic of discussion lately.”

She nodded once.

Tried not to vibrate with panic.

“There’s been… increasing interest in your Quirk. Especially after the recent footage.”

“You mean… Birb Nurse…. heals All Might?” Hiyori asked in a dead tone.

“Ah! So you’ve seen it.” He beamed. “It’s very popular. Millions of views.”

Millions.

Of views...

This is worse than lag. Worse than being party leader and dying first.

Principal Nezu continued, voice light: “There have been inquiries from the Hero Public Safety Commission, Recovery Girl’s office, and even a few Pro Hero agencies.”

She stared.

He smiled.

“I’ve told them you’re still a developing student, of course. But I would like to ask, strictly for administrative purposes, do you believe your Quirk is more combat or support oriented?”

“Combat,” she said immediately. “All combat. No support.”

Nezu tilted his head.

“You do seem rather… adamant about it,” he said kindly. "But the blue flames have healing properties, yes?”

“Nope,” she said. “A common myth. A side effect. RNG-based.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Nezu chuckled.

“A fascinating interpretation.”

She nodded quickly.

He clasped his paws together.

“Well, even if your Quirk doesn’t align with traditional support classifications, you’re clearly capable of incredible things. But I will say this, Kazehana-san,”

Hiyori leaned in.

“Your flames may have temporarily alleviated pain from an older wound of Almight. Not just his most recent injuries.”

Hiyori blinked.

Very slowly.

Then responded like someone being interviewed by the enemy faction.

“Coincidence,” she said. “Also he… drinks protein shakes.”

Nezu tilted his head.

“One of our medics observed unusual cell activity on All Might’s scans afterward. Regeneration patterns that shouldn’t be possible under normal conditions.”

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS GOING. I JUST WANT TO PLAY A DPS BUILD!!

Nezu gave her a gentle, understanding smile.

“It’s possible your flames interacted with his body’s residual strength… stabilizing his condition. Not healing completely, of course. But delaying damage progression.”

Her hands twitched in her lap.

She didn’t say anything.

Didn’t want to say anything.

But he continued.

“Have you ever tried consciously focusing your Quirk on someone with a heavy injury that is beyond repair?”

“...No,” she said tightly.

“Kazehana-san,” Nezu said, now serious, “we’re not asking you to become something you’re not. You’re a fighter. That much is clear. But if your Quirk holds the potential to ease suffering, don’t you think it’s worth trying?”

Her throat felt dry.

She glanced down.

“…Maybe.”

A long pause.

“Do you… want me to.. heal him?”

Nezu laughed lightly. “Not unless you're comfortable. But All Might is aware of the situation. He asked if you’d be willing to try. No pressure.”

Hiyori blinked fast.

The Symbol of Peace?

Asking her to help?

I AM NOT READY FOR THIS QUEST I AM LEVEL 5 IN HEALING AND I’M GOING TO TRY AND FIX A NATIONAL TREASURE?!

But…

He protected me… Protected us..

Even though he was hurt…

Out loud, she said: “...Can I think about it?”

“Of course,” Nezu said warmly. “Just know that even a small act can mean a great deal.”

She nodded again, slowly, like she was buffering.

Then she stood.

Bowed awkwardly.

And left the office without tripping over anything, which felt like a win.

-----

Back at the dorms, she collapsed onto her bed, half-buried herself in her blanket, and stared at the ceiling like it had answers.

All Might.

The All Might.

Need me to try and help him.

Healing some real damage.

From years ago...

Permanent, heroic, can’t-fight-for-longer-than-an-hour damage.

What if I mess it up?

What if I make it worse?

What if I accidentally make him grow a second spine and the government sues me for biological terrorism?

Her phone buzzed.

Another reaction video.

Another edit with wings and sparkles and dramatic music.

She buried her face in the pillow and screamed.

And yet...

Beneath all the panic and sass and flaming sword memes...

She kind of wanted to try.

Just once.

To see what her fire could really do.

-----

The next day, Hoyori agreed to try healing Almight.

Kazehana Hiyori was not having a heart attack.

Probably.

Maybe.

But her heart was going crazy.

Which was understandable, considering she was currently standing outside the door to All Might’s private recovery room like she was about to walk into a boss fight she hadn’t prepped for.

She stared at the door.

Then down at her hands.

Then back at the door.

Her hands were trembling slightly.

Stupid. My hands never did that. Not even in the mock combat tests. Not even when I was up against that weirdo flesh crow villain.

The door creaked open.

She flinched.

“Hiyori-kun,” came a warm, deep voice.

She peeked in.

All Might, out of costume, dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants, looking a lot thinner than his hero form but somehow even more human, stood by the door.

Smiling.

Not his press smile.

His real one.

“Thank you for coming,” he said.

She shuffled in.

Stiff. Silent.

Totally normal behavior.

All Might gestured to the small chair across from his.

“Would you sit with me for a moment?”

She did, trying not to breathe too loudly. Or die.

There was a brief silence.

Then he said gently, “I saw the video.”

Kill me. Delete me. Let the ground swallow me like a badly programmed NPC falling through the map.

“Which one..?” she croaked. “The birb… edits?”

He laughed, low and genuine. “The original. USJ footage. You looked… radiant.”

“…Uninten...tionally.”

His expression softened. “But you saved me.”

She blinked.

“Not really…”

“You did,” he said firmly. “That moment, your flame, it… lessened something. Not just the pain from Nomu. But older pain. The kind I’d almost forgotten wasn’t normal anymore.”

She looked away.

They sat in quiet again.

He didn’t push.

Didn’t press.

Didn’t ask her to heal him right then and there.

Instead, he just said:

“If you’d ever like to try again… I’d be honored.”

She looked up slowly.

His eyes were tired.

Worn.

But hopeful.

So she took a breath.

Closed her eyes.

And for the first time, focused.

She didn’t flare her wings. Didn’t ignite into a blaze.

Just… let the warmth bloom from her palm, blue and soft, like a pulse.

Then she reached out-

And placed her hand gently over his side.

Where the wound was deepest.

The scar he always covered.

He tensed slightly. Then stilled.

The blue glow spread softly across his torso.

Like moonlight over a broken sword.

Her hand shook.

She wasn’t sure what she was doing.

She couldn’t see cells or scan vitals or anything sci-fi like that.

But she felt something.

A thread.

Frayed.

Worn thin.

And her flame… wrapped around it.

Not to fix.

But to hold.

Just for a moment..

Then she pulled her hand back.

The light faded.

All Might exhaled slowly.

And smiled.

“That felt… nice.”

She blinked.

“…Nice?”

“Nice like… a breath I didn’t know I was holding,” he said quietly. “Thank you, Hiyori-kun.”

She swallowed.

“…I didn’t do anything.”

He shook his head. “You did. I feel a lot better now. I have recovered about 70% I would say.”

They sat and talked for a while longer.

She didn’t say much else.

Just listened.

And when she finally stood to leave, he said:

“You’re going to be an incredible hero someday.”

She paused.

Then gave a tiny nod.

“…Still not.. a support,” she muttered.

All Might grinned. “Of course not. You’re clearly 'DPS'.”

She actually laughed.

Tiny. Real.

And left the room before she could combust from emotion overload.

-----

Back in the dorms, she flopped onto her bed face first.

Wings flickering faintly.

And for the first time in days,

She felt like she could breathe.

Then her phone buzzed.

New HeroTube notification.

“Birb Nurse heals All Might – HE STARTS GLOWING?! [slow-mo breakdown included]”

She screamed into her pillow.

Again.

But this time…

She was smiling.

Just a little.

Chapter Text

Hiyori stared at the whiteboard.

Then at Aizawa.

Then at the whiteboard again.

Then back to Aizawa.

Inside?

I really really want to log off.

Aizawa stood there, as casual as always, like he hadn’t just dropped a social nuke.

“The U.A. Sports Festival is in two weeks,” he said flatly.

The class exploded.

"YES!!" Kaminari shouted.

“I’M GONNA GO PLUS ULTRA,” Kirishima yelled.

“Ohhh I gotta design something sparkly,” Mina gasped.

Midoriya was already three pages deep into notebook scribbles. His handwriting was actively mutating into glyphs.

And Hiyori?

Hiyori wanted to walk out the window.

Not jump.

Just walk.

Through the glass.

Into the void.

Nope. No. Cancel it. I’m not doing a sports festival. I’m not about to have thousands of eyes on me. I’m indoor furniture. I was built for shadows.

Aizawa continued, unmoved. “This is your first major public event. It will be televised. Heroes and agencies will be watching.”

Hiyori’s brain: [ERROR 404: Calm Not Found]

"Some of you may be recruited based on your performance," he added.

Cool.

Great.

That was fine.

Except..

She could already feel it.

The whispers.

The headlines.

The bold text overlays on every video edit.

“BIRB NURSE RETURNS WITH BUFFS!!”

“Can she heal the stadium itself?!”

“Flaming Bird Girl REVEALS SECOND FORM??”

I CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN. I’LL DIE. I’LL QUIT SCHOOL. I’LL RUN INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND CHANGE MY NAME TO ‘STEVE.’

Wait.. wait.

I think this might be my chance to change my image once and for all.

If I show everyone at the festival that I am anything but a healer, they will start to see me as dps again!!

I will also destroy the system that gave rise to this nickname Birb Burse.

I will erase every server that holds this cursed title.

I will smite the cloud.

It’s for survival.

If I hear "Birb Nurse" one more time I’m gonna start flaming people on sight.

The bell rang.

People were already making plans to train.

Group workouts. Quirk coordination. Prepping gear. Writing speeches.

Hiyori just slowly sank into her chair.

Face-first into the desk.

Muffled:

“…gonna kill Birb Nurse.”

-----

Later that night, she was lying upside down on her bed.

Legs on the wall.

Arms dangling off the edge.

Tail tips flicking against the sheets like a frustrated cat.

She stared at the ceiling.

“Gotta win..” she muttered. “Get real name… Not bird. Not nurse. Just…”

She trailed off.

“…Sword.”

Pause.

Wait no. That’s worse.

Another pause.

“…Revenge Pigeon.”

No.

NO.

GET IT TOGETHER.

FOCUS.

FOCUSSSS.

YOU ARE A DPS.

YOU ARE NOT A HEALER.

YOU HAVE A SWORD.

YOU DO DAMAGE.

YOUR NAME CANNOT CONTAIN THE WORD ‘PIGEON.’

She sighed and flopped sideways.

This is fine..

I just needed to train harder.

Show up.

Fight.

Survive the public.

Defeat at least three people.

Possibly myself...

Easy.

Right?

…right?

Her phone buzzed.

A new HeroTube video.

“Is Birb Nurse secretly the 2nd coming of All Might??”

She screamed into her pillow.

----------

The next few days.

Kazehana Hiyori had a plan.

A real, actual plan.

Step 1: Train hard.

Step 2: Win the Sports Festival.

Step 3: Rename herself something fearsome and cool, like Ashblade or Phoenix Slayer or literally anything that didn’t sound like a support.

Step 4: Never look at the internet again.

It was airtight.

Foolproof.

But..

She lasted eleven minutes before everything went sideways.

Day One of Training Arc: Physical Training

She started by running.

On the track.

With a headband.

And earbuds blasting dramatic music.

Except…

By lap three, she had already tripped twice, accidentally smacked Mineta in the face, and she was pretty sure her legs had entered a different plane of existence.

She collapsed by the tree.

Gasped like an NPC whose stamina meter ran out.

"...body is... a scam..."

Nearby, Iida ran by at mach speed.

"Cardio is essential to heroic development, Kazehana-san!"

She gave him a thumbs-up.

Very slowly.

Upside-down.

From the ground.

I’m gonna die before I even get to change my name.

Day Two: Agility Training

Obstacle course.

Jumping over walls.

Dodging projectiles.

Cool stuff.

She was doing okay.

Until one of her tails came out on its own and got caught on a flagpole. Then she flung herself backwards into the foam pit.

“…why do I have accessories,” she mumbled from the bottom.

The gym teacher didn’t even blink.

“Five more rounds.”

She rolled back in.

Face-first.

Day Three: Quirk Control

Okay. Her element.

Her domain.

Time to show off.

Time to refine that new move she was calling, tentatively, Crescent Phoenix Cut.

Cool, right?

Edgy. Elegant. Definitely-not-support-looking.

She stood in the practice yard.

Focused.

Flame on.

Sword glowed blue.

She sliced.

The arc flew out-

-and exploded a vending machine behind Kaminari.

He dropped his juice box.

“…Yo..”

Hiyori blinked.

Inside?

Targeting system: non-existent. Damage: maximum. Accuracy: lol.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

He gave her a thumbs-up shaking.

That made her feel… maybe 2% better.

Day Four: Strategy Training

The worst day.

Because Bakugo showed up.

And decided she was his new sparring partner.

Not because he liked her.

No.

Because, as he loudly yelled in front of everyone:

“I wanna see if Bluebird here can survive an actual fight!”

She stood across from him in the ring.

Sword up.

Wings flickering.

But she didn’t activate her eyes.

Inside?

I have been relying too much on my Phoenix eyes. I will be in real trouble when it goes on cooldown like back then with Nomu..

The match lasted… about 17 seconds.

She launched her flame wave.

He dodged it and blasted her straight into the ground like a rocket-powered volleyball.

She had been relying too much on her vision cheats and couldn't see the attack coming without them.

When the dust cleared, she was face-down in a crater.

Her wing twitched.

Bakugo sniffed.

“Weak.”

From the dirt, she gave him a thumbs-up.

With one shaky hand.

"...thank... you... for your... feedback..."

Suffering is temporary. T-T

I need more practice.

By the end of the week?

She was bruised.

Tired.

But..

There was something else.

Tiny.

Stupid.

Unwelcome.

...Pride.

She was getting better.

Her control was getting sharper daily and she could feel it.

Her sword strikes cleaner.

Even her tails, stupid and chaotic tails, felt like they moved with her now.

Kind of.

A little.

When they weren’t knocking over stuffs around.

Still.

She was leveling up.

Slowly.

Painfully.

Comedically.

And when she stood in front of the mirror that night-

Bandaged.

Bruised.

She could have healed herself easily.

But..

She whispered to herself:

“…Not... a nurse.”

And smiled.

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori was going to be calm.

She was going to be cool.

Like a mysterious lone-wolf with an edgy Quirk and a quiet past.

That was the plan.

The goal.

But then she walked into the U.A. Sports Festival Stadium and realized-

Everyone in Japan was here.

And every single person had a camera.

Including a drone.

That was currently hovering two feet from her face.

Abort mission.

Shut down visibility.

Turn off rendering.

Hide player model.

I should’ve disguised myself as a bench.

“WELCOME, EVERYONE!” Present Mic’s voice blasted through the sky like judgment day. “LET’S KICK OFF THIS YEAR’S SPORTS FESTIVAAAL!”

The crowd roared like a wild boss fight soundtrack.

Flames shot up.

Confetti exploded.

Hiyori shrank half an inch into herself.

Behind her, Mina squealed. “Isn’t this so cool?! We’re on TV! ”

Kaminari leaned in. “Dude. You’re on, like, every screen.”

“…What.”

“You didn’t see? They played the All Might clip.”

She froze.

“They put soft music under it,” he added.

“Like... emotional soft?” she whispered, horrified.

“Yup. Full drama edit. Someone was crying.”

I’m going to start a fire out of shame. Me. Myself. Full immolation. No Quirk required.

And then it got worse.

Present Mic’s voice boomed: “And HERE comes CLASS 1-A!”.

The students were introduced one by one on the big screen.

She flinched when it got to her turn..

Footage of her fight at USJ appeared.

Flames flaring.

All Might glowing slightly from her heal.

Then-

“Kazehana Hiyori: The Birb Nurse”

The crowd exploded in cheers.

Mina started waving wildly.

“She’s right here! This is her!”

Someone threw a tiny blue plush bird from the stands.

Hiyori did not wave.

She did not speak.

She stood perfectly still, expression blank.

Someone’s gonna die. I don’t know who yet. But someone.

Bakugo snorted. “You’ve got fans, featherbrain.”

…I am gonna beat him into a pulp later.

Behind her, Uraraka whispered, “You should do a pose! Something memorable!”

“No.”

“Maybe a healing one!”

“I will.. fly into the sun,” she said calmly.

And end it all.

How do I un-trend. How do I bribe the government to delete my online existence.

And then the drone came back.

It hovered again.

Too close.

Zoomed in.

Big screen cut to her face.

And the entire stadium chanted:

“BIRB! BIRB! BIRB! BIRB!”

She stopped breathing.

…I’m going to destroy society.

Kirishima clapped her back. “We believe in you, Birb Nurse!”

I will never forgive you too.

The opening speeches went on forever.

Hero Commission rep. Hero alumni. Participants from last year sharing their thoughts.

Hiyori didn’t hear any of it.

Too busy dying inside.

When it finally ended, the crowd roared again.

Present Mic shouted:

“FIRST EVENT: OBSTACLE COURSE! START LINE IN FIVE MINUTES!”

Students began to shuffle off the field toward the start zone.

Hiyori stayed frozen for a second.

Kaminari passed her. “You good?”

“Never,” she muttered, moving stiffly like a haunted mannequin.

He gave her a thumbs-up. “Cool. See you at the finish line! You got this Birb Nurse!!”

I'm not gonna finish anything except your entire bloodline if you call me that again.

The drone flew by again.

She drew her sword and almost wanting to cut it down.

And the crowd cheered louder.

I hate this place..

But deep, deep down-

Maybe past the flames, sarcasm, and growing criminal intent—

She felt something else.

Determination.

A spark.

Not the healing kind.

The explosive kind.

She stepped onto the starting line.

Quiet.

Focused.

Her flame tails curled behind her.

Her blade was ready.

And this time?

She need to stay in the spotlight-

To change her image once and for all.

The sun was too bright.

The crowd was too loud.

The cameras were everywhere.

Her name was already trending without her realizing it.

#BirbNurseOnFire
#HopeHealer
#HerWingsGlowIRL

She cracked her neck.

Flexed her fingers.

Her sword was sheathed at her side, glowing faintly with blue fire. Her eyes glowed as well.

Her tails and wings flicked behind.

Inside?

Okay. This is fine. Just an obstacle course.

With, like, thirty people. And traps. And cameras. And maybe death.

Bakugo stretched his arms beside her and grunted.

“I’m winning.”

Hiyori didn’t look at him.

Midoriya was muttering Quirk math.

Iida was doing warm-up lunges with terrifying commitment.

Mineta was already sweating and the race hadn’t even started yet.

“Contestants!” Present Mic shouted. “GET READY!”

A countdown appeared in the sky.

5… 4…

Hiyori took a breath.

3… 2…

Focused her flames.

1-

GO!!

Chaos.

Absolute chaos.

The starting platform dropped.

Everyone launched forward.

Hiyori immediately ignited her wings and kicked off the ground with a blazing jump.

Wings flared.

She soared briefly over the first trap, a collapsing floor pit, and landed awkwardly, rolled once, and kept sprinting.

“MOVE, BIRB GIRL!” Bakugo roared, blasting past her like an angry rocket.

She coughed on his smoke.

“…rude.”

She kept running.

Dodged a spiked column.

Nearly tripped over Mineta, who had panicked and latched onto her ankle.

She kicked him off like a weighted emoji and kept going.

Focus. No healing. No glowing. Just damage. Just run. Just-

A student in front of her tripped.

Uraraka.

Slipped on debris.

And in a total reflex moment-

Her tails flicked out and caught her .

Stabilized her.

She looked at her.

“Thanks Hiyori-chan!!”

She blinked.

“…accident.”

And she could hear the crowd's cheer getting louder.

Hiyori screamed inside.

NO. THAT DOESN’T COUNT.

I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAVE HER.

DON’T CLIP THAT. DON’T EDIT THAT INTO A MONTAGE.

She took off again, sprinting up a slope covered in metal plates.

Sero zipped by with his tape.

Uraraka floated over a spike trap like a gentle balloon.

Then-

CRACK!

A piece of debris flew toward Kaminari’s head.

Hoyori’s eyes notinced it immediately.

She sliced it.

And the debris got cut cleanly in half.

He blinked.

“You SAVED ME.”

“NO. I DIDN’T,” she said immediately.

“But you just-”

“SHUT UP. RUN.”

STOP GIVING ME REP AS A TEAM PLAYER. I AM NOT A SUPPORT-TYPE. I AM JUST REACTING. OUT OF PRACTICALITY. AND PANIC.

She had reached the mid-point.

Giant mechanical arms swung across the path.

Hiyori is about to dodge left so she boosted her flames, and jumped through a narrow gap mid-swing..

However, she immediately saw that Shoji behind her will get hit mid-air if she dodges.

So she took the hit full on, blocking it with her wings.

And they both hit back, tumbling onto a ledge.

He grunted. “You saved me there.”

She groaned. “..Tragedy.”

He helped her up. She burned brighter.

Literally.

“Thank you! Seriously. If you didn't break the force of the punch, I would have gotten seriously injured.”

If I save one more person I swear I’m going to set my own shoes on fire. Like actual fire.

The final stretch was a narrow bridge over simulated lava.

Fake, probably.

Hopefully.

She ran for it.

Midoriya was ahead.

Bakugo and Todoroki were locked in a weird silent rivalry sprint.

The wind whipped her face.

Flames pulsed around her feet.

And she grinned.

Okay. This run was pretty bad.

It’s awful.

Why did I end up saving people when it's clearly not the quest and I am trying to change my image to dps..

The finish line was close.

She took one last flying leap.

And landed hard.

Skidded past the line.

And immediately face-planted into the grass.

Cheers exploded around her.

“AND THAT’S A WRAP FOR ROUND ONE!” Present Mic shouted. “WHAT AN EXPLOSIVE START!”

The camera zoomed in.

Hiyori looked up from the ground.

Just enough energy to wheeze.

"…not…a…nurse.”

The crowd screamed louder.

-----

Kazehana Hiyori did not win the Obstacle Course.

She placed 6th.

Which was actually really good.

Really respectable.

But unfortunately-

It meant she still had to go for Round Two.

Which meant more attention.

Which meant more “Birb Nurse” fan signs.

And worst of all?

She got interviewed.

Live.

On camera.

With a microphone.

"Here with us is Kazehana Hiyori!" the reporter chirped. "Rising star of Class 1-A! Trending nationally as the ‘Birb Nurse’. How do you feel after that explosive performance?"

Hiyori stared into the lens like it had personally betrayed her.

The mic hovered near her mouth.

"...I… ran."

"Yes! And very well!" the reporter laughed. "You also saved at least three classmates mid-race. Tell us, was that your strategy going in?"

She blinked.

“…No. I didn't save.. anyone..”

"So modest!" the reporter beamed. "Would you say you're more comfortable as a team-oriented hero?"

“…No.”

"What drives you as a competitor?"

“…dps.”

"Ah… interesting! And what would you like to say to your growing fanbase?"

She paused.

Looked directly into the camera.

Flames lightly flickering from her shoulders.

"...not a nurse."

After the broadcast, she fled.

Bolted.

Found an old empty vending machine and sat inside it, knees to chest, face blank.

That’s where Uraraka found her ten minutes later.

"Hey, um… are you okay?"

Hiyori nodded.

Very slowly.

Uraraka tried to open the door of the vending machine. "I saw the interview," Uraraka said softly. "You did great!"

“…I threatened Japan.”

"But you did it calmly! That’s very mature!"

Hiyori groaned and pulled her hood over her face.

Then Kaminari showed up.

With his phone.

"Dude. I have amazing news.”

“No.”

“#NotANurse is now trending higher than #BirbNurse.”

She froze.

“…Really?”

That's really really good news!!

“Yup. And someone made an edit of your saves during the run!! With a super good background music too!’”

…Please end me now..

“It looks sick! ”

Mina slid into the scene.

“ALSO you’ve got, like, four fan pages now. One of them is just screenshots of your blank expressions. People are going crazy over how you keep your expressions so consistent under different circumstances!"

...Please deactivate the internet..

Back at the dorm that night, she tried to decompress.

Didn’t work.

People kept sending her memes.

One of the support course students emailed a pitch for “using her flames to heal multiple people at once.”

She responded with a single JPEG of fire.

When she lay down in bed, surrounded by silence, she stared at the ceiling and-

Smiled.

A little.

Because somehow, despite the memes, the titles, and the digital torment..

She didn’t suck.

She placed top six.

She helped people.

Not on purpose, obviously.

But still.

She did.

And tomorrow?

She’d be back.

Sword in hand.

Wings flicking.

Not as a nurse.

But a real contender.

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori sipped her juice box.

That was her current emotional state: juice box.

The tournament bracket had just gone up. Everyone was crowding around it. People were gasping. Laughing. Groaning. Mineta was openly weeping.

She took another sip.

Then glanced at the board.

Match 5: Kazehana Hiyori vs. Hitoshi Shinso

She squinted.

“…Who?”

Kaminari leaned in. “Oof. Shinso.”

She blinked. “He… from 1-B?”

“General Studies,” Kaminari corrected.

“…Oh.”

Right. One of those background NPC classes.

“He’s... got a weird Quirk,” Mina said ominously.

Hiyori blinked again.

Okay.

Cool.

Don't we all got weird quirks..

“What’s his Quirk...?” she asked.

Everyone hesitated.

Kaminari scratched his head. “It’s... kind of complicated.”

Midoriya started saying something with too many syllables, but she wasn’t listening anymore. Her brain has stopped working from information overload.

Whatever.

Doesn’t matter.

Just another fight.

He could probably turn himself into a beast or something. Maybe claws and sharp teeths too.

Ohh. That would look so cool! Totally 100% dps!!!

She took another sip and wandered off, completely unconcerned.

-----

Shinso appeared just before the match, walking up like he’d been spawned out of a shadow.

“Hey,” he said smoothly.

She blinked.

Didn’t respond.

He smiled. “You’re Hiyori, right?”

She kept blinking.

Maybe if I don’t say anything, he’ll go away. Like an aggressive dialogue box.

“You’re pretty quiet,” he said.

Still no response.

He stepped a bit closer. “Not much of a talker?”

Okay, this guy is either a therapist or a side quest NPC.

Why is he speaking like we’re about to unlock shared trauma?

She pointed at him.

Then looked at Kaminari.

“…This the guy?”

“Y-yeah,” Kaminari nodded.

Hiyori turned back to Shinso.

Blank expression.

One blink.

Then muttered: “…He’s smaller than I thought.”

Shinso’s smile twitched.

She gave him a slow thumbs-up and walked off to the prep zone.

-----

At The Arena.

Hiyori stood in her corner.

Wings out. Sword out. Tails out. Brain going full spiral from thinking of the crowd that was watching her.

Okay.

Stay calm.

Objective: Win.

Don’t die.

Try not to sneeze.

Don’t trip.

Main objective: Don’t get called Birb Nurse again.

Shinso stood across from her. Cool. Calm. Creepy.

He raised one hand lazily.

“You sure you’re ready for this?”

She blinked.

Wait, is that part of the rules? Do I have to confirm readiness with my opponent?

She did not respond.

“Not much of a talker, huh?” he tried again.

Still no response.

He stepped forward. “That’s fine. Makes you easier to beat.”

She tilted her head.

Okay.

Rude.

“After all,” he added, “you’re not a real fighter. You’re just a glorified nurse.”

...Okay. You are really starting to make me mad.

Seriously tho. What is this dude’s class?

Is he a tank-bait build?

He’s just standing there throwing taunts like it’s an MMO boss phase.

She stepped forward. Sword low. Blank-faced.

Flames curled at her feet.

“Don’t like hearing the truth?” he goaded.

Is this his strategy?

Talk me to death?

She flared her wings once.

He didn’t even flinch. “I bet they only keep you around because you can patch them up after real heroes do the fighting.”

Oho.

Okay.

You wanna go?

She got into a stance to launch forward.

Didn’t say a word.

Eyes narrowed.

Sword ignited.

“You’re just a background character,” he said, voice sharp. “A walking first-aid kit with wings.”

And that was it.

That was the final straw.

She boosted forward like a shot.

Wings blasted and flames trailed behind her like a missile.

She didn’t even announce it.

Didn’t scream.

Didn’t make a dramatic anime declaration.

She just appeared behind him in a burst of flame.

Sword pressed to the back of his neck before he even turned around.

The bell rang.

KO – Kazehana Hiyori wins.

Crowd: screaming.

Shinso: frozen.

Hiyori: blank expression. Slightly annoyed.

He turned his head slowly.

She leaned close and whispered-

“…You talk too much..”

Then bonked him on the head with the hilt of her blade and walked away.

-----

Backstage.

Kaminari was on the floor.

Mina was crying from laughter.

“You didn’t even know his Quirk??” Kaminari wheezed.

Hiyori sipped her juice box and shrugged.

She sat down on the bench like nothing happened.

Internally?

Okay so he was t rying to make me say something?

And he can mind control if I respond??

That's his Quirk???

LMAO.

Unfortunate.

Chapter Text

The tournament bracket glowed on the wall.

Kazehana Hiyori vs. Midoriya Izuku

She stared.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t move.

Juice box halfway to her mouth.

No..

Kaminari leaned over her shoulder. “Yo, that’s a solid matchup.”

She blinked once.

Still didn’t speak.

Nope.

Nope nope nope.

Mina grinned. “You’ve got this! Midoriya’s strong, but you’ve got firepower. Get it? Fire? Hehe.”

“Y-yeah,” Kaminari added. “And, like, sword skills and terrifying wings. You’re probably the strongest person left.”

She slowly lowered her juice box.

“…Don’t want to.”

“What?”

Then she walked away.

Didn’t explain.

Backstage, ten minutes later.

She sat in a corner.

Staring at the wall like it had answers.

Midoriya is… my first friend.

He helped me pick up my notes when I dropped them on day two.

He lent me his spare pencil.

He said “good luck” before the Quirk Test.

He looked at me like I wasn’t weird.

Just... new.

Now she had to fight him.

In front of everyone.

With a flaming sword.

While he smiled nervously and probably apologized every time he punched.

She hugged her knees tighter.

I don’t want to hurt him and feel bad about it.

Or worse..hold back, and he beats me because I hesitated.

She didn’t fear losing.

She feared looking at him afterward and seeing him scared of her.

Seeing him flinch when she reached for her sword.

A familiar memory from her past life was returning to haunt her again.

What if he doesn’t talk to me again?

What if I mess this up?

What if this fight rewrites whatever we had into something awkward and distant and...

She shut her eyes.

Tried to breathe.

“Um…”

She opened one eye.

Midoriya stood a few feet away, smiling nervously.

“I just- I saw the bracket. I guess we’re… up next.”

She nodded once.

Didn’t meet his eyes.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I know we’re friends, and I really don’t want to hurt you or anything, but I also really respect you, so I’m going to try my best.”

Pause.

He looked nervous.

“…Is that okay?”

She nodded again.

Then stood.

Shoulders stiff.

Didn’t speak.

He smiled, still unsure.

But she turned away before he could see her face.

Please still talk to me after this..

-----

The arena buzzed.

Too loud.

Too bright.

Kazehana Hiyori stood in her corner of the ring, eyes fixed ahead.

Sword ready, but lowered.

And across from her..

Midoriya stood, arms raised, feet planted.

Trying to smile.

Trying not to look nervous.

He was failing.

She blinked.

Then looked away.

You’re my friend.

The first one.

The first person who remembered my name.

Who didn’t flinch when I said nothing back.

Who smiled even when I was awkward and quiet and weird.

And now I have to fight you.

Buzzer.

Begin.

Neither of them moved.

Not at first.

Hiyori shifted slightly.

Weight adjusted.

No stance.

Just watching.

Midoriya took a breath.

“I’ll do my best,” he called out.

She winced.

Didn’t respond.

Don’t say stuff like that.

It makes this worse.

He stepped forward.

She dodged on instinct and a short boost from her wings, clean evasion.

He didn’t follow up.

Paused.

She landed light.

No counterattack.

Just circled.

Careful.

Midoriya dashed again, this time with a basic combo: fake left, spin right, and low punch.

She blocked it with her sword, flat side, no edge.

He nodded.

She didn’t.

Just backed off.

Their next few exchanges were fast.

Clean.

Technical.

Her blade never cut.

His fists never fully landed.

The crowd didn’t notice.

But they knew.

They both knew.

They were both holding back.

Midoriya said it first.

“You’re pulling your swings.”

She blinked.

“…So are you.”

He smiled again.

Not quite happy.

“Why are we doing this?”

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t know how to.

Just looked at him.

And thought.

Because we both signed up for this.

Because we both want to prove we’re strong.

Because we’re afraid of what happens if we go too far.

“…Should we stop?” he asked.

She hesitated.

Then shook her head.

“…You’ll blame yourself.”

He blinked.

“What?”

She looked down.

“…If you lose because I didn’t try… you’ll blame yourself.”

That silenced him.

Then he nodded.

Quietly.

“…Okay.”

The next dash was sharper.

Midoriya moved with real intent.

10% One for All power.

Hiyori’s eyes flared.

Wings blasted and her blade swung.

He dodged.

She grazed his arm.

He clipped her shoulder.

They both reset, breathing harder.

That was real.

That counted.

The crowd didn’t know why it suddenly felt heavier.

But it did.

No more fake sparring.

No more awkward smiles.

This was a real fight now.

Between two people who didn’t want to hurt each other

But also didn’t want to let each other down.

Please don’t break.

Please don’t make me choose..

They circled each other now.

Breathing hard.

Dust rising.

Sweat dripping.

But still..

No one had landed the final blow.

Midoriya was fast.

She was faster.

He was calculating.

She was instinctive.

But neither of them wanted to win like this.

Not really.

Even if this is a game world..

He is still my first real friend..

In both worlds...

The first person here who smiled at me like I wasn’t weird.

And now I have to hurt him to win?..

The same way I did with..

She didn’t hold back in her movements.. not exactly.

But she aimed wide. Landed close.

Her sword skimmed cloth, not skin.

Flame hissed across empty air.

Midoriya? Same. His hits connected, but not deep.

Controlled.

He was treating her like glass.

She was treating him like glass.

They both knew it.

And it hurt.

More than the bruises.

“Are you… okay?” he asked between hits.

She flared her wings and dodged another burst.

"...Don't ask. Just fight.”

Don’t be kind. It makes it worse.

He lunged again.

She parried.

Their attacks were fast, clean, but wrong somehow.

Incomplete.

She could hear the audience getting restless. Confused.

Was this strategy?

Nerves?

Something else?

She didn’t care.

All she could think was.

Please don’t get hurt.

But also..please fight me for real.

Her sword flickered, cutting through another ground smash from his fist. His sleeve tore.

She saw him wince.

He didn’t stop.

Didn’t pull back.

He pushed forward, right into her space, and she had to twist to avoid elbowing his neck.

Close.

Too close.

The kind of distance where emotion leaks into your stance.

Where breath stutters.

Where eyes say more than fists.

But I don’t want to win if it means hurting him, and he stops trusting me.

Their next exchange was harder.

Cleaner.

Midoriya was learning her rhythm. Fast.

She kept switching angles, but he adjusted mid-dash.

“Stop reading me,” she muttered.

“I can’t help it,” he panted.

“You’re a good fighter.”

She blinked.

Flinched.

Not now.

Not compliments now.

“Then fight me like I am,” she whispered.

They were both breathing hard now.

Midoriya’s sleeves were torn, legs dusted in dirt, hair a mess.

Hiyori stood with her sword low, shoulder heaving slightly, flame aura cracked and flickering.

No words.

Just focus.

Determination.

Respect.

Okay. Final phase.

No more pulling hits.

No more worrying.

We fight.

He dashed in fast.

Too fast.

10%?

No.

More.

Much more.

Hiyori’s Phoenix Eyes activated on instinct, tracking every twitch, every shift in movement.

She caught his footwork.

Pivoted.

Slashed wide and low.

He blocked with a burst of One For All with his bracer glowing, arm crackling.

The blow connected.

Too hard.

CRACK.

He screamed.

The crowd gasped.

Midoriya dropped to one knee, clutching his right arm.

Shaking.

Wincing.

Still trying to stand.

Still trying to push.

She stared.

Frozen.

H-he’s still trying to fight...

Still trying to win.

He’s gonna...

His arm was twisted at the joint.

Burnt with his own power.

Sparks danced along his elbow, out of control.

He looked up at her, eyes wide and pained.

Still smiling.

“…I’m okay—”

No you're not!!

She dropped her sword.

Ran.

Closed the distance in a blink.

Midoriya flinched slightly.

And then froze as her hand landed gently on his shoulder.

Her palm glowed.

Bright.

Soft.

Blue.

The flame curled around his injury like silk.

No burn.

Just warmth.

And stillness.

The cracks began to fade.

The swelling stopped.

The pain dimmed.

Midoriya stared at her.

Everyone stared at her.

The whole arena held its breath.

Hiyori didn’t look at the crowd.

Didn’t hear the gasps.

Didn’t care.

She let them see.

Let them know.

This isn’t about image anymore.

This is about him.

Midoriya whispered, “You’re… healing me?”

She didn’t answer.

Just kept her hand steady.

Her flame steady.

Her expression unreadable.

Until finally, softly:

“…Idiot.”

He blinked.

She looked up.

Just slightly.

“…Should’ve tapped out.”

“I wanted to prove I could keep up.”

“…You did.”

The healing finished.

She stepped back.

Retracted her flame.

Midoriya looked down at his arm, as good as new again. The pain gone, the blue glow fading from her touch.

She turned away.

Silent.

The crowd still frozen.

"I..I giv-"

Midoriya raised his hand and cut her off.

"I forfeit.”

Gasps rippled through the stadium.

Even the ref hesitated.

Present Mic nearly dropped his mic.

But they knew the fight was over.

“MIDORIYA IZUKU HAS FORFEITED! WHAT A STUNNING DISPLAY FROM BOTH OF THEM!!”

Midoriya stood tall, eyes still on Hiyori’s back.

“I didn’t come here to hurt my friend.”

She paused mid-step.

Didn’t turn around.

Didn’t move.

Just… stood there.

You idiot.

Now everyone’s gonna think we’re soft and unfit to be dps.

But her throat felt too full to say anything back.

The crowd erupted.

Cameras flashed.

Kaminari screamed.

Mina was sobbing into a half-eaten rice ball.

Aizawa still didn’t blink.

Bakugo: “Tch. Idiots.”

But even he didn’t look annoyed.

Just… quiet.

-----

Backstage.

Hiyori sat on a bench.

Juice box in hand.

Blank stare.

Still glowing faintly from adrenaline.

And then, someone slid down beside her.

Midoriya.

Arm freshly wrapped.

Not from injury.. just precaution.

He didn’t speak.

Didn’t make it weird.

Just sat.

After a pause, she muttered:

“…Still friends?”

He smiled.

Soft.

Certain.

“Always.”

She sipped.

Nodded once.

Then..

A small smile.

Quick.

Real.

Just for a second.

He froze.

Eyes wide.

Turned his head away fast.

Shoulders twitching.

She blinked once.

Looked down.

Weirdo.

She sipped again.

Still smiling.

----------

Some time passed.

Kazehana Hiyori sat on a bench backstage.

Wrapped in a towel.

Holding a juice box.

Blank stare.

Okay.

So.

Let’s recap.

I fought my first friend.

I blocked 90% of his punches.

He broke his own arm trying to keep up.

I healed him.

And now everyone for sure think I’m a support character.

Midoriya sat a few feet away, also wrapped in bandages.

He waved weakly. “Thanks again for... y’know. The save.”

Hiyori sipped her juice box.

“…Didn’t save you..”

He smiled anyway. “You’re really amazing, Hiyori.”

Nope. Don’t like that.

Too soft.

I’m a sword. Not a healing crystal.

A loud beep echoed across the hall.

Sero peeked around the corner.

“Round three is posted.”

Hiyori didn’t move.

Sipped.

Midoriya looked over Sero’s shoulder.

“Oh… Uh. You’re up against Todoroki.”

Hiyori blinked.

Lowered the juice box.

“…Which one is that again.”

Midoriya smiled nervously. “The quiet one with half-white hair and a huge fanbase. Likes ice. Possibly doesn’t know how to smile.”

Oh.

That one.

Great.

Cool.

I just finished fighting a powerloader with guilt issues and now I’m fighting a human AC unit.

Mina burst into the room, phone in hand.

“GUYS. Hiyori’s going viral again.”

Hiyori blinked. “Why..”

Mina spun the phone around.

HeroTube.

#HealingWingAngel
#Idiot_:3
#MidoriyaSavedByBirbNurse
#BirbNurseReturns

Clips of her healing Midoriya.

Clips of her catching him.

Clips of her walking away dramatically while his eyes sparkled in the background.

All slowed down.

Set to soft piano music.

One had subtitles that just said “birb nurse best healer in the world.”

I’m going to eat this phone.

Kaminari peeked in, watching the clip over Mina’s shoulder.

“Wait. Wasn’t your whole thing ‘I’m not a support’?”

Hiyori nodded slowly.

Sipped again.

Muttered through the straw, “…yes…”

Midoriya's smile faded. His brows drew together.

“…Because you healed me.”

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t look at him.

Just kept sipping.

Slower now.

Juice box nearly empty.

Midoriya looked down at his arm.

The one she healed.

The one the whole stadium saw.

Realization hit him like a truck full of regret.

“…You didn’t want them to see it.”

Still, no response.

But the air felt heavier.

His voice softened.

“I didn’t get it before. I kept thinking your Quirk was amazing for healing, and I… I kept suggesting ways to improve that. I thought I was helping.”

She didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Just stared at the floor like it had personally betrayed her.

Midoriya’s voice dropped.

“I’m sorry.”

Then..

Hiyori dropped the juice box.

It hit the floor with a hollow thud.

She stood up slowly.

Tired. Mechanical.

Like a vending machine waking up for revenge.

And declared, in the flattest, most emotionally bankrupted tone.

“I am DPS.”

Pause.

“I am not a… emotional… birb nurse.”

She turned to the door to pointed towards the stadium.

“...This ends now.”

Mina squealed, “She’s going to fight for her title!”

Midoriya didn’t say anything.

But his face said it all.

Guilt. Respect. And a quiet vow not to make that mistake again.

Too late now.

The birb has snapped.

I will just have to shock everyone with my dps and make them forget I can even heal.

Hiyori walked toward the arena like a ghost.

A very angry ghost.

Her boots clicked softly on the tile.

Her wings already flaring slightly behind her.

Sword in hand.

Juice box..gone.

Abandoned like her public reputation.

Okay.

Objective:

1. Break through Todoroki’s wall of ice.
   
   
2. Show no signs of empathy or softness.
   
   
3. Crit so hard the internet forgets I can heal.
   
   

From the stands, Present Mic yelled, “AND COMING BACK FOR ROUND THREE-OUR MYSTERIOUS BLADE OF BLUE-THE BIRB NUR-”

Aizawa cut him off mid-syllable with a single look.

Mic coughed into the mic.

“-KAZEHANA HIYORI.”

Thank you, scarf man. :3

Across the field, Todoroki stepped into position.

His expression was as frozen as his Quirk.

Blank.

Unmoving.

Not even blinking.

Cool.

Literally.

No pun.

Wait, yes pun.

She rolled her shoulders.

Stretched her fingers.

Ready.

She could already feel the crowd's eyes on her.

Whispers bubbling.

“Is she gonna heal again?”

“Did she switch to support class?”

“Maybe she’s secretly working for Recovery Girl.”

I am about to dropkick them all.

The buzzer sounded.

Begin!

Todoroki raised a wall of ice.

Fast.

Sharp.

Efficient.

Hiyori didn’t hesitate.

Wings flared hard.

She boosted straight into it, sword blazing with blue fire.

CRACK.

She cut through the first wall like it owed her money.

Steam exploded out the sides.

The audience gasped.

In the stands:

Mina screamed, “SHE’S GOING STRAIGHT IN-”

Kaminari shouted, “LOOK AT THAT ENTRY!!”

Sero: “She’s not even wasting time dodging.”

Midoriya, quietly. “She’s fighting like a "DPS".”

Damn right.

Hiyori dropped into a crouch after the second boost, skating across a slick patch of ice like a murder brib on a mission.

Todoroki sent a second wall her way.

She flipped over it.

Sliced it mid-air.

Steam burst behind her like dramatic pyrotechnics.

She landed.

Pointed her sword at him.

Wings spread wide.

This is my rebrand.

This is my damage phase.

Look at me and forget that I even know what first aid is.

Todoroki stared at her from across the mist.

Still blank.

Still not using fire.

Hiyori raised her blade a little higher.

…If you keep stalling, they’re gonna say I healed your self-esteem.

Todoroki blinked.

And finally moved.

He raised another wall of ice.

Bigger.

Sharper.

Colder.

Hiyori sliced straight through it.

Steam burst outward like fog machines on concert mode.

She skidded across the arena floor, wings flicking to stabilize her balance.

Her sword glowed brighter with each cut.

Okay.

Reminder: no kindness.

No concern.

No empathy.

I am a DPS. I am a weapon.

I am… wait but why does he look so sad?

Todoroki hadn’t spoken once.

Not even a grunt.

He just kept launching precision ice attacks like he was solving a geometry problem with vengeance.

But something in his eyes.

Flat. Distant.

Like he wasn’t here.

Not really.

Like he was trying not to be here.

Hiyori slashed through another spike.

Closed the gap between them.

They were face to face now.

Steam coiling around them like stage fog.

She raised her sword again.

Stopped.

Didn’t swing.

Instead, she stared at him.

His frost spread underfoot.

Her heat shimmered between them.

And she said without meaning to, without thinking.

“…Why aren’t you... using everything you have?”

Todoroki blinked.

His stance faltered just slightly.

His eyes flicked up to hers.

Still blank.

But the frost slowed.

She lowered her sword a little.

Added quietly:

“You’re holding back.”

Mina gasped, “SHE’S GETTING TO HIM!”

Kaminari whisper-screeched, “Is this a therapy session disguised as a battle?!”

Sero: “She said ‘no softness’ five minutes ago. Look at her now..”

Todoroki finally responded.

“I don’t want to.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Why.”

He looked away.

“I don’t need it.”

“…Then why are you losing.”

That got him.

A pause.

Tension.

Heat.

She raised her blade again.

Pointed it at his chest.

“…Use your other side.”

He didn’t move.

Didn’t answer.

Frost spread again under his boots.

She narrowed her eyes.

Wings flexed wide.

“…Your quirk.. is yours.. Not anyone’s.. How you use it is on you..”

Todoroki’s left hand twitched.

Just slightly.

A flicker of heat.

Real.

Uncontrolled.

Visible.

And that’s when she knew.

Dang it.

I did the thing.

The thing I specifically swore not to do.

I empathy’d.

I weaponized encouragement.

I’m a fraud.

And then his fire ignited.

Hot. Violent. Honest.

Blue met orange.

Cold met heat.

And the crowd lost their minds.

Flames roared to life across Todoroki’s left side.

Not polite.

Not gentle.

Just boom.

Real heat.

Real pressure.

And the audience went absolutely feral.

Midoriya screamed, “HE’S USING HIS FIRE!”

Kaminari jumped to his feet, “HE CAN USE FIRE TOO!? HIYORI BROUGHT OUT HIS FLAMES??”

Sero stared, wide-eyed. “Wait… didn’t she say her whole goal was to not be a support and give emotional advice?”

Mina nodded solemnly. “Yeah.. I think she might have just healed his trauma.”

Back on the field.

Hiyori stood still.

Sword raised.

Wings flicked.

Flames swirled around Todoroki like a living storm.

She stared at him.

He stared back.

Then, finally.

He moved.

Fast.

He blasted forward with a trail of fire in his wake, ice still slicking the ground beneath him.

She braced.

He threw out a wide-range flame burst.

She dodged- barely.

Used her wings to spin around it, closing the gap.

They clashed mid-field.

Her sword swung in a blazing arc.

His flame wrapped around his arm as he blocked it with the bracer of heat.

CRACK.

Shockwave.

Steam burst.

Both skidded back.

Okay.

This is fine.

I only helped him enter his final phase.

No big deal.

I just gave my opponent a power-up in the middle of our match.

He came at her again.

This time hotter.

Faster.

She ducked under a wide sweep of fire, twisted sideways, and delivered a clean strike to his side with the back of her blade.

He grunted.

Flames pulsed outward.

She leapt back just in time before the ground melted.

Did… did he just try to turn the floor into lava?

Okay. Okay.

Reminder: do not heal him if he sets himself on fire.

Let him burn.

They clashed again, blades and fists, heat and blue flame.

Todoroki didn’t speak.

Didn’t hold back.

Neither did she.

Her sword danced around his fire, cutting through the mist, the ice, the heat waves.

She wasn’t fast enough to avoid everything.

He burnt her shoulder which she quickly healed back.

The arena tiles cracked beneath their feet like popcorn.

Present Mic shouted, “THEY’RE GOING ALL OUT FLAME VS. FLAME!!”

Aizawa muttered into the mic, “Someone end this before the school insurance explodes.”

Hiyori could feel it building.

The crowd’s excitement.

Todoroki’s heat.

Her own stamina running low.

Okay.

Time to wrap this.

I started this arc with a goal.

And I will finish it with violence.

She narrowed her eyes.

Boosted forward with full speed.

Todoroki threw out a pillar of fire-

She cut through it.

Blade glowing.

Blue flames igniting behind her wings.

A flash of light.

And then-

SLAM.

She brought her sword down in a clean arc.

Stopped it just inches from his neck.

Steam hissed.

Silence.

Todoroki didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Just exhaled softly.

“…You won.”

The buzzer blared.

VICTORY: KAZEHANA HIYORI!!

The crowd erupted.

Again.

People screamed.

Phones recorded.

Hashtags were born instantly.

#BlueFlameVictory

#BirbTherapy

#FullBirbMode

#PsychologicalHeal

#WhereToBookBirbTherapy

Hiyori stood in the middle of the steam.

Chest rising.

Sweat dripping.

Blade still raised.

I win!!

And I didn’t even heal him once.

Take that!!

Everyone for sure think I am full D.P.S now!! :)

Chapter Text

Hiyori sat on a bench.

Juice box in hand.

Blank stare.

Mina burst into the room, practically vibrating with excitement. “YOU’RE VIRAL AGAIN!” she shouted, shoving her phone into Hiyori’s face.

Hiyori blinked. Once. Slowly. Like a sleep-deprived owl. “…Why?”

Mina flipped the screen around. HeroTube was exploding.

#BirbTherapy
#TodorokiCrisisCounselor
#EmotionalSupport
#YouGoodBro?

Clips of her talking to Todoroki during the match, the gentle way she said “Use your other side,” and the dramatic explosion of fire that followed. Set to inspirational music.

One edit even had her wings flaring in slow motion while sparkling.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

What the actual heck!!

What is wrong with you internet?!!

I thought I totally crushed it???!

When did I accidentally become a licensed therapist?

Why am I viral for healing his heart instead of destroying his health bar?

I should be trending for sweeping my matches instead!!

Why is life so unfair!!!

Kaminari peeked around the corner. “Dude… you basically pulled off a live-action therapy session in the middle of a brawl.”

Sero popped up beside him. “I saw one video where someone slowed it down and put soft piano music over it.”

Mina giggled. “The top comment says, ‘She healed his trauma.’”

“…What.”

Kaminari burst out laughing. “No, seriously! People are saying you did, like, emotional damage restoration! Did you see the subtitle edits? ‘ Her sword cut through the ice in his heart. ’”

I am going to throw Kaminari off the roof.

I am going to burn his phone and then burn the internet.

I am going to delete HeroTube.

No..

I am going to delete Wi-Fi from existence.

Midoriya showed up next, hands nervously tapping together. “U-uh…Hiyori, I just wanted to say…that was really incredible. You didn’t just beat him. You… you helped him.”

Not you too.. T-T

Hiyori sipped her juice box. Slowly. “No..”

Midoriya blinked. “But you did. You got him to use his fire for the first time in public. You made him accept himself.”

“No.”

Kaminari piped up again. “Dude, they even said on HeroTube that you’re, like, the ‘Birb Therapist’ now. People are asking if you’re gonna heal Bakugo’s attitude in the next round.”

Hiyori choked. “What.”

Mina smirked. “Oh yeah. It’s blowing up. ‘If she can heal Todoroki’s trauma, maybe she can heal Bakugo’s anger issues.’”

Hiyori’s eye twitched. “DPS.”

Kaminari laughed. “Yeah, but like… DPS for the soul , right?”

I hate you guys..

Bakugo appeared in the doorway.

Slammed the door hard enough to rattle a few tiles. “OI! BIRB THERAPIST.”

Hiyori stared at him.

Did not respond.

Did not blink.

Bakugo cracked his knuckles, glaring at her with enough intensity to melt steel.

“We are up next for finals. If you even THINK about ‘counseling’ me during our fight, I’m gonna blow your wings off.”

Hiyori tilted her head slightly. “…Okay.”

Bakugo blinked. “Huh?”

She stood up. Wings flaring slightly. Sword tip grazing the floor. “I am not.. a therapist.”

Bakugo snorted. “Could’ve fooled me.”

She stepped forward, eyes locked on his. “I'll show you.. DPS.”

He grinned. Wide and dangerous. “Good. I’ve been waiting for someone that won’t need me to hold back.”

Then he walked out the door.

Okay.

Let’s be real.

If I don’t absolutely destroy Bakugo in this fight…

The internet is going to label me “Birb Nurse” forever.

I’ll never live it down.

Recovery Girl will probably recruit me soon.

I’ll get a business card that says “First Aid Birb – Healing with a Smile!”

Nope.

Nope nope nope.

Hiyori stabbed the straw back into her juice box with unnecessary aggression.

It didn’t deserve it.

Okay!

New plan!!

I am not going to use healing even on myself.

If I fight the whole fight with just my raw powers, I will be able to swing people’s opinions of me!!

I’ll show them how dangerous my quirk can be!!!

Yup yup yup!

----------

The arena buzzed.

The stands were packed.

The screens flashed their names in bold, aggressive lettering:

Kazehana Hiyori vs. Bakugo Katsuki

The crowd was practically vibrating with excitement.

HeroTube was already flooding with livestreams:

#BirbNurseVsBoomKing
#TherapistVsTherapyNeeded
#WhereToBookBirbTheraphy

Hiyori stood in her corner.

Sword at her side.

Wings flared slightly, tails flicking like embers.

Across the ring, Bakugo stretched his arms, flexing his hands like he was getting ready to murder an entire city.

He turned his head and spat.

Cracked his knuckles.

Looked at her.

And grinned.

Oh.

Okay.

He’s in full maniac mode.

Good to know.

Guess I’m not getting an easy win today.

Present Mic’s voice boomed overhead.

“WELCOME BACK, FOLKS! IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF EXPLOSIVE ACTION! AND I DO MEAN EXPLOSIVE! KAZEHANA HIYORI, BIRB NURSE, VERSUS BAKUGO KATSUKI, THE BLAST KING HIMSELF!”

The crowd screamed.

Hiyori adjusted her grip on her sword.

Yup, that's the exact name I will get rid of forever.

Okay.

Focus.

Objective: Beat him without healing or therapy whatsoever.

Sub-objective: Do not let him turn me into a Birb Katsu. (I can't heal myself after all..)

Bakugo rolled his shoulders, eyes locked on her.

“You better not pull any of that therapy crap on me.”

Hiyori blinked. “…What.”

“You heard me!” he shouted. “I’m not here to get my feelings fixed! I’m here to blow you the hell up!”

Okay.

Good to know we are on the same page.

Guess we’re skipping dialogue and going straight to murder.

The buzzer blared.

Fight Start!

Bakugo blasted forward like a living missile.

Hiyori didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

She raised her sword.

Flames curled along its edge, glowing bright blue.

Wings flared.

Boosted.

BOOM!

The two met in the center of the ring with a shockwave that rattled the stands.

His fist slammed into her blade.

Her wings flared, catching the impact.

Bakugo grinned wide.

“Ohhh, you’re faster than I thought!”

Hiyori stared back.

Expression flat.

Wings flickering with blue fire.

…Your quirk is louder than I thought.

She boosted back, wings flaring behind her, sword raised.

Bakugo rushed forward, palms crackling.

He slammed his hands together-

BOOM!

The ground split.

Tiles shattered.

Hiyori launched into the air, wings propelling her up just as the explosion rippled beneath her feet.

“Not bad!” Bakugo screamed. “But I’m just getting started!”

He blasted after her, palms firing like jet boosters, practically flying towards her.

Hiyori twisted mid-air, sword igniting with blue fire, and swung.

SLASH!

Bakugo narrowly blocked with his gauntlet, sparks flying off the metal.

His grin only widened.

“You’re strong, but I’m still gonna blow you out of the sky!”

Hiyori landed smoothly, wings retracting.

Didn’t answer.

Just pointed her sword at him.

He cracked his knuckles. “Oh, you wanna do this up close, huh? Fine by me!”

The next clash was a blur.

Fire against fire.

Explosion against flame.

Hiyori’s sword danced through the air, deflecting Bakugo’s blasts with precise strikes.

He weaved around her wings, throwing out palm bursts that scorched the ground.

Okay..

He’s strong.

And he’s not holding back.

I like it!

Bring me more!!

She flared her wings again, boosting forward with a slash that nearly clipped his side.

Bakugo blasted backwards just in time, flipping mid-air and landing on his feet.

He skidded, steam rising from his hands.

“Not bad, Birb Nurse! Maybe you might not be a healer after all.”

Hiyori narrowed her eyes.

“…I’m not.”

Bakugo snorted. “Then prove it.”

Both of them boosted forward.

Sword flaring blue.

Eyes locked.

This is it.

No more therapy sessions. No more healing rumors. Just raw, pure DPS.

KABOOM!

The explosion threw her back.

Her wings flared desperately to catch her balance.

She crashed onto the concrete, rolling to a stop, dust and debris scattering around her.

Ow ow ow.

That…

That hurt.

Damn it.

I was careless.

Her ribs screamed in protest.

Her hands shook slightly.

Blood dripped from her knuckles.

But she stood.

Brushed off the dirt.

Didn’t heal.

Bakugo blinked.

He actually looked surprised. “You’re not gonna heal that up? You love playing nurse, right?”

Hiyori stared back.

Expression deadpan.

“No.”

Bakugo laughed. “Oh, so you actually came here to fight, huh?”

She nodded.

Wings flaring again.

“…No more... healing.”

His grin stretched wider. “Good.”

They clashed again.

Bakugo’s fists exploded with wild energy.

Hiyori met him head-on, sword flashing with blue light.

Her strikes were slower now.

And not enough to break his guard.

Ahh.. this is bad…

It hurts like crazy.. my body is not moving as I want it to..

Even if I can see his attack paths, it’s useless if my body can’t move in time.

BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!

Her wings deflected two more blasts.

The third caught her shoulder.

Pain spread through her arm, sharp and raw.

She staggered.

But didn’t fall.

Okay.

That really hurts.

That hurts a lot.

My entire body is aching.

But if I heal, people are gonna start with the Birb Nurse crap again.

I’m not a healer.

I’m DPS.

I'M DPS.

She gritted her teeth.

Forced herself to stand straight.

Didn’t look at the injury.

Didn’t heal it.

Bakugo’s eyes narrowed. “You’re really not healing it?”

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t blink.

He snorted. “Guess I gotta hit you harder then.”

He charged.

Faster than before.

Hands blazing with explosive energy.

Hiyori braced, wings flaring wide.

Her sword flashed, catching the light.

BOOM!
BOOM!

The shockwaves rocked her.

Her ribs screamed.

Her left wing flared, flickering slightly from the damage.

Hiyori was hurting.

Her breathing was ragged.

But she didn’t fall.

Okay.

Okay okay okay.

I really really can’t keep taking those.

But.. but my body's not moving the way I want it to anymore.

My hp is running ridiculously low doing this no heal challenge.

And if I heal, everyone’s going to start with that “Birb Nurse” nonsense again.

No.

I am going to have to finish this quick .

Before I pass out from pain.

Bakugo circled her.

Sparks flickering off his hands.

His expression wasn’t playful anymore.

It was serious.

Focused.

“You’re just gonna take those hits? Really?”

Hiyori didn’t answer.

Didn’t move.

Just raised her sword again.

Bakugo barked out a laugh.

He launched forward, explosions trailing behind him.

She deflected the first hit with her blade.

Dodged the second with a flick of her wings.

BOOM!

The third hit her square in the stomach.

She crashed into the arena wall.

Dust exploded outwards.

The audience gasped.

Silence.

And then.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Hiyori stood back up.

One arm hung limp.

Another pressed her stomach.

Blood trickled down her forehead.

Her wings were flickering.

But she didn’t heal.

Bakugo stared at her.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Hiyori picked up her sword.

Pointed it directly at him.

“…I am DPS.”

Bakugo’s expression shifted.

Just slightly.

Eyes sharp.

Focused.

A flicker of respect.

“Fine. You wanna go down as a fighter? I’ll give you one.”

The crowd was losing it.

People were standing.

Phones were recording.

HeroTube streams were flooding with comments:

“Is she actually not healing?!”
“How is she still standing? Bakugo’s been blasting her for ten straight minutes!”
“Is this the end of Birb Nurse?!”

Present Mic was screaming into the mic.

“LOOK AT THAT! HIYORI’S STILL GOING! SHE’S NOT HEALING!!”

Aizawa crossed his arms.

“She’s really not using her healing,” he muttered. “Is she that stubborn?”

Midoriya, watching from the stands, clenched his fists.

His eyes were wide with concern.

“She’s… she’s holding on. Even though she could heal herself, she’s... choosing not to.”

Aizawa muttered under his breath.

“Not healing… stubborn.”

But he didn’t look annoyed.

He looked… impressed.

BOOM!

Bakugo shot forward.

Faster than before.

Palm outstretched, eyes blazing with raw determination.

Hiyori braced.

Wings flared.

Sword raised.

CRACK!

Their clash sent a shockwave through the arena.

Concrete splintered.

Dust exploded outward.

Hiyori met him head-on again.

Her blade flashed with blue flame, catching the edge of his gauntlet.

He twisted, palms igniting with a scream of fire.

BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!

Three direct blasts hit her square in the chest.

Hiyori staggered.

Her wings flared weakly.

She skidded back, feet grinding against the concrete.

But she didn’t fall.

Bakugo watched her, eyes narrowed.

He shook his head.

“You… you’re nuts.”

She wiped the blood from her mouth.

Didn’t answer.

Didn’t heal.

She could barely focus anymore.

She was moving with pure instincts at this point.

He snorted.

His palms crackled with raw power.

“Fine. I’ll end this now.”

He charged again.

But this time..

This time, she saw it.

His stance.

The shift in his footwork.

The way his hands moved to his gauntlets.

She flared her wings.

Boosted forward.

Her sword flared bright.

SLASH!

Her blade cut through the air, slicing cleanly across his defense.

Bakugo’s eyes flared wide for a second.

But then-

He twisted, palm-first, and pointed it right at her chest.

BOOOOM!

The explosion was deafening.

The stadium shook.

The walls rattled.

Hiyori didn’t move.

Couldn’t.

She stood there.

Sword still raised.

Eyes wide.

Mouth slightly open with blood flowing out.

Her chest.

There was a hole.

Right where her heart was.

The crowd stopped screaming.

Phones were frozen mid-recording.

Even Present Mic couldn’t speak.

Bakugo stared.

His hands shook slightly.

He stepped back, breath ragged.

“What…?”

Hiyori stood there.

Still standing.

Still holding her sword.

Her wings flickered.

One of her tails sizzled out.

Her breathing stopped.

And then.

Her sword slipped from her hand.

CLANG!

Midoriya screamed from the stands.

“H-Hiyori!”

Aizawa’s eyes widened.

“She’s not… MEDICS!! QUICK!!!”

Uraraka covered her mouth.

“No… she… she’s not breathing…”

Hiyori’s wings crumpled.

Her knees buckled.

Her eyes stared straight ahead.

And then.

She fell forward.

Just dropped to the ground like a doll. Bleeding everywhere.

The entire stadium gasped.

Bakugo took another step back.

His palms were still smoking.

His breathing ragged.

“What… I didn’t… I didn’t mean to-”

Hiyori’s body just lay there, lifeless.

“C-CUT THE LIVE STREAMS!!”

“MEDICS!! WHERE ARE THE MEDICS?!”

-----

I-It’s so warm in here.

I don’t feel any pain anymore.

But... Why is everything just.. white..?

Oh! Am I at the character death screen..

Please tell me there’s a respawn..

And what's this blue light..

All of a sudden.

Her body started floating in the air.

Then wings flared back to life, bursting with raw blue flame.

Four of her tails ignited, flaring back with brighter light than before.

Her eyes-

They opened.

And they were glowing.

Ah.

I am backkkk.

Looks like this game has respawns after all!!

Hell yeah!!!

The entire stadium erupted into chaos.

HeroTube blew up with live streams:

“SHE’S BACK! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!”
“IS SHE FLOATING?!?!”
“IS THIS… A SECOND QUIRK?!”
“DID SHE RESURRECTED?!???”
“WHAT EXACTLY IS HER QUIRK??!”
“A BLUE PHOENIX?!!”

Hiyori floated above the concrete, suspended in blue fire.

Her wings stretched wide.. wider than before.

Tails flickered with new life, blazing with phoenix flames.

Her body straightened, wounds burning away, sizzling.

Bakugo stared.

Stunned.

“What… the hell…?”

Hiyori blinked slowly.

Her hand reached out.

Her sword flew back into her grip, igniting with white-blue fire.

Her wings flared with brilliant light, embers flickering in the air.

And then she looked down at Bakugo-

And smiled.

Hehe.

This is the perk of being a player.

I get respawns when I die.

I wonder how many respawns I have tho.

Oh well.

Let's worry about that later :P

Time for round two!! Ready up!!!

The stadium was still.

Every voice silenced.

Every breath held.

Bakugo stood below her, hands smoking, eyes wide with disbelief.

“What… the hell are you?”

Hiyori lowered her gaze. Still flying in the air without her realizing.

Wings flapping slowly.

Expression flat.

She gripped her sword with one hand and pointed at him.

“…DPS. Come!”

Bakugo smiled.

“Good!”

He shot upward, explosions bursting from his palms, cracking the ground beneath him.

Hiyori met his attack head-on.

BOOM!

Their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the stadium.

Bakugo’s explosion slammed against her wings, but the fire didn’t waver.

Didn’t flicker.

Hiyori looked at her own hands.

No more hesitations.

If I die, I will just respawn.

There’s nothing to be scared off :)

Plus I feel… lighter.

Stronger.. somehow..

She looked back at him.

Didn’t speak.

Bakugo grit his teeth. “Fine! Let’s see how tough you really are!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Bakugo unleashed a flurry of explosions, palms firing off in rapid bursts.

Hiyori raised her wings, flaring them wide.

The flames expanded, stretching out like a shield.

CRACK!

The explosions hit-

But the flames absorbed them.

The blue flames started to glow brighter.

Bakugo stopped.

Breathing hard.

“What… was that?”

Hiyori was as surprised as he was.

I have no idea dude.

Looks like my flames absorbed his explosion? Energy?

Wait!!

Ohhh..

I know what this is..

She stepped forward.

Channeled her flames into her sword and launched it.

This time, her crescent cut was several times stronger.

Bakugo barely dodged, a few strands of his hair got sliced by the flame.

He staggered back, catching his breath.

“Did you… did you just absorb my explosions to make your flames stronger?”

Seriously!!

Are you serious right now?!!

Why must I get a tank’s ability of all things..?

This is that tank’s skill that absorbs the enemy’s attack and launches it back..

Ahhhh.. God really would give me anything but a dps skill!!

Bakugo palms flared up again.

“Looks like you got yourself another nice little trick! It doesn’t matter! I’ll just blow you apart again!”

The crowd was losing it.

Present Mic was screaming into the microphone.

“WE HAVE A PHOENIX IN THE BUILDING! Hiyori just absorbed Bakugo’s explosions and it looks like she boosted her flames using that energy! IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!”

Aizawa watched carefully, eyes narrowed.

“That… isn’t just a healing quirk. She is a phoenix..”

Midoriya stood, hands gripping the railing.

His eyes were wide.

“She… she’s using his energy. She’s absorbing it…”

Back in the arena.

Bakugo straightened up.

BOOM!

He shot forward with a trail of explosions, palms crackling with raw energy.

Hiyori didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Okay.

This is it.

Final phase.

Full DPS mode.

We’re going big or we’re going home.

CRASH!

They collided mid-air, Bakugo’s blasts tearing through the ground beneath them.

Hiyori met him head-on, sword flashing with raw blue light.

Their shockwave rattled the arena, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the concrete.

Bakugo gritted his teeth.

Hiyori's wings flared, catching his next explosion mid-air and absorbing the blast.

Bakugo’s eyes widened.

“You!!”

Hiyori boosted forward.

Her sword blazed and launched a crescent cut.

It shot out a wide arc, slashing through the smoke.

Bakugo barely dodged, stumbling back, palms flaring to stabilize himself.

But Hiyori didn’t stop.

She pressed the attack.

SLASH!
SLASH!

Her sword danced through the air, flickers of fire trailing behind.

Bakugo blocked one hit, dodged another, but she was faster now.

More precise.

More… lethal.

Present Mic was practically shrieking into his mic now.

“ARE YOU SEEING THIS?! KAZEHANA HIYORI IS PUSHING BAKUGO TO THE EDGE! I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM STRUGGLE LIKE THIS BEFORE!”

Aizawa leaned forward, eyes sharp.

“She’s not just stronger… she’s absorbing his attacks.”

Back in the arena.

Bakugo was panting.

Sweat dripped from his brow.

His palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy. (Sorry I had to :P)

Hiyori watched him.

Didn’t blink.

Her wings flared wider.

He took a deep breath.

Cracked his knuckles.

Grinned.

“Fine. I’ve been saving this one.”

Hiyori tilted her head.

Didn’t move.

Bakugo raised his hands.

Both gauntlets clicked.

The air vibrated with energy.

“This is it, Phoenix Girl. Get ready.”

Hiyori blinked.

“…I’m DPS.”

Bakugo barked out a laugh.

“I know!”

BOOOOOOM!

His gauntlets exploded with enough force to send shockwaves across the arena.

A plume of smoke shot into the sky, curling with ash and fire.

Hiyori boosted forward, wings flaring as she cut through the chaos.

Her sword burned bright, flaring with blue-white flames.

Okay.

Let's end this now.

We are going all in too.

She charged.

Boosted forward with a streak of blue fire, wings trailing like comets.

Her sword flared with light.

Crescent Phoenix Cut!

The blade came down, flames spiraling outward.

Bakugo’s eyes flared.

“NOT THIS TIME!”

He threw out his hands.

BOOM!
BOOM!

Two direct explosions met her mid-air.

Hiyori’s wings flared, catching the blast.

Absorbing the energy.

The flames around her sword grew bigger.

Stronger.

It was almost as big as her.

Bakugo’s eyes went wide.

Hiyori didn’t stop.

She kept going forward.

Then.

Her sword cut through the smoke, slashing down in a wide arc.

CRACK!

Bakugo’s gauntlets shattered under the force.

Sparks exploded outward.

He staggered back, eyes wide.

Hiyori hovered in the air, wings flared with raw energy.

Her eyes glowed bright.

She raised her blade.

Pointed it straight at him.

And for the first time.

She spoke clearly.

Voice unwavering.

“I win.”

Bakugo’s hands dropped to his sides.

His breathing was ragged.

Sweat dripped.

But he didn’t look angry.

He looked… satisfied.

He straightened up.

Raised a hand.

“I… I forfeit.”

The stadium erupted.

Screams, cheers, gasps, all at once.

Present Mic was practically incoherent.

“WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS! KAZEHANA HIYORI HAS SHOWN US WHAT SHE TRUELY IS CAPBLE OF!”

The scoreboard flashed:
Victory: Kazehana Hiyori

Hiyori landed down slowly.

Her wings flickered, embers trailing behind her.

Her sword still burned bright, but she let it rest at her side.

Bakugo approached her.

Paused.

Then.

He held out his hand.

“Good fight.”

Hiyori blinked.

Looked at his hand.

Then back up.

Nodded.

And shook it.

The stadium vibrated with energy.

Cheers, chants, and wild screams filled the air.

Kazehana Hiyori stood at the center, wings flickering with soft blue embers.

Her sword had dimmed, but the glow still pulsed faintly.

Her eyes were clear.

Her breath was steady.

Across from her, Bakugo stepped back, wiping the ash from his palms.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes…

They shone with something almost like respect.

He nodded once.

And walked off the stage.

Didn’t look back.

The crowd erupted.

Phones were raised.

HeroTube exploded with livestream comments:

“SHE DID IT!”
“SHE IS A PHOENIX!!”
“SHE TOOK HIS ATTACKS AND CAME BACK STRONGER!”
“SHE FREAKING RESURRECTED!!”

Present Mic was practically screaming into the microphone.

“ARE YOU ALL SEEING THIS?! KAZEHANA HIYORI JUST TOOK DOWN BAKUGO KATSUKI! JUST WHEN WE ALL THOUGHT A TRAGIC ACCIDENT HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES!”

Aizawa leaned back, eyes sharp and calculating.

“So that’s what her Quirk really is…”

Midoriya stood from the stands, mouth hanging open.

He looked like he was processing an entire season’s worth of plot twists in a single second.

“She… she really did it…”

Uraraka was sobbing into her hands.

“KIRISHIMA, SHE’S SO COOL!!”

Kirishima just nodded aggressively, eyes sparkling.

“YEAH! SHE’S FREAKIN’ UNBREAKABLE!”

-----

Backstage.

Hiyori walked through the tunnel, wings trailing embers behind her before fading away.

Her steps were light.

Her breathing steady.

Okay.

I did it.

I didn’t heal myself.

Well... respawning automatically recovered me but we're not counting that one..

But!

Wait..

That should be fine. Right? Right?!

Her hands still shook slightly, adrenaline fading away.

But she won.

Without healing.

She never gave up, even in pain.

She showed her destructive powers.

And people saw it.

The whispers, the shouts…

They were now calling her something else.

Not Birb Nurse.

Her classmates were waiting for her.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway, Uraraka practically tackled her and hugged her tight.

“YOU WERE AMAZING!” she screamed. “ARE YOU OKAY?”

Hiyori blinked. Stunned.

“…Can’t.. breathe..”

Uraraka stepped back, eyes tearing up.

“We all thought you..”

Midoyira popped up from behind, practically vibrating.

“Kazehana-san!! Are you okay???”

“I mean! That was awesome! Are you kidding me?! You could even come back from death??!”

Sero whistled.

“Honestly, I thought the fight was over back then. You were refusing to heal-”

“DPS,” Hiyori finished.

Her voice was flat.

But there was a flicker of satisfaction.

“R-Right! Of course!”

She pulled out a juice box from out of nowhere and sipped from it.

“A full sweep.” She added.

They walked her back to the seats.

People stared.

Some whispered.

Some took pictures.

HeroTube was blowing up.

Clips of her fight were already trending.

#BluePhoenix
#KazehanaHiyoriSweep
#AngryBirb
#RisingFromAshes

Hiyori watched the screens light up with her name and pictures.

People weren’t calling her Birb Nurse anymore.

Okay.

Maybe this isn’t so bad.

She just stared at her screen and kept scolling.

Aizawa then appeared out of nowhere.

He glanced her up and down.

“You look like you are okay.”

Hiyori blinked.

Didn’t answer.

He squinted.

“Doesn’t hurt?”

She tilted her head.

“…No”

He nodded.

“That was impressive. Reckless, but impressive.”

“…Thanks.”

He turned to walk away.

Paused.

Looked back.

“Oh, and by the way.”

She raised an eyebrow.

He almost smiled.

Almost.

“Blue Phoenix, get ready. A lot of pro-heros are already contacting us for your internship.”

Hiyori blinked

She didn’t answer.

But she didn’t need to.

She just smiled.

Her smile was small.

Barely there.

But it was real.

Mission accomplished!! :)

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori laid facedown on her dorm room floor, half-mummified in a blanket.

She’d actually died.

Heart-stopped, consciousness-gone, light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel died.

And then respawned.

Right in the middle of a stadium.

With 12 million people watching.

“Hey,” Mina said, peeking into her room. “You okay?”

Hiyori didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t breathe.

Just sipped her juice box through a hole in the blanket.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” Mina whispered, backing out slowly.

Okay. Time for my status report.

Sports Festival -> ended.

Showed everyone my DPS potential -> check.

Made it to the top -> check.

Well.. Not socially.

But physically and mentally I won!!

Victory!!!

Except now the entire internet thought I was:

• An angry blue bird (wrong)
• A tanky type (blasphemy)
• a secret government weapon (???)
• A phoenix (hehe)
  
  
  

EHEHEHEHEHE

I FINALLY GOT RID OF THAT STUPID BIRB NURSE THING!!!

EHEHEHEHEEHHEEHEEHEEEE

“Umm… you sure you are okay?” Mina said, peeking into her room once again. “I heard strange noises..?”

“I-It’s nothing.”

Hiyori went to bed face down that night dying from embarrassment.

----------

The next day.

Kazehana Hiyori was trying to enjoy her orange juice.

That was the vibe. Juice box and peace.

Too bad the peace was dead. Like actually, legally deceased.

Because the room was chaos.

“AWW YEAH! DEATH ARMS SCOUTED ME!” Kirishima was flexing in victory.

“SIX agencies?!” Kaminari yelped. “I only got three!”

“I didn’t get any…” Mineta whimpered in the corner, hugging his knees.

Momo patted his head. “There’s always next year.”

On the classroom screen, a giant digital list hovered, displaying the total internship offers each student received after the Sports Festival.

Hiyori squinted.

She had twenty-two.

...This feels excessive. How am I supposed to handle so many party invites at once?!!

She sipped her juice again.

“Wait, you got twenty-two?!” Kaminari was in her face now. “Bro. You didn’t even speak. How did they scout you?!”

Hiyori slowly pointed at her own name.

Then the line underneath it.

Blue Phoenix: The girl who came back from the dead. - HeroTube, 2 million views.

“Oh. Right.”

Across the room, Midoriya glanced at her.

Then looked away again, clearly awkward.

She could feel the guilt radiating off him.

Probably still thinking about that time she healed him in public and destroyed her entire plan to rebrand as “not a healer.”

She wasn’t mad about that anymore.

Just disappointed.

In herself.

For showing empathy.

Never again. Note to myself to never heal.

“All right, everyone!” Aizawa entered, wrapped like a sad sleeping bag. “Choose an agency from the ones that scouted you. You’ll be working with them during the internship week. Learn what you can.”

Mina waved her hand. “Sensei, can we pick a cool one, or do we have to pick one that scouted us?”

“You have to pick from the list that scouted you.”

“Oh.”

Kaminari turned to Hiyori. “Who scouted you? Anyone crazy?”

She pulled up her own list.

Looked.

Scrolled.

Then blinked.

“…Oh.”

“What?”

“…Endeavor.”

Mina squealed. “NO WAY! That’s Todoroki’s dad! The #2 hero! He scouted you?!”

“…Apparently.”

Kaminari leaned over. “Wait. You also got offered by… Gang Orca? Uwabami? Crimson Riot’s protégé? AND Fat Gum?! Dude, you’ve got a stacked lineup!”

She blinked slowly. Took another sip.

-----

Later on the roof, Hiyori is staring at the clouds.

Do I pick the strongest?

Or the most chill?

Or the one least likely to send me to therapy?”

Hmmmm. This is tough.

Uraraka laid beside her. “It’s not about strength. It’s about where you’ll grow.”

“Endeavor.. is strong.”

“So is Tokoyami’s agency. But are you trying to learn swordplay or anger management?”

Hiyori sipped.

Uraraka blinked. “Wait… did you get picked by Endeavor?”

“…maybe.”

“…are you gonna go?”

Silence.

“…you don’t have to decide today.”

“…I want to.”

“…Why?”

Hiyori stared at the clouds for a long time.

The wind nudged at her bangs. Her juice box was empty now.

She didn’t answer right away. Just flicked the straw with her thumb and watched it bounce.

"...Because," she finally muttered, voice low, barely audible. “If I.. keep standing still, I’m gonna.. rot...”

Uraraka tilted her head. “Huh?”

But Hiyori didn’t elaborate. She stood up with a stretch, bones cracking dramatically like an overworked office worker.

Then she jumped down the roof hatch.

Late that night.

The class was asleep.

Except her.

Hiyori sat at her desk, blanket wrapped around her like a haunted lamp.

Her laptop glowed.

The internship offer list sat open on screen.

She hovered her mouse over Endeavor Hero Agency.

Clicked.

Then immediately screamed into her pillow.

----------

Kazehana Hiyori stood in front of Endeavor’s Hero Agency building.

“Maybe this was a mistake,” she muttered.

A man stomped past her. His eyebrows were flames.

Woahh.

Tall.

Menacing.

Definitely on fire. Literally.

A bird hero crashed into a window.

Some intern was crying behind a vending machine.

Okay. So.

Definitely a mistake.

But also too late to change spawn points now.. Rip me.

She sipped her juice box and walked inside.

“Name?” the receptionist asked.

“Kazehana Hiyori.”

“Ah! Phoenix Girl. I am such a huge fan! You were so cool!!!”

“…thanks.”

“You’re on the fourteenth floor, training room. Mr. Endeavor is waiting.”

Okay, great. I hope there's a fast travel to the 14th floor so that I don't have to manually go up there every day..

She got in the elevator and pressed the button with dread.

The doors opened.

“YOU CALL THAT A LUNGE?! YOU LOOK LIKE A LIMP CHICKEN!”

…Yep. Found him.

The Mr. LongEyeBrowsOnFlame who just walked past me earlier.

Endeavor turned, all fire and fury and judgment.

“You’re the new one.”

“...Yes.”

“You’re the one who died.”

“…Yes.”

“You’re the one they call Blue Phoenix.”

“…Yes.”

He nodded. “Good. You have potential.”

Mhm. I agree.

Hiyori nodded.

“You’ll shadow me this week. Watch, learn, and don’t get in my way.”

She nodded again.

“First mission in five minutes. Suit up.”

“W-Wait-"

He was already gone.

She stood there alone.

Blank stare.

Umm..

Did I skip the dialogues a bit too much accidentally?

-----

It was supposed to be a simple first-day mission.

There was a cat.

It was on a roof.

The roof was on fire.

Endeavor set it on fire by accident.

Hiyori squinted at the scene from the alley.

Okay. Time to review:

• Objective: Save cat.
  
  
• Problem: Cat hates fire.
  
  
• Secondary problem: Roof hates fire too.
  
  

“Go,” Endeavor barked.

“I.. didn’t sign up for animal rescue,” she muttered.

“You signed up for me.”

“…right.”

She sighed and ran up the wall, wings flicking out with a burst of blue.

Flames cracked around her. The cat hissed.

She hissed back.

I WILL NOT be defeated by a level 1 mob.

With one swoop, she grabbed the cat by the scruff and launched back down.

Midair.

Cat bit her.

Ow. ow. ow!

Hit the ground, rolled, and landed face-first.

Cat, safe. Hiyori, not so much.

Endeavor grunted. “Not bad.”

She gave a very weak thumbs-up.

Then collapsed on the sidewalk, clutching her juice box.

This internship sucks.

-----

Later That Night.

Kazehana Hiyori stood outside the front door of her house.

And knocked gently before entering.

If only I got another place to stay during the internship...

Here we go!! You can do this!

She stared at the door. 

Then slowly opened it.

“Welcome home, sweetie!” her mom called from the kitchen.

Don't call me Sweetie..

“Mm,” Hiyori grunted, stepping in. Her uniform smelled like smoke. Her soul smelled like trauma. Her limbs felt like someone had thrown her into a volcano.

Which, to be fair, was only half accurate.

“You’re just in time for dinner,” her dad added, peeking over his newspaper with a warm smile.

“I’m not hungry,” she lied.

“You’ll eat,” her mom said without looking up, already setting a bowl of miso soup in front of her.

Hiyori sat down like a tired corpse resurrecting for one last raid.

She took a sip.

It was… warm.

Too warm.

Emotionally warm.

I hate this feeling...

“Rough first day?” her mom asked gently.

“..No” Hiyori said, deadpan.

Her mom blinked. “…So, bad day.”

She slurped her soup aggressively.

They didn’t press her.

They never did. And that was worse somehow.

After dinner, Hiyori slouched upstairs to her room, dragging her body like a fallen boss.

The walls were still decorated with those cheesy star stickers her parents put up when she first moved in. There was still that ugly little cactus on her desk that her mom insisted was “a good desk buddy.”

She flopped onto her bed.

Pulled her blanket over her head.

Respawn point: unlocked.

Buffs: none.

Status: emotionally bugged.

Mission 1 complete. Question mark.

She turned to her side and groaned.

There were still bite marks on her arm from the feral fire-cat incident.

She healed them.

Then immediately regretted it.

Right.. no heal..

The faint sound of her parents laughing downstairs echoed into her room.

And for a split second, something in her chest ached.

Weird.

She buried herself deeper under the blanket.

She wasn’t ready for that update yet.

----------

Kazehana Hiyori stood in front of Endeavor’s agency.

Again.

Juice box in one hand. Intern badge in the other.

Sun glaring. Heat rising. Doom pending.

Day 2.

Still no loot drops. Boss room ahead. Raid party: solo?

The doors opened.

And hell began.

“Intern Kazehana,” Endeavor’s voice rumbled like someone chewing fire.

She flinched.

This man radiates intimidation. Literally. His mustache is on fire. His eyebrows is on fire.

Why is that a thing?

“Today, you’ll shadow my patrol,” he said. “Keep up. Or don’t come back.”

Wowww.

So uplifting.

Truly motivational.

Can’t wait for the company wellness survey.

She nodded once, then followed. Quiet. Efficient.

Just how she liked it.

They walked past walls lined with awards. Trophies. Pictures of burning criminals.

Endeavor moved with purpose. Every step screamed: I have no time for nonsense.

Which made her wonder.

Why did he even scout me? Was it the phoenix? The silence? Did he think I was a long-lost child he forgot he had???

Outside, the patrol began.

A robbery -> thwarted.

A building fire -> handled.

An old lady -> scolded for jaywalking.

Hiyori watched silently. Assisted where she could. Moved with precision.

No healing. No emotion. Only DPS energy.

Endeavor didn’t praise.

But he nodded once.

Which, in Flame Dad Language, was basically a standing ovation.

Ahhh I really wanna fight bosses..

----------

Kazehana Hiyori stared at the ceiling of the train car.

The day was over. Internship: complete. Scars: healed. Dignity: deceased.

She should’ve gone back to the dorms, but it was a few hours away. Or found some cold cot at the Endeavor agency like a proper intern.

But instead…

She was here.

Standing at the front steps of her home.

Not her home, technically. It belonged to the girl whose body she’d hijacked. The girl whose life had continued without her until one day, boom, an uninvited soul dropped in like a game glitch.

She twisted the doorknob quietly.

Slipped inside.

She heard faint sounds of TV in the living room. Her mother’s voice. Her father’s laughter. The warm, domestic things she told herself not to care about.

The smell of rice and grilled fish hit her like a memory that wasn’t hers.

She should’ve stayed at the agency even if it meant having to sleep on the floor.

Too late now.

“You’re back early,” her mom said, walking out of the kitchen. “I thought you’d be staying at the internship today?”

“…No place” Hiyori mumbled.

“Oh! Well, welcome home. I made dinner. Are you hungry?”

Hiyori shrugged, dropped her bag, and mumbled, “Sure.”

The food was good. Of course it was. It always was.

She didn’t speak much during dinner. Just nodded along. Responded in shrugs and one-word answers. Avoided eye contact like it cost HP.

But halfway through the meal, her dad said something that froze her:

“You’ve been pushing yourself really hard lately, Hiyori. We’re proud of you.”

She stopped chewing.

Swallowed slowly.

Her mom smiled, setting down a bowl of miso. “We always knew you were strong.”

Something twisted in her chest.

Not joy.

Not sadness.

Something sharper.

You don’t know me…

You knew her.

The real Hiyori.

The one who belonged in this world. Who probably liked pickled daikon and knew how to tie a proper ponytail. The girl whose face I wore, whose name I carried like a stolen save file.

And yet…

They looked at her like she was still their daughter.

Loved her like nothing had changed.

Like she hadn’t changed.

And she hated that. The feeling of feeling like a fake.

She pushed her chair back. “I’m gonna shower.”

Didn’t wait for a reply.

Steam filled the bathroom. She leaned her head against the tiled wall, letting the water pour over her. Trying to wash off the guilt.

But it clung.

Like code that wouldn’t compile.

She felt like she didn't deserve any of this love.

Deep inside, she knew they didn’t love her.

They love the girl who used to live here.

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori was not built for patrol work.

She was a solo player.

A rogue DPS class.

An antisocial phoenix with a sword.

And now she was stuck walking ten paces behind Mr. Eyebrows on Fire down the busiest street in Hosu City, where apparently half the population just casually combusted on a Tuesday.

“Eyes up. Watch for movement,” Endeavor barked, barely glancing over his shoulder.

She raised an eyebrow.

“I am.. watching,” she mumbled. 

I’ve got Phoenix Vision just so you know!

“You’re staring at a cat meme on your phone.”

…He’s holding a knife. It’s tactical.!

Endeavor gave her a flat look, then marched ahead again.

Okay. Focus.

Objective: Survive patrol.

Bonus objective: Don’t get yelled at.

Side quest: Buy more juice boxes on the way back.

They reached the commercial zone.

Something was off.

People were just… stopped. Standing around in awkward positions, frozen mid-step. Some stared at shop windows without blinking. Others were smiling way too hard.

“Uh..” Hiyori said. “Is this… a flash mob?”

“No,” Endeavor muttered, scanning the street. “Something’s affecting their perception.”

They moved slowly now.

Down the block, a man in a suit suddenly collapsed. His eyes glowed faintly pink as he fell to the ground like a puppet cut from strings.

Then another.

And another.

Then she saw him.

Standing atop a food truck with neon graffiti and “DREAM WITH ME” spray-painted across it, was a tall figure in a strange costume dressed up like a magician.

His coat shimmered like a nightclub, and his mask only covered the lower half of his face.

But his eyes, they glowed like a neon glitch in the air.

Woah!! It’s a crowd control caster.

A dark mage?!!!

“Welcome,” the figure said cheerfully, “to the Hypnoscape.”

Endeavor lit up instantly with flames roaring around his shoulders.

“Get back,” he barked.

“No need for violence!” Hypnoscape called out, raising his hands dramatically. “I only want to share the joy of dreaming. Forever.”

Hehe. I have been waiting forever for a boss fight!!

Alright! Let’s do this!

Hypnoscape laughed. Then looked directly at her.

Uh-oh.

Pink light shimmered from his pupils.

Hiyori felt her knees wobble.

Her vision blurred.

Shoot.. Status Effect.. Sleep... incoming…

“Crap..” she whispered.

I should’ve raised my magic resistance…

Her body collapsed mid-thought.

Darkness swallowed her.

----------

Hiyori woke up.

To birds chirping.

To sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains.

To the smell of warm miso soup and grilled fish from downstairs.

And not a single part of that made any sense.

She blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then sat up slowly in a bed that absolutely, definitely should not exist anymore.

The glow-in-the-dark star stickers were still on the ceiling. The slightly crooked bookshelf she once built with her dad was still threatening to fall over in the corner. Her old tablet was charging on the desk even though she hadn’t touched that model since… ever.

Her chest felt tight.

Her hands were cold.

But her face?

Perfectly blank.

“Oh,” she said flatly. “I’m.. dreaming.”

It was the only thing that made sense.

Because none of this was real.

Not the laundry detergent smell from her pillow.

Not the slippers already waiting by her bed.

Not the distant hum of the rice cooker timer going off at exactly the right time.

She stood up.

Carefully.

Like the floor might collapse under her.

It didn’t.

Which, honestly, made it worse.

She found her parents in the kitchen. Laughing.

Her mom was flipping tamagoyaki with her usual dramatic flair, and her dad was pretending to be offended that she didn’t let him cook. The two of them were wrapped up in some dumb morning drama playing on TV, arguing about which character was secretly evil.

This is… so painfully normal.

So real. This is so unfair...

This isn’t supposed to happen.. 

I know they’re already dead..

But..

But here they are.

Alive.

Happy.

Like nothing ever happened.

Her mom turned toward her with a sunny smile. “Oh! You’re up. Hungry?”

Her mouth opened.

No words came out.

Just a small nod.

She sat down at the kitchen table like a puppet on strings.

Her mom served her a plate like it was any other day.

Like nothing had changed.

Like she was home.

She took a bite.

It tasted right.

Too right.

This isn’t fair.. 

Dreams aren’t supposed to be this good..

Her mom ruffled her hair. “You’re spacing out again. Long night?”

“…I guess,” Hiyori muttered.

“You used to mumble in your sleep, remember? You’d fight imaginary bosses or something.”

Her dad chuckled. “Yeah. You once shouted ‘Ultima Sword Slash’ in the middle of the night and punched your pillow.”

Hiyori blinked.

When did I do that??...

Her face flushed red. She didn’t remember that. But it sounded true.

Which made her feel worse.

Because this dream knew things she didn’t.

How?

Why?

Whoever designed this simulation had unlocked her internal lore tab, and she hated it.

She quietly sipped her juice box out of no where and pretended not to be emotionally compromised.

Her dad smiled at her. “You’ve gotten taller.”

“Really?” she said, deadpan. “I thought.. I was already max level.”

He laughed.

She did not.

-----

After breakfast, they took a walk around the neighborhood.

Everything was clean. Bright. Familiar.

Too familiar.

Her old neighbors waved at her.

The stray cat she used to feed brushed against her leg.

The old man who ran the bakery gave her a free melonpan like she was seven again.

Her mom linked arms with her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And Hiyori?

She didn’t say much.

None of this is real. It’s a dream. A trap. A simulation.

You’re not supposed to want this.

You’re supposed to be a DPS with no attachments and emotionally in control.

Stop smiling, idiot.

She smiled anyway.

It was automatic.

Like muscle memory.

Like her body remembered how to be loved even if her mind didn’t.

This is dangerous..

But didn’t leave.

-----

That night, Hiyori lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

The glowing stars were still there.

They hadn’t peeled or faded.

Her fingers twitched.

She remembered trying to stick them on with her dad, both of them covered in glue, her mom yelling about not ruining the paint.

That memory shouldn’t have existed.

Because it had died with her parents.

And yet…

I missed this.

I missed them.

And she hated that this fake world remembered what she’d tried so hard to forget.

-----

Next day.

Kazehana Hiyori woke up.

Again.

Same sunlight.

Same chirping birds.

Same aggressively perfect miso soup aroma wafting up the stairs like a scripted cutscene.

She sat up.

Same bed.

Same dumb glow-in-the-dark stars.

Still here.

Still fake.

Still weirdly cozy.

This is fine

Totally fine. 

I definitely haven’t respawned into a fake domestic life designed to emotionally manipulate me.

That would be crazy.

Right??

She narrowed her eyes at the ceiling.

AHHHHHHHHH

Then got out of bed.

Alright! I already know this world is a fake. No need to get so emotional! Time to test the code and break through this dream!

-----

Experiment #1: The Juice Box Glitch!

She opened the fridge.

And blinked.

There were exactly 5 juice boxes.

All grape.

All perfectly lined up.

All her favorites.

Suspicious.

That’s bait.

She took one. Drank it. Put the empty carton back in the fridge.

Closed the door.

Waited.

Opened it again.

Five full juice boxes.

Hah. Gotcha, devs.

—--

Experiment #2: The Endless NPC Loop!

“Morning!” her mom greeted with a smile.

“Morning,” Hiyori replied flatly. “Say.. what’s your.. name again?”

Her mom blinked. “Mom.”

“…your full name?”

“Mom.”

Hiyori narrowed her eyes. “What’s the capital.. of Bolivia?”

“…Honey, did you sleep okay?”

“Define.. ‘okay.’”

Her dad entered the room. “There’s our sleepyhead! Up for breakfast?”

“What’s your.. mother’s maiden name?”

He blinked. “Mom.”

“…You too?”

Yup. NPCs confirmed.

She took another sip of her magically respawning juice and stared at both of them.

Still smiling.

Still perfect.

Still making eggs like nothing was wrong.

-----

Experiment #3: Aggro the Simulation!

Hiyori walked into traffic.

Just strolled across the road without looking.

A car slammed its brakes just in time, honking wildly as she stood there, unmoving.

Okay..

Either the dream has collision physics… or I’m plot-armored..

She waited for a second car.

It slowed too.

No one hit her.

Disappointing.

Cowards.

-----

Experiment #4: Spawn Check!

She returned to her room.

Pulled out her tablet.

Went to the browser.

Typed 'Am I dreaming?'

The page refused to load.

Then crashed.

With a popup that said:

“ERROR: You do not have access to this content.”

…yeah thought so.

She threw the tablet on the bed. It bounced once and landed screen-up. No cracks.

Fake tech. Fake world. Fake peace.

-----

She sat on the floor, juice box in hand, and stared at the wall.

Okay. So. This is a dream.

And I am 100% aware that it’s a dream.

So I should leave, right?

But how??

No response.

Not even a helpful UI prompt.

Her eyes drifted toward the hallway.

Where her parents were humming in the kitchen.

Laughing.

Living.

…but it’s so warm here.

Nobody’s trying to throw explosions at me.

I haven’t tripped over Mineta once.

And I didn’t die today. That’s new.

Her grip on the juice box tightened.

It’s a dream...

But it felt like home to her.

And part of her wanted to stay.

Chapter Text

Kazehana Hiyori woke up.

Again.

Same room.

Same sunlight.

Same miso soup aroma.

She stared at the ceiling.

Glow-in-the-dark stars still perfectly arranged.

She glared back at them.

Okay.. We’re doing this again.

She rolled out of bed like a tired burrito unwrapping itself from depression. Opened the window.

Yep. Same sparrow on the tree branch. Same dog barking two houses down. Same neighbor waving at nobody like a looped animation.

…I’m in a scripted event.

At Breakfast.

Her mom was already at the stove. Her dad was reading the newspaper.

Because of course they were.

“Good morning!” her mom sang.

“Sleep well?” her dad added.

“Uh-huh,” she replied.

Same lines...

Same timing...

She grabbed her chopsticks. Ate in silence. Chewed the tamagoyaki.

It tasted exactly the same as yesterday.

“Do we.. ever eat anything else?” she muttered.

Her mom laughed. “You always want the same thing!”

Her dad grinned. “It’s your favorite.”

Hiyori stabbed a rice grain with her chopstick like it was responsible for everything.

This is fine.

Totally fine.

Everything is totally..

She blinked.

And then blinked again.

The newspaper her dad was reading…

Had the same headline as yesterday.

“Hero Association Plans Annual Parade.”

…wait.

She leaned over.

Same subheading.

Same stock photo.

Same fold in the corner.

She stared at her dad.

“…What’s the.. date today?”