Chapter 3 // I Am Here

"Did it hurt?" Deku asked. Kage shrugged, lifting up her shirt to show the bandages. "Not really. The nurse had a healing quirk, it just took a lot out of me."

"Well, at least you're okay." Deku fretted. "My mom was worried when you didn't come."

Kage scowled, stabbing at her bag with a fingernail. "I'm fine."

"Okay...um, the U.A. exam is going to come up in a year...do you want to start training together?" Deku asked, turning a profuse shade of pink. "You don't have to if you don't want to, of course-"

Kage's face softened. "Deku, calm down. I'd love to. Besides, if we're going to UA together we better get cracking at it or we'll pass out before the entrance exam even finishes.''

Deku laughed. "I'm just glad I'll know a friend when I get there. I'm just worried... about Kacchan."

Kage's mood soured. "He's gotten worse, hasn't he?"

Before Deku could speak, the waitress came. Deku quickly ordered a slice of carrot cake and a jasmine tea, while Kage got coffee and a slice of strawberry shortcake. They awkwardly waited for the chatty waitress to leave before she repeated her question.

"H-He's not...he's just very set on becoming the o-only hero from our school to go to UA." Deku stuttered. Kage frowned. "I mean, I know I'm quirkless, but that doesn't mean I can't be a hero, right?"

Kage shrugged. "I don't see why not. If you train hard enough, and you put the effort, you can be just as good of a hero as Bakugo. Better, even."

Deku's eyes shone. "I want to be just like All Might..."

Here we go, Kage thought with a grin. He's in 'All Might fanboy mode.'

"I want people to see my carefree smile and think, 'he's here and I'm safe', that's the type of hero I want to be." he breathed. Kage grinned, resting her head on her bag.

"I want to be the hero that you can see as a beacon of light." she admitted, pulling on a strand of hair. "That you can think of me as the safe place. I want to make a difference."

Deku grinned, scooting his arm over as the waitress returned with their order. "Thanks. Well, you're in luck, Kage-kun, because that's what being a hero's all about."

"Cheers." They clinked mugs together, grinning. Kage took a bite of the cake, letting the cream coat her tongue. "Damn, that's a good cake. How come I've never tried shortcake?''

Deku shrugged, digging into his carrot cake. "First time for everything, I suppose."

Kage made to take a sip of coffee, but noticed something odd. The coffee seemed to vibrate in the mug. "Deku."

"Hm?" They stiffened as as the table heaved. People began screaming as a huge explosion rocked the restaurant. Kage stumbled to the floor, her bag slipping off the table. Deku grabbed onto the booth chair, yelping. "Kage! Let's go, or the restaurant will collapse-"

They stumbled together, Kage gripped Deku's arm as a piece of the ceiling crashed in front of them. Kage inhaled, and summoned some light from her charged energy. She hadn't charged much in the past two weeks, and her sides hurt with the effort, but she hoped it would be enough. She formed a shield on top of them, struggling through the debris.

"An earthquake?" Deku yelled over the noise. Kage grunted, pausing to help up a woman who had fallen. "I don't think so, the vibrations are too close...It has to be a villain attack!"

Kage stumbled, wincing as her bag smacked against her side. "Deku, go help anyone outside, I'll keep looking for anyone still in the building!"

"But what about you?"

"I have my shield, just go before anyone gets hurt! Get them as far away as possible, like the town square fountain!" she shouted, throwing him her bag. She prayed the pink notebook wouldn't fall out or be found. "Take it!"

"Alright, meet back in fifteen minutes!" Deku yelled, and he ran towards the crowd off shaken customers. Kage made her shield as thick as she could, and ran back toward the restaurant. She could hear mild explosions, which meant the villain was changing direction. That gave her time.

"Help! the chatty waitress was pinned under debris. Kage ran over, still holding the shield up. As if on cue, a brick fell from the ceiling and smacked against her shield. She grunted, and began pulling the debris off her legs. "Just try to pull yourself out-"

She gagged as a strong smell filled up her nose. Her eyes burned, and she almost vomited on the spot. What the hell was going on? Her shield collapsed, and she stumbled to the ground. The waitress was already on the floor again, retching. Another man crawled near them, eyes watering.

"It's...Gaslight..." the man coughed. The villain...

Tear gas. Of course.

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"Don't worry-"

No.

"For I-"

Thank god.

"Am here!"

All Might. Kage could barely breathe, and her eyes burned like she was staring directly at the sun. She curled up as the shadow of the pro-hero curled over the trio. He sounded just like he did in every video, every news reel. She was going to be saved.She could dimly see a blur of red and blue. He gently picked up the nurse and the man, and began running back. Wait...

Wait. What about me? She realized from her viewpoint All Might couldn't see her through the darkness and the teargas. Her eyes watered. I can't die, not now. I still...have to be a hero! She tried making a flare with her quirk, but she was so weak she could barely lift her arms.

"Wait!" she screamed, coughing. Her eyes burned as tears fell, and she cried out in agony as a piece of falling debris hit her shoulder. The last thing she could remember seeing was a speck of bottle green before she inhaled, and saw stars.

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"Are you okay, miss?"

Kage didn't remember being carried out of the building. She didn't remember All Might returning, either. She was laid on a stretcher, and she could feel All Might's muscular hand gripping her own. She was panting for some reason.

"Water." she croaked. It was so dark out, she couldn't see anything. The power must have gone out.

She felt a bottle pressed against her lips. She drank hungrily, coughing as it burned against her throat like acid.

"It's a relief I got you out in time." All Might said, taking the bottle back. "The gas would have done much worse."

"Kage!" She could hear Deku's voice. Where was he?

"Deku? Where are you?" she tried sitting up, looking around. It was pitch black.

"Kage, I'm right in front of you-" she felt a hand grab her own. She tensed, startled. "What? I..."

"Kage." Deku said shakily. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Kage realized the problem wasn't with the lights. "I can't see." she mumbled, groping blindly for Midorya. "Deku...I can't see. I can't see!"

All Might's voice appeared. "Young man, get the paramedics. You'll be okay, miss."

"No, I won't." Kage's heart dropped. "It's your fault. You didn't save me."

All Might was silent. She felt a cold rage in her heart. She jumped out at All Might's direction, screaming. "YOU DIDN'T SAVE ME!" She had no solar energy left, but she felt a hungry desire to attack All Might.

She felt arms pull her back, and she fought against them, crying. "You're no hero! I believed in you! I SHOULD HAVE NEVER BELIEVED IN YOU!"

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Kage was administered into the hospital. She had to get help for everything, being blind. She had a lot to think about while the doctors worked on her eyes. Or, in her case, pretended like they knew what to do to fix her eyesight. She wasn't stupid. She knew that despite some days being able to see some spots of color or make out blobs, her eyesight wouldn't return.

She sat up on her bed, picking at her fingernails. They were bitten and picked to oblivion. She tensed

She recognized the green blob that peeked into the doorway. "Kage? It's Deku."

"I know." she said numbly. "Come in."

"You...doing better?"

"What does it look like?" she snapped. "Actually, can't say that since I can't even see."

Deku's form tensed. She rubbed her eyes, ignoring the accompanying sting. "Just...I don't really want a visitor right now."

"T-that's okay. I just came to drop off your bag..." Deku said softly. She felt something drop on the bed in front of her. "Let me know... when you want me to drop by."

"K." she mumbled, groping for the bag. She felt numb as the door closed quietly. He could at least show he was upset. Slam the door, or raise your voice, or something. At least she was used to that.

Se opened the zipper, and began searching for something. A lot of emotions swirled around her head. Her mom? She felt angry, hurt. She could at least try to be a good mother when she was sober. Even being sober was rare, though.

Her father? She didn't even know.

All Might? Her chest twisted. Oh, she had a few choice things for the hero. What. A. Hero. She wouldn't fulfill her dream because him. Sure, being a quirkless hero was possible. But a blind hero? She laughed aloud. Oh, she didn't know how, but she had an immense loathing for All Might. For a lot of people, but a special place for All Might in her heart just shattered. He didn't save her. No one did.

She should have never believed in heroes.

She finally found what she was looking for, and ringed in the nurse. "Can you dial this for me? There's a....friend I want to speak with."