Chapter Nineteen

Class C1-A stood grouped together in the large gym of U.A. drinks in hand while watching the dozens of heroes mingle before them. The young inspiring heroes huddled together feeling suffocated under the shadow of their childhood idols.

"Wow-" Ochaco breaths, heart fluttering pulling a 360 view. "-there are so many people here!"

"I mean...they were a popular group." Kirishima mutters, one hand in his pocket as he sipped his cup, eyes hovering over the rim staring intensely at Crimson Riot who stood yards away, arms crossed over his chest annoyed it was taking so long for this thing to kick off.

"Where are they-!?" Mina exclaims, rubbing her sweaty hands on her pants, eyes locked onto the closed door. "-why-why am I so nervous!?"

"Because there is no more red tape-" Shoto answers, feeling himself cringe hearing his father's deep laughter coming from behind him. "-there's nothing holding us back from (y/n)."

"I wonder if the Seven Bullets figured out who faked Mr. Principal?" Sato wondered out loud, munching on a plate of free goodies.

"It had to have been the League of Villains-!" Toru waved her hands, expressing her point despite knowing no one could see it. "-who else could pretend to be a tiny mouse man walking through a top hero school, whose other quirk can let them do that!?"

"Toga." Midoriya's breath hitched, heart skipping just thinking about the allusive villain group.

"Yeah!" Toru nodded, "I mean, that's where I'm putting my money."

"What are we going to say to her-?" Kirishima went to question, having run through a million different sentences, trying to find the perfect thing to say to you after all this time, but was cut off due to music flooding the room.

Class C1-A turned, hearing the two oversized doors pull open.

Mina swallowed glancing over to Katsuki who wore his mask well but inside his heart was hammering against his ribcage, he felt himself sweating as he tried to control his breathing.

Staring wide eyed at the empty entrance felt like hours to the young heroes, before any of them were ready Shiro and Gray entered the room, Mina blushed seeing Shiro's masked face and narrowed eyes instantly take in the room. Katsuki swallowed the lump in his throat, pulling his hands from his pockets as you followed, Hawks by your side.

In an instant the pro heroes broke out into a ray of applause and cheering, it overwhelmed Class C1-A who gawked in your direction. You wore your bullet uniform, a black medical mask resting against your face.

"She's actually here." Kirishima breathed, half of him didn't believe you would show, and yet there you were, so close yet so far from reach.

"I thought this was supposed to be a small thing?" Gray muttered; eyes flickered from person to person by instinct.

As the voices pooled together creating a muffled waterfall you gazed around the room feeling it fill with steam. More and more people crowded around your team clapping with clown smiles pressed against their skin. You took a step back.

To many people, get out, distance yourself, you could be exposed, get out, run!

The ghost of orders bounced around your skull causing you to suck in a breath, but it felt as if your lungs formed holes unable to hold air. You took another breath trying to steady yourself, you breathed faster and faster and faster, heart pounding in your ears, heat collected around your skin as your head spun.

"Hey-" A cool hand found its way where your sleeve ended and your glove began, and just like a soft breeze the angst evaporated settling around you like a cooling mist. "-you, ok?" Hawks flashed a toothy smile.

You just nodded, turning back to face the cheering crowd who hugged Gray and shook Grays hand. Hawks goofy grin lingered as he watched you, having become accustomed to your stillness and due to this trait, you carried, that's how he knew-

"Hey-!" Hawks called out, flying down to the roof of the nearby building. "-what the hell was that?"

"What was what?" One turned, hand on her hip.

"You took my bounty." Hawks gestured to the villain hog tied by Four's leg.

"Yeah, sorry Hun-" Four waved their hand, "-he's ours." Hawks furrowed his brows before shaking his head.

"Who-Who is the boss of this group?"

"Well-" Seven turned to gaze at his team. "-I am the highest number."

"Technically that would be me." One rolled her eyes under her mask.

"No sweetie you would be the lowest." Six joked.

"Say that to my face!" One's short temper flared.

"What am I doing!?" Six hopped. Hawks awkwardly rubbed his neck glancing at each member until he landed on the fifth number, you remained motionless staring at him.

-that you were the leader of the Seven Bullets.

"Thank you all for coming-!" A chipper voice echoed through the room, turning heads to the stage built against the back wall. A man wearing an overly expensive suit with slicked back hair stood holding a microphone in his grasp. "-I think I speak for everyone standing in this room tonight when I say, thank you."

You rolled your eyes as people applauded, but Class C1-A were blown away fully seeing you standing before them as the pro-hero you were.

"When I saw the footage of you Five, discovering who you truly were and what has been going on, I felt disgusted with myself. I am so sorry we allowed Shooter-"

"Who is this guy?" Shiro glances over his shoulder, questioning why they were standing here listening to this man feel sorry for himself.

"Director of the HPSC." Hawked nodded to the man.

"I thought this was something the heroes put together?" Gray turned, "Why is HPSC here?"

"I guess he feels responsible for Shooter?" Hawks shrugged, "I don't know, I have been out on a mission."

"You're so useful." Shiro rolled his eyes.

"-let's take a look!" The Director of HPSC's voice pulled the Bullets attention back to the front as the lights died down.

"What the-?" Gray frowned seeing the large white screen flicker until a picture formed. "-you have got to be kidding me." Gray mumbled seeing past videos of his team the public captured began to play.

"Well on the bright side-" Shiro pulled Gray from the screen.

"Where are you going!?" Gray harshly whispered seeing Shiro sliding away.

"-there's food." Shiro pointed to the buffet laid out.

"You can't leave us; you have to stay here and watch this!"

"Why?" Shiro tilted his head. "We have already seen this episode; spoiler alert the ending always sucks."

"But-"

"Free food." Shiro danced away.

"Whatever." Gray sighed, glancing at you who remained neutral. Your hands crammed into your jacket pockets ignoring the screen as you stared off at the nearby wall waiting for this to be over. "Can you believe him?" Gray gestured trying to get a rare response, your eyes shifted to him before returning to the wall.

"Hey Aizawa-!" President Mic slaps the lazed teacher on the shoulder. "-good job man!"

"What are you going on about?" Aizawa turned to the blond.

"You got (y/n) here!" President Mic grinned, "I didn't think you had it in you, but look at you go!"

"I didn't."

"Huh?" President Mic blinks.

"Hawks is the one who got her here."

"Hawks?" President Mic peeked over Aizawa's shoulder, spotting you wasn't hard since you wore your uniform. Sure enough, you were beside a bored looking Gray with Hawks on your left. "How did he get her here?"

"I don't know." Aizawa replied, "I was just about to walk over and replace him."

"Replace him?"

"A hero has to be with the Bullets at all times." Aizawa reminded.

"Oh yeah!" President Mic laughed as Aizawa groaned. "Hey..." President Mic rubbed his chin. "...you don't think those two got like a thing going on between them do ya?"

"What?" Aizawa furrowed his brows, eyes locking onto Hawks.

"I mean how else would he get (y/n) here?"

"I don't know." Aizawa decided to brush off and not make a scene at the party in your honor.

"You're so helpful." President Mic stuck his tongue out.

"Who is so helpful?" Shiro wondered over food stuffed under his mask as he chewed.

"What do you want Shiro?" Aizawa wondered.

"When can we like...leave?" Shiro shrugged, looking at the plate in his hand.

"After the party is over."

"Ugh!" Shiro groaned, slouching his shoulders.

"Hey-!" President Mic hopped around Aizawa. "-you would know-!"

"I know a lot of things."

"Is there something going on between those two?" President Mic pointed, Shiro followed the direction to you. Your stiff form told Shiro you did not want to be here just as much as he did.

"Them?" Shiro wanted to clarify.

"Yeah!"

"Oh." Shiro nodded.

"Oh?" President Mic frowned, "What does 'oh' mean!?"

"Yeah, I don't know." Shiro smirked under his mask.

"You-You-How wouldn't you know!?" President Mic frazzled.

"I know-" Shiro nodded, "-it's a shock at first, to discover I don't know everything-"

"You and (y/n) have been trapped on the same team for years-!" President Mic noted.

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder."

"-how would you not know if there was a thing going on between those two!?" The blond recapped, leaning into Shiro's space.

"If you haven't noticed-" Shiro pushed President Mic back. "-(y/n) isn't much of a talker."

"What does that mean?" President Mic shook his head, "You guys-"

"It means all the connections and 'friendships' we made while apart of the Seven Bullets were all forced."

"Wha-?" President Mic's mouth dropped open.

"But those two-" Shiro looked back at you. "-it was never fake between them."

"Ooo-!" President Mic perked up, "-so there is a little something, something going on between them!"

"I don't know."

"How!?" President Mic wanted to pull his hair out!

"Look-" Shiro turned, "-we never—she never had the chance to explore what could have been there because of the whole imprisonment thing. If there is something there, then I am curious to see what happens."