A Sliver of Hope

She was called for a check-up after she finished changing, and was permitted to leave. She went on to tell the troublesome trio before leaving the hospital first, heading back to Endeavor's agency. Todoroki would be catching up the next day.

Make sure to send me a picture of his face. I want to see how he looks after he was declared the one who defeated Stain though he didn't.

Sora chuckled at Todoroki's message before stepping into the skyscraper that was Endeavor's agency.

" Oh, welcome back Sora-chan." Burnin welcomed her from a rather unexpected place.

" Burnin... You're sitting at a desk." She pointed.

" And so?"

Sora sweat dropped. Her rather fired personality didn't give the impression that she would be sitting still in a place for more than 15 minutes. " It got quite busier after the Hero Killer's incident. Anyway, Endeavor is in his office. He said to send you there when you come back."

So he expected my fast recovery, though my wounds were quite serious. Sora narrowed her eyes. He sure is well informed of our Quirk. " Excuse me then."

Sora walked through the double doors and across the office to the said hero. " As expected. Your recovery was rather fast." He looked from the papers he had and at her red eyes.

"... How do you know that much about my Quirk?" She questioned.

" I've been searching some intestine Quirks in the past. Angel happened to be one of them that's all."

Right. For the Quirk marriage. She composed herself. " You've asked for me for my Quirk. But may I ask what merit could I offer to you, who already know that much?"

" You weren't needed for me, but for Shoto." She quirked her eyebrow at him. " In order to spur him to get stronger, the existence of a strong rival is needed. As I knew of your Quirk, I figured you may be the best option. Still, for some reason you were restraining yourself and things didn't end up the way I hopped."

He heaved a sigh before pushing a folder full of files towards her. " This is what you were after when you accepted the offer, right."

Sora narrowed her eyes at the folder and then looked at Endeavor. " Go ahead. Open it."

" Well then..." She reached for it and flipped it open, skimming through it frantically.

" So to be fair with you. I've checked your background before extending my offer." He said, carefully gauging the reaction on her face as she flipped the papers. " Daughter of Shirogane Subaru and granddaughter of Shirogane Yui. Your mother-"

" Don't ever dare to bring her up." She clutched the files in her hand tightly. Endeavor stared at her for a moment then proceeded.

" Either way, why you came here was because of that folder. A case that occurred about 9 years ago which I happened to be involved in." He closed his eyes, replaying the events. " I don't think you need a description of it."

" ' A retirement house in the suburbs was set on fire. No one knows exactly how it started. However, by the time they discovered it, half of the building was in flames. The number two hero Endeavor managed to save most of the residents. But the rest were confirmed dead.' " Her lips quivered as she quoted the news report from 9 years ago. " Grandma... Grieved... She... Waited... For his body to return home... For any part of him to come back... But it never happened..."

...

" We're sorry. "

" Liars! Liars! Liars!" The white-haired kid yelled. "All of you are liars! He didn't die!"

" Enough, Sora..." Her grandmother said through her tears as she collapsed on the ground by her side, hugging her to her chest.

" No! He didn't! I won't accept that until I see him with my own eye!" The girl cried out." I'll prove it! I'll become a hero! And find the truth myself!"...

...

The girl hid her face with the folder she clutched tightly in her hands, droplets falling from behind it.

" True. There was nothing left from your father..." Endeavor spoke stoically. " Nothing at all. Not even his ashes."

He leaned back on his chair, his eyes focused on the girl. " It was hard confirming it back then, but it was proven later on. The number of victims and survivors didn't add up. We made a declaration about it, but because the case was closed for a while, blaming it on a leak of gas, it didn't spread widely. After more investigation, your father was confirmed missing, not dead."

She shuddered under the weight of her emotions, her tears gashing down her face. Her father didn't die back then. And he may even be alive today, somewhere out there. She was too relieved to see his name in the missing list that she had allowed her tongue to get a little loose.

After a few minutes, she managed to regain her composure, handing Endeavor back the files. " Is that fine for you? Though I said he was missing doesn't mean he is alive till now."

" It's fine. To make sure of that is my duty. That's why I became a hero." Through her puffed ruby eyes, she gave a determined look.

" Fine." He stated. " Then the rest of the internship will be tougher."

" Yes sir!"

________________

" How would you fight against an opponent with a knife? Uravity-chan, can you try attacking me?" Gunhead told her so to demonstrate their training. Yuu looked back at the girl who was given a knife.

She looked at it nervously, probably not feeling safe holding a weapon for the first time before steeling herself. " You sure?"

" You don't have to hold back."

" Then, here I come!" She lunged at him, brandishing the blade around but he adeptly avoided all her attempts at hurting him before pivoting on one leg then grabbing both her wrist and neck, pushing her to the ground. He twisted her wrist to make her let go of the weapon before knocking it out of reach.

Uraraka stood up while holding her wrist as the man explained further about the move.

" His moves were smooth and minimal," Whisper stated.

" Although he acts all cute and all..." Uraraka began.

" He's really strong and amazing..." Continued Yuu.

Gunhead ran back to grab the fallen knife. " This time, you will go against each other then switch places. We'll keep repeating this until you can do it! Alright!"

" Yes, sir!" They both retorted.

________________

The week ended quickly, and they were finally saying their goodbyes to Endeavor as they were getting ready to leave.

" Thanks for everything! I've learned a lot from you all!" Sora bowed down to express her gratitude for the pro hero and all his sidekicks.

" It was a short time, but we've enjoyed your stay Sor- Angie-chan, Shoto-kun," Burnin told them, her smirk as broad and high as ever.

The boy nodded at her. " Well, I managed to learn a lot too from the number two hero."

" That's not a manner of speaking to your father, Shoto!" The man was rather on fire as he shouted.

" We will be awaiting your return. Do your best at school." Burnin waved at them as they made for the station.

Sora then looked back at the skyscraper and smiled mildly. It was a short period, but she made a lot through it. She felt kinda proud of herself. I'm getting one step closer to my dream. And to you.

" Shirogane." The girl snapped and looked back at the boy by her side as he rubbed his neck uneasily. " I didn't get to say this with the Hero Killer and the internship, but... I'm sorry."

Sora halted in her spot and blinked twice at him. " Huh? What? This is sudden? Why are you apologizing?"

" The other day, I might have spoken out without thinking, about how I hated my father and all... I'm sorry if it bothered you that much."

Oh. So he's still worried about that? Looking at his face as he awaited an answer from her, she couldn't help but squeal inwardly at how cute he was when he was getting all serious about his friends. He's such a sweetheart!!

" Don't bother about it, Todorki. I'm sorry too for reacting the way I did." She smiled gently at him.

" Hm... you've dropped the formality?"

" Yeah," She said before looking back at him. " You want me to keep being formal with you?"

"No, it's fine," he said as they walked into the station.