Smoldering Flames

​​​Katsuki's POV

I leaned against one of the pillars outside the dorm as I checked my phone for the fifteenth time. Shit. My girlfriend still hasn't replied to my damn text messages. Me and the rest of Class 1-A just found out that Kirishima, Uraraka, Asui, Deku, Hikari and Mr. Aizawa took part in a mission to rescue a little girl from a Yakuza group. The portal girl from Class 1-B and the Big Three were also included in the mission. All Might and Hope didn't know about this either until after the mission was over, so those five were obviously prohibited from talking about it to anyone else. That's why Hikari didn't tell me anything. The bad guys lost, obviously, but a pro hero died. Sir Nighteye, All Might and Hope's former sidekick, knew Hikari since she was little and was like an older brother to her. Knowing my girlfriend, I'm sure she's devastated. 

"Bakugou." The icyhot bastard put his hand on my shoulder and I looked at him with a annoyed glare. "I'm sure Yagi and the others are fine. They were with Mr. Aizawa. Also, Yagi is one of the strongest girls we know. We'll see her alive and well soon."

I stared at Todoroki. I at first, I hated him because of a lot of stuff in the past. How fucking rude he was to Hikari, his damn attitude, our damn match at the Sports Festival. But he helped rescue Hikari back at Kamino and he did apologize to her for his shitty behavior towards her, so I guess he's more tolerable now. There's no way I'm going to tell him or anyone else besides Hikari that. Instead of shrugging his hand off of me, I sighed.

"Yeah." I put my phone away and walked to the bus with Todoroki for our provisional license training course. 

Hikari... you better be okay.

🌻

Normal POV

Lord Explosion Murder❤️‍🔥: ​Hikari. I saw the news. Are you ok?

Lord Explosion Murder❤️‍🔥: Are you alright? Are you hurt?

Lord Explosion Murder❤️‍🔥: ​Where did you get injured?​

Lord Explosion Murder❤️‍🔥: ​How are Deku and the others?

Lord Explosion Murder❤️‍🔥: ​Answer me Damnit!

You smiled at the text messages your boyfriend sent you. After Sir Nighteye's death, you've been so sad and haven't smiled once until now. Earlier, you heard on the news that the police escort carrying Kai Chisaki was attacked by the League of Villians. The Sand Hero: Snatch was killed, Chisaki had his arms severed by Shigaraki, and the Quirk-destroying bullets were stolen. Seeing the messages from your explosive yet loving boyfriend lifted your spirits a bit.

"What are you looking at?" Asked Eri shyly. 

Mr. Aizawa and the doctors allowed Eri to have one visitor and the little girl chose to see you.

"I just got a message from someone very dear to my heart." You replied with a smile. "He can be scary sometimes, but he's actually a good and caring person inside. So, how are you feeling, Eri?"

"I'm...okay."

She's probably still shaken up by everything that bastard has done to her. 

"What made you want to see me first? I'm just asking because I'm curious."

Eri was silent for a moment before lowering her gaze.

"... I... I thought about how warm and kind your hands felt. I also remembered... what you said to me. It made me happy. And when I noticed your wounds and saw you faint, I got really worried. And I wanted to see you..."

You gave her a kind smile. So the reason why Eri chose you as her first visitor was because she was worried about your well-being. You were so busy helping Deku beat the crap out of Chisaki that you didn't know that she saw you collapse in to your friend's arms. 

"You know, Deku, Void and Lemillion would love to see you, too. They were just as worried about you as me and everyone else who fought to save you. Is it okay if they come visit you whenever you're ready?"

Eri only saw Void for a second before you and she were sent to the surface through a portal, but she wanted to get to know the lady that helped Himawari and Lemillion. She nodded in agreement. 

"Good. I have to go now, but I'll come visit again soon."

You said good bye to Eri and left her hospital room. You pulled out your phone and finally responded to your boyfriend. 

Me: I'm okay. Sorry that it took me so long to answer. I had some cuts and bruises, a back injury, got dehydrated, but I'm fine now. Nothing hurts anymore. Izuku, Eijiro, Ochaco, Tsu and Mr Aizawa are alright, too. Thank you for worrying about me and our friends. ❤️ 

Once you've sent your response to your boyfriend, you went to check on Yuko Horikoshi since she'll be staying in the hospital for a little longer. When you opened the door to Horikoshi's hospital room, you were greeted by Togata doing a funny exercise on the floor in middle of the room while Horikoshi laughed at him from her bed.

"Heyoooo!" Your upperclassman hollered. "Mornin', Himawari! Our little Horikoshi here was down in the dumps, so I dropped by and cheered her up! They say laughter is the best medicine, so maybe Horikoshi will be raring to go soon since she's full of laughs and smiles, now!?"

You just stood there, dumbfounded by your upperclassman's normal enthusiastic attitude. Sir Nighteye died, and yet, he's acting like his usual self.

"Uuh... Togata, are you---"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." He frowns and halts his movements. "Our mentor died not too long ago. I shouldn't be smiling right now. But that's exactly why..."

You and Horikoshi stare at Mirio Togata. Togata jumps back to his feet and his smile returned. 

"You know, when Nighteye talks about you, he smiles a lot. And when he was talking with us, he'd smile quite a lot, too." Togata turns his head towards you with a smile. "So that's why you won't catch me sobbing anymore. Let's become "outstanding heroes" together! And if I'm wearing a glum face, it'll be that much harder on Eri, too."

You smiled sadly at Togata. Then, you sat next to Horikoshi on her hospital bed.

"Horikoshi, I heard you got shot and lost your Quirk. How are you feeling?"

To your surprise, Horikoshi smiled.

"To be honest, I'm pretty upset about it. But as you can already tell, Togata was able to cheer me up."

"Hey, do you wanna know something amazing?!" Togata sat down on the chair close to you. "Our Void used her portals to send your attacks to the enemy!"

You were surprised. You glanced at the Quirkless girl who scratched her head sheepishly. Looking back, you never asked Horikoshi why she wanted you to attack her portals. You trusted her and didn't want to waste time.

"Gates to Infinity is one of my ultimate moves where I open multiple portals in and around a structure and the surrounding area. I can use these portals to confuse the enemy and send attacks to multiple enemies at once."

You were impressed by Horikoshi's explanation of one of her ultimate moves. 

"Her portals also as monitors that let's her see through them, so she knew who she was aiming your attacks at! Thanks to her, she brought Midoriya, Erasers, and Nighteye to the fight!"

"And what's more, yesterday Togata talked to Eraser about Eri. He said that if, sometime down the road, Eri is able to gain control over her Quirk, that he would ask her to return me to a state where I still had my Quirk. And if that's beyond her ability, they would try various things to turn me back to normal. I'm going to fight for a brighter future!"

Togata and Horikoshi each pinched and pulled one of your cheeks.

"So just smile already, would 'ja?!" They said at the same time.

"Okay, okay!" You giggled as they let go of your face. You wiped away the tears from the corner of your eyes. "I'll be waiting."

Yuko Horikoshi took a temporary leave of absence from school. And as for the rest of you, you returned to school. 

🌻

When you returned to school, they had you all go through a bunch of inquiries and processes. In the end, you weren't able to make it back to the dorms until night. As soon as the five of you walked through the doors of Heights Alliance, your classmates rushed to you with worry. Each one of them expressed how worried they are in their own way. 

"Everyone!" Tenya Iida got between the five of you and the rest of Class 1-A with his arms stretched out. "I know you were all worried, but!! Let's calm down!! You all saw the news, didn't you? So you know what they went through. As classmates, we should be sensitive to their feelings and let them rest. It's not just their bodies... their spirits must be hurting too..."

"Iida, Iida." Izuku speaks to the class rep and smiles. "Thank you, but... I'm all right."

"Well then..."

Iida vigorously shakes Izuku back and forth.

"I was soooooo worried!! None of you have the slightest idea how I--"

"You're the most intense one of all!" Sero said.

You noticed Ochaco staring down at her hands with a sad expression. She's also upset about Sir Nighteye's death because she was the one who carried him out of the labyrinth. She can't help but think there's something she could have done. She's not the only one. 

"Hey." Katsuki walks over to you with his hands in your pockets. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." You smiled at your boyfriend. "I'm upset, but I'll be okay. Thank you for worrying about me."

"Aawww!!" Kaminari interrupts by hooking his arm over Katsuki's shoulders. Your boyfriend scowled in annoyance. "Look at Kacchan being a good boyfriend! You may act like a tough jerk, but you can be a caring guy when you want to be. Aren't you here cuz you were worried too?! Right!? Be honest!"

"I'm going to bed!" Katsuki shoves the electric blonde off of him and walks away.

"What?! This early? Are you a grandpa?!"

"You're not going to say anything to Izuku, Ochaco, Eijiro, and Tsuyu?" You asked your boyfriend. 

"I have somewhere to be tomorrow."

Oh, right. He and Todoroki have their provisional license training tomorrow morning. 

"Yagi, Midoriya, Uraraka, Asui, Kirishima, I'm sorry, but I've got to get going too." Todoroki spoke.

"It's okay, Todoroki. We know that you and Katsuki have provisional license training tomorrow. You both get some rest."

"Yeah, but.... isn't it still early though..." Kyoka questioned as she and you watch your hot and cold classmate leave.

After everyone went to their dorm rooms, you snuck out of your room and went to Katsuki's room. You knew that Katsuki might be asleep already, but you couldn't sleep and, on an embarrassing note, didn't want to be alone at that moment. You knocked on your boyfriend's door. Within seconds, Katsuki opened the door with an angry expression. 

"Who the fu--" He calms down when he sees you. "Are you ready to talk?"

You nodded and he lets you enter his room. As you laid down on his bed while in his arms, you told him everything that you went through. Meeting Eri, learning about her situation, feeling immense regret and guilt, your fight with the heteromorphs, what you said to Eri after saving her, your Quirk awakening,  and your last moment with Sir Nighteye before his death. Katsuki listened to every word you said until you drifted to sleep. That mission has really impacted you and your friends. Each one of you reflected on your own roles as future heroes.

🌻

A few days later... September passed by in a flash, and October has just began. Summer's disappeared without a trace, and the temperature has dropped dramatically. After all that happened, All Might, Hope and Mr. Aizawa brought you and the other work studies students to attend Nighteye's funeral. After finishing up the reports and discussions at school and the Herov agencies, they believed it would be best to put the work studies on hold. And as for Eri, you still visit her. According to Mr.Aizawa, you have a comforting effect on Eri. You always talk to Eri calmly and don't push her to let Izuku and Midoriya see her. She's really does want to see the two boys at some point. You later learned that Eri's Quirk power is Emitted from the horn on her forehead. Apparently, as heat builds up, the horn shrinks more. Now it's just a bump on her head.

One day, you are lunch with your parents in the teachers lounge. You told them about your sudden Quirk awakening and hoped that your parents might know something. 

"So, after you returned with reinforcements, you felt a buzz and sensed Chisaki's negative emotions....?" Your mother questioned. 

"And during you and Young Midoriya's battle with Overhaul, you were somehow able to heal Young Midoriya with the water you generated?" Your father added questioningly. 

"Yes." You nodded. "But, it wasn't a "buzz". It was more like..."

You thought about the noise that rang in your body. It was a bit hard to describe it.

"Um, do you know those buzz sounding alarms in theaters that let's you know a play is starting? It's like that."

Your parents understood your explanation. That's a relief.

"Also, after we took Chisaki down, I was so tired that I could barely stand. It was as if... my stamina was almost completely drained."

All Might thought for a moment before speaking again. 

"This is just a theory, but I think the healing effect of your water is similar to Recovery Girl's Quirk. The difference is that you used your own stamina to heal Midoriya, and as a result, you became exhausted."

"And as for you sensing Chisaki's emotions..."

Your parents glanced at each other. 

"That part is still unclear."

"But mom, don't you also have the ability to heal and sense a person's emotions!?"

"No." Hope shakes her head. "As far as we know, you are the only one among us with these new abilities."

You almost couldn't believe what your mother said. You mostly inherited your Quirk from your mother, so you thought you might get some answers from her.

"Just when I got better at controlling my Quirk and understanding it, something completely new rises to the surface, and I'm back to square one." You sighed.

You didn't inherit One For All, you're not the "chosen successor", so there was nothing you and your parents can do but recap past events and think of accurate theories. As you were in your own thoughts, your mom and dad each sat next to you on the couch.

"Don't worry, Sweetheart." All Might puts his hand on your shoulder. "You're not the only one who has faced such a problem."

"No matter what happens, me and your father will be there to support you and help you in any way we can." Your mom hugs you. "Just remember to not be afraid to ask for our assistance. After all, you are our daughter."

You hugged both of your parents and thanked them before leaving. As you walked through the UA hallway to Classroom 1-A, you thought about what your mom said. The ability to heal using water and the ability to sense a person's emotions.... can only be done by you. You wished you and your parents knew more. You then remembered Izuku. You were able to heal his body as he broke it by using 100% of One For All. If you were able to heal him... then you can use your Quirk to heal Thirteen, Mr. Aizawa's eye, and maybe... You'll be able to heal your parents and prevent Sir Nighteye's vision of their deaths from happening! You weren't able to save your mentor, but with this new development of your Quirk you'll be able to help more people and protect the people you care about. You still don't understand how you sensed Chisaki's negative emotions, but no matter what, you will work hard and become a reliable hero.

To Be Continued...