𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚

Chapter 13

Winner Winner

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All you could hear was the sound of your own breaths. Feeling the ground under your hand, you concluded that it was outdoors-or at least someplace with a lot of plants around. It took a while for you to gain your sense of sight and studied your surroundings. Flowers, everywhere. It must've been a haven for Hana to use her quirk however she wished. You couldn't quite remember how long you've been passed out since she's taken you hostage.

"Finally! Sleepyhead's finally awake!" you jolted up at the sound of her chuckle but the stabbing pain on your chest caused you to fall back on the ground with a light thud. A pinkish flower bud was attached by your sternum and you could see that it was rooting on your skin. Balling your fists, you could only swallow the excruciating pain that felt like little pricks. Hana was contented at the sight of you thrashing, desperate for escapism and survival. Placing a finger by her chin, Hana quietly hummed and swayed her body to a silent tune.

"You see... your water gives energy to my pretty plants" she spoke, producing a chrysanthemum bloom on the palm of her hands. "And healing? Well... I wouldn't have to go around dropping bodies for a while with your power stored inside that cute little bulb on your chest" Hana gave a wet kiss on your forehead and crushed the chrysanthemum, letting its tiny petals to fall on top of you. "Some flowers-just in case you die when I'm not around" despite your struggles, the pain was too much for you to handle. Even a little movement caused your energy to drop.

What have you done? What caused you to be in such situation? You chuckled weakly, thinking about how this wasn't in the initial deal you had with Todoroki Enji. Knowing that he would be the death of you, but not quite in the way you imagined it to be. With little tendrils curling around your fingers, you watched as the plant gives out a faint green glow as it feeds on your vitality. Allowing sleep to consume you, moments shared between you and Enji began flooding your mind. Looks like you were the loser after all. And it costed you your life.

*

Hana Sakuraku's second mistake was to keep you alive rather than had you killed. Hunting Dog Hero: Hound Dog was immediately called into the hunt. That was the only person Enji could think of with a keen sense of smell-well, apart from Keigo Takami. Hound Dog was able to trace the scent despite how faint it was. The Hunting Dog hero was given Hana Sakuraku's and your belongings for him to sniff at before trailing. Hound Dog began howling incoherent words before racing off. Everyone was momentarily caught off guard then decided to follow behind him.

"Hawks! Get an aerial view!" Enji ordered and blasted off, tailing the hero that was currently following your scent. "You don't have to tell me, Endeavour-san!" Keigo took flight and kept his eye on Hound Dog who was fully dedicated in chasing your scent. At one point, Hound Dog had finally stopped in front of a forest entrance.

"What's wrong?" Enji asked, looking at his peer. Hound Dog had mumbled incomprehensible sentences before finally saying something clear. "I'm thrown off track here..." he growled, glaring into the forest's mystery.

"Expand the search area to here! Hawks! Keep your eye for anything in the forest!!!" Enji shouted loud enough for Hawks to hear in the air. Nodding, the feathered hero hovered over the forest and scanned the surface. It was challenging considering the tall trees providing shelter, making it harder to view. His eyes caught sight of a small figure bundled up in vines and could only assume it to be you. "Endeavour-sann!!! Here!!!" Keigo loudly announced, simultaneously notifying the rest of the heroes that were within proximity.

*

Upon hearing the sound of whooshing air, Hana concluded that the heroes were hot on her trail. Rushing towards your laid figure, she created an impenetrable dome made out of plants and vines to prevent Keigo from stopping the process. It only takes a little more while for the plant bulb to finally absorb all of your energy. "Let her go!!!" Keigo had taken out a makeshift sword fashioned from his feather and started slashing, but it was to no avail. Nevertheless, he carried on hacking and could only hope for the plants to finally loosen its hold.

The relief Hana Sakuraku felt went down into flames (quite literally) when she felt an unnaturally blazing heat coming towards her direction. The dome may have been impenetrable, but it was susceptible to fire. Ultimately, fire does bring about destruction. Hana was filled with trepidation upon watching the dome catching fire. Just a little while more! Just a little whi-

"You destroyer!!!" she screamed, holding onto the bulb and was ready to extract it from your unconscious body. "Sakuraku... let go of her or I'll burn you into cinders" Enji's voice strangely sounded calm, but who knows what lies underneath. "You wouldn't dare" Hana hissed, grabbing onto the plant and was about to pull it when a sudden attack of fire burned the left side of her face. Hana fell onto the ground and began wailing in pain, muttering out torrent of words along the lines of her no longer being beautiful.

After a series of poor attempts in smothering the fire, it finally registered in Hana to realize that it was only you who can subdue Todoroki Enji and his quirk. As she watched her plants diminishing into soot, she saw the number one pro hero picking you up in his arms and nuzzling his face against yours. He was muttering a few words, an audible secret shared between the two of you.

With a crooked smile on Hana's face, she eventually admitted defeat. It didn't take long for the authorities to arrive and had her cuffed.

*

It took a lot of meetings to a few different specialists with botany-related quirk in order to extract the parasitic plant bulb off you. The procedure was complicated as they had to be careful since its roots were almost fused to your heart. Enji was patient, sitting outside the theatre while waiting for the long operation hours. He'd finally released a sigh of relief when the doctor came out of the room with good news. You were under a lot of drugs and was required to be under observation for a month.

You woke days after the operation with a stinging pain in your chest. The plant bulb that used to be there was replaced with bandages. Plain walls, white curtains, heart monitor, IV drip-you were in a hospital. Your attention was refocused to the sound of light snoring to your left. To your surprise, it was Enji and he was trying not to fall forwards as he slept. You were debating on whether or not to wake him, but you did anyway by giving a few gentle pats on his arm.

"Ah... you're awake" he said, stifling a yawn as he did so. You answered his questions when he asked how you were feeling, are you in pain, do you want any water or food. In return, Enji cleared all the inquiries you had about what happened. It took you a while to register what was going on. So Todoroki Enji was under Hana's quirk influence when you caught him having sex with her back then. That little information had you at ease.

You fidgeted at the feeling of Enji's warm palms resting on your hand. It's been a while since he last touched you. There was an earnest expression reflected on his turquoise orbs. The warm, slightly chapped lips was next to come in contact with your cheek. When Enji settled back on the chair, you could see the small quiver at the side of his mouth. It looked like he was having an internal dispute within himself until he finally said something which warmed you inside out.

"I love you, (y/n)" he gave a small growl when you flicked his forehead. "You lost!" Enji couldn't help but smile at your demeanour.

"I love you too, Enji"

Looks like there are survivors to this deception game after all.

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Note:

so, how was it? hahaha.
hope you guys are safe and sound at home! <3