Heroes of Today

Part 24~Gathering

Naka groaned as he woke up. He shivered slightly from the freezing cold room.

“Naka! You’re awake!”

Jumping, Naka yelped. Kirishima gave him the largest, toothy grin possible, leaning on the bed and invading Naka’s personal space- not that he minded. “Kiri? What are you doing?” Naka tried to ignore the growing tint to his cheeks as Kirishima sat back down.

“You were attacked, Nakabro! I was worried you would fall into a coma. That place looked like it had gone through war!” Kirishima lowered his head slightly as Naka’s eyes widened.

In an all-powerful tidal wave of memories, it all came back. He remembered going to help Bakugo. He remembered the clones trying to do anything and everything to fight back but in the end, the plan broke down. Naka was useless. He remembered that villain sneaking up on Bakugo. He did nothing as the villain took Bakugo. He did nothing!

Screaming, Naka tried to leap out of his bed, grabbing Kirishima in his panic. “Bakugo! Where is Bakugo?!”

Kirishima refused to meet Naka’s eyes, instead he wrapping his arms around Naka and pulling him back on the bed. “I’m sorry. For a second, we almost got him out but Midobro couldn’t reach him in time.”

Naka gulped, his blood running cold. He should have gotten Bakugo. Did he even do anything after Bakugo was taken? Did he try to get Bakugo back? Or did he just sit there in fear of being taken too?

“I’m going to get a nurse.” Kirishima rushed out of the room, leaving Naka alone with his thoughts.

Eventually, Kirishima returned with the promised nurse. Naka barely had a scratch on him. With the number of severely injured students coming from the training camp, the hospital was more than relieved to see this.

Naka stayed quiet the whole time. It was a little eerie for onlookers. Kirishima tried to get him to talk but it did nothing.

“Naka! You’re awake!” Akiko threw open the door, breathing heavily as she smiled. “How are you feeling? You scared the living daylights out of me! ...I almost thought I had lost you both.” Akiko suddenly became shy, fiddling with her sleeve.

Naka didn’t say anything, he showed no signs of having Akiko at all. Akiko looked at Kirishima, motioning for him to leave.

“Hey, what’s going on in that big head of yours?” Akiko tapped Naka’s forehead but he didn’t move. Huffing, Akiko crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “You missed the new chapters. And you missed Kirishima holding your hand in your sleep.” Nothing. “Okay, what the fuck?! Wake up, simp!” Akiko spun her glaive around her, almost hitting Naka but stopping a centimetre in front of him.

Still nothing.

“Fine be that way. Just so you know Bakugo wasn’t the only one taken. And you weren’t the only one who was injured- not as if you could call that scratch an injury.” Akiko couldn’t help but subconsciously roll her shoulder, the scar was faded already but it still twinged. “I’m going to help. I’m going to get my friend back and make up for my mistake. If you're going to wallow in self missey, don’t expect me to help you in the future.”

“You have no idea what it's like to wake up and have no idea what is going on! You don’t know the fear that takes over in those seconds when you have no idea if you're safe or if anyone is going to come for you! Uzu needs us so fucking get up and help!” Akiko knew she was like this a lot. She would calm down for a minute before getting angry again and starting a new tangent. It’s what made her rants incredibly hard to follow.

Sighing, Akiko spun around stopping by the door. “You know, I always thought you would get over this but if you can’t that's just sad. Uzu would come for you.” Finally leaving, Akiko stormed away. She aggressively scrolled through her contacts, picking the one she wanted. “Hey, it's me. How quickly can you get here?”

~~~

Midoriya waited, fidgeting on his feet. Todoroki watched with a worried expression on his face. He knew Midoriya blamed himself but he didn’t know how to comfort Midoriya. He can only hope to rescue the missing students.

“I wish to say this is a mistake but I will not let you go without someone to look after you,” Iida announced, waving his arms around idly. Yaoyorozu and Jiro nodded with him, however, Midoriya didn’t care.

“Hey, you came!” Kirishima cheered as he approached the group. Naka stood a step back, looking exhausted and saying nothing.

“Ooh, what a lot of sacrifices,” Gael announced leaning forward with a smirk and making the group jump.

“No! She’s not here! You promised me an alien,” Dante cried pointing an accusing finger at Alfie who scoffed.

“Don’t be so dramatic. If you keep shouting I’ll take your eye.”

Dante screeched, covering his precious eye in absolute terror. “You wouldn’t!”

“We would,” Liz announced, pulling a knife out of nowhere. Dante let out an overdramatic gasp, pretending to faint as Alfie caught him.

“Hey! I’m allowed to threaten him, you’re not.” Alfie pointed an offended finger at Liz who stuck out her tongue.

Dante awed, wrapping his arms around Alfie’s neck. “My hero.”

“Captain on deck- ground- room- space!” Haven saluted, trying zie best to ignore the momentary confusion.

“Aki!” Ava charged forward, tackling Akiko into a tight hug, causing Akiko to chuckle.

“Evening Ava. Captain? Since when was I a captain, Have?” Akiko petted Ava’s hair slightly, a gentle smile on her face.

Haven smirked, patting Akiko’s back harshly. “You’ll always be a captain in my eyes!”

Liz crackled quietly. “I’m sure Ava wouldn’t mind you becoming her captain. You can be captain and captain Shar-” Liz couldn’t finish as Akiko vines wrapped around her mouth and prevented her from saying anything more- though she did try. “M’m wright.”

“Anyway, thank you for this. I really appreciate it.” Akiko bowed to the group as they laughed.

“You’re kidding right?” Dante pushed himself up, keeping his arms linked around Alfie as he did so.

“You save Maigo,” Gael carried on the thought.

“It’s time we repay you,” Ava finished, holding Akiko’s hand just like she did that moonlit night. Akiko felt her heart pitter-patter in a way she hadn’t before. Ava’s eyes were really amazing especially when they hold so much care and determination as they do now.

“Firtting!” Liz tried to scratch off the vines but it was useless. Akiko scowled at her, causing her to step back slightly.

“Deflecting.”

“Ouch.”

Akiko removed the vines as Liz stretched out her jaw and stuck out her tongue. “Your vines are disgusting, you know.”

Akiko genuinely looked disturbed as she glanced at her vines. “You ate part of me?!”

“Don’t overreact. Besides, didn’t you tell us you’ve eaten you before.” Liz smirked as she successfully shut Akiko up.

The whole class was confused. They had no idea who these people were or what they had to do with Akiko.

Naka felt as if he was missing a huge part of Akiko’s story as she talked about the plan. Tonight, they free Uzu and Bakugo.

“Wait, I want to help too.”