Expect the Unexpected: Mei Hatsume x reader (BOOK 2)

Chapter 38: Can't be a Child Anymore

'Ever yours, Shirakumo Y/N'

The first words you'd croaked out after you'd lost your voice in the war. Your voice was hoarse and barely a whisper, but you were happy that it had shown signs of returning.

You wheeled out of the area, quietly making your way past the crowd that once recognised you as their friend. Outside, you quickly met Jeanist, who'd hid himself for a while so that you could attend the funeral.

"How was it?" He asked once he'd helped you in and entered himself, starting the car for the two of you to return to your hideout.

'Well I'm legally dead now, that's a bitter pill to swallow,' your assistant voiced as you leaned your head against the window. 'I wish I could've ended it differently though, my recklessness-'

"Now isn't a time to regret it," Jeanist sighed, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. "You saved lives with your sacrifice, and tried to get everyone out alive. You were our head strategist, and had multiple people willing to die for you but didn't let them."

You looked up, curious, waiting for him to get to the point.

"We all lost someone in the war," he continued. "Willingly throwing away a chance of happiness so the majority could survive was reckless, but it was brave."

You glared, returning your gaze to the window.

It wasn't brave, it was self sacrificial. Even the thought of something like that being taught as brave to hero course students of all generations disgusted you. You were all willing to give it your best, to go beyond. However no one had ever questioned how much further you'd have to go to reach Plus Ultra.

You had proved to the entire society, heroes, villains, vigilantes and civilians, that Plus Ultra was a social construct that would only end in death. Anyone who went overboard too early on, wouldn't live to tell the tale.

While you were alive, you would never get to tell your point of view, your perspective. It would always be other people telling tales of glory, and soon, even they would forget.

How much longer until you were just a distant memory?

"Y/N," Jeanist called, noticing you spiral.

You looked up only to acknowledge him, refusing to meet his eyes.

"It'll get better," he sighed. "A story isn't complete without its happy ending."

You pursed your lips, pulling out a mangled silver ring which loosely hung onto a chain.

'Lies,' you scoffed, looking at the ring. 'You're a liar.'

Jeanist looked down in grief, unwilling to respond to your accusation, knowing full well that you were going through a lot.

You turned back to the window, thinking about the family you'd left behind.

The hero society was filled with lies and loopholes that only the brave managed to find, challenging the government.

You were neither brave nor ambitious, and only as competitive as you needed to be. However, you were intelligent.

'We'll never let you go,' the blonde snarled at your idiotic question.

One who'd stick through to the end.

They always suffered the most, ambition and bravery at astounding amounts, only steadily increasing as they lost everyone they loved.

'No!' A familiar voice screamed.

Except this time you didn't respond.

The one who always jumped in to reduce casualties, who'd always take on the largest responsibility even if it meant throwing away the chance of a happy life.

And lastly, the one who always had the backs of their teammates.

'I'm sorry, please!' The boy sobbed out, a muffle which you barely heard through your lack of consciousness.

The one who'd have to witness death after death, watch the light drain out of each one of their eyes.

But there was one more who was usually forgotten.

'It all worked out well, didn't it?' A girl grinned sheepishly, glad that her family had returned to her.

The perfect mix, the one who was always the first to die.

You leaned back, eyeing your ring as you twirled it between your fingers.

'Things were supposed to work out,' your speech assistant stated. 'It wasn't supposed to end like this.'

"Self pity will get us nowhere, the least we can do is use your sacrifice as a catalyst for our plans," Jeanist sighed. "Please stay by Deku's side, you're the only person who can reason with him."

A smile lost to madness, laced with sadness as eye bags of sleep deprivation hung heavy under his unusually dim emerald eyes.

He wasn't someone who could be reasoned with, especially now that he'd gone vigilante.

'I'm just another hero course student, he won't listen, trust me,' you stated, shaking your head.

"We're here," Jeanist announced, helping you out the car once he got out himself.

The rundown shack you'd used as a hideout since early that morning stood in a valley, well hidden from general human view.

Entering the shack, you noticed multiple crates in the dimly lit area, along with one monitor that Hawks was working on. A sorry excuse of a bed lay in the corner, which had your equipment next to it.

'Hawks, are you sure they can't track us?' You asked, pointing to the monitor. 'You know how HN is with alerts.'

"As long as it's just the heroes and not the cops, we'll be fine Cloudy," he shrugged off, eyes widening as an alert came in. "Endeavour-San!"

"What now?" The older boomed from a side room.

"We got a case," Hawks grinned, showing the two older pros the situation. "We'll be back Y/N-chan, stay safe!"

You sighed as you watched them leave, getting impatient about your recovery.

'It'll take a while dearie, but that's what happens after severe circumstances,' Recovery Girl had soothed. She was the only other doctor informed of your situation, and therefore helped treat you whenever she was on a break.

You knew walking would take time, and you knew the feeling in your hands would never return. But you still couldn't wait to get better, couldn't wait to retake your position as most powerful in Class 1-A.

However, you knew that wouldn't happen any time soon.

Filler chapter, but we'll get there soon. Y/N won't be on the sidelines for too long

QOTD: thoughts on this current arc?

Have a great day/night!