Toshinowa

8

"She's pathetic and weak."

"She's seven."

"If she doesn't start showing promise soon, we'll have no choice but to discard of her." I wanted to comfort her in her tears, but I was afraid of what he would do if he caught me eavesdropping again.

"Do you think he really means that?"

"Jeez! You really shouldn't sneek up on people like that."

"Sorry." He saw the fear in my face. "You don't have to worry, Toshi. He's just trying to keep your mom afraid of him."

"But look at what he's already done to us. I wish I didn't have such a weak quirk."

"Remember what your mom said. 'Your quirk is only as strong as you make it.'"

"Easy for you to say. Your quirk is awesome."

"Yeah, but I'm also much older than you. And don't forget about..." He raised his eyebrows. He was the only one other than my mother who knew. And that was only because he's the reason we found out.

"Yeah, but Momma says I can't tell anyone."

"So? One day, it's going to help you be amazing."

I was awake. I didn't know why, but I was awake. I looked around the room. I was still in the teachers' dorm. I was still living this nightmare. Something shifted near my feet. I pulled them up to my chest, looking down.

It was Mr. Aizawa, in the floor, leaning up against the bed, fast asleep. He must not have felt safe leaving me alone after that dream. I was warned he would be this way.

(-)

"You look like you barely slept at all." He wasn't in my room when my alarm went off this morning, but caught me on my way to meet Shokya for our walk to class.

"Yeah, and you look even worse. You planning on staying awake through the whole class period?"

"You just worry about staying awake yourself. There's no training today, but class will still be just as boring as a regular high school class."

"Sure thing. I'm out."

"Wait." I sighed as I turned back around. I was just ready to get to class. "We caught someone on campus last night."

"W-what?"

"He didn't give any information. Though he has a tattoo of a dragon-"

"Was it blue?" This seemed to stun him.

"Um, yeah."

"Shit." I ran my hands through my hair. "They don't have a name, but they mark their members with a tattoo of a blue dragon." My mind spun.

They did find me. What were they doing to her? Were they torturing my few friends for information? What were they going to do when they got me out of here?

"Don't worry. They're not going to hurt you. UA will not allow that to happen. We'll talk about this more after class."

"Yes sir."

(-)

"Ki, can I be frank with you?"

"Of course."

"Look." She stopped, stepping off the walkway so we weren't in the way of anyone else on their way to class. Her voice was hushed as to not let any passersby hear, but without using her quirk so I knew she truly meant what she was saying. "I know what you've told everyone isn't the truth. And I get it if you don't want to talk about it. But I want you to know that if you do, I'm here. I'm a good listener and I'm good at keeping secrets. I'm your friend, and I want to be there for you." I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully.

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it. I do, so bad. I feel like I'm drowning in secrets. But I can't. Not that my conscience won't let me, I actually can't."

"Is it a legal thing?" I sighed.

"Yeah. I wasn't even supposed to tell you that, but I want you to know. I really can't talk about it. But when I'm finally allowed to, you'll be my first stop."

"Even before Todoroki?"

"W-what?"

"Don't think I haven't been catching the little glances between you two. And the private talks." We got started back toward class again.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on. Admit it. You like him."

"What? No!" I had only liked one boy, ever, and it was much different than this.

"Ok, stay in denial. But remember this conversation when you're walking down the aisle." I nudged her off the sidewalk. "Ok, or when you're wallowing in self-pity because you let him get away."

"Let who get away?" Damnit.

"Oh, hey Bakugo! What are you doing here?" There was something about the upper class that made her much chirpier. Probably because they weren't as shallow as our class.

"Sometimes I like to scope out the underlings to make myself feel better."

"Because we're so much weaker than you are?" Shokya wasn't the only one who felt more confident around them.

"No! It's because I was way ahead of all of you at this age."

"I think Ki could take you."

"Shokya!"

"What? You totally could."

"Hm. Maybe I can convince our teachers to allow us to spar. Anyways, I gotta jet. See you guys at lunch." Shokya giggled as he ran off. I smacked her arm.