Toshinowa

18

It was dark and cold. How did I get here? The students I was with. Who were they? Where were they?

It all came back.

"Todoroki. You made me a promise. Remember?" He nodded. "Now I trust you to keep that promise."

"I understand." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her off the ground.

"No! W-what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry." He took off.

Her screams echoed down the halls as he rushed to keep his promise.

"Thank you," I muttered even though there was no one around. "For keeping her safe." And the building fell.

I took in my surroundings. It was dark, but a small crack in the wall let in moonlight. I tried to stand, but felt a sharp pain in my leg. Right. I had been trapped under a boulder. My leg was probably broken.

"You're awake." The voice was as weak and broken as I felt.

"Ina!" I pulled myself toward her. "W-what happened? How did we get here?"

"I copied that one kid's hardening quirk to fight. I still had a hold of it when I found you. I covered you when the building fell. I passed out after a while. When I came too, I managed to dig my way out. It was dark by then. I ran into some of the gang members and copied his breaking quirk while he wasn't looking. Then I got you out."

"But how did we get here?"

"They found out and wanted to fight. Cementos had just dug his own way out of the rubble. We got away from them, then he made this little room to keep us safe until the rescuers found us. Then he passed out. He's alive, but he's been out for a couple days."

"At least he was right. The rescue teams will find us. Soon"

(-)

I could eat. But I couldn't sleep. I could barely bring myself to leave my room. I spent day and night drawing all the images of him I could muster.

"Ki!" There wasn't even a knock on the door. Eri ran into my room, holding her horn. Like before, I could see the energy pulsing from it. Only it was stronger this time. I quickly took it from her.

"What's wrong?" I pulled her onto my lap.

"I heard Eraser Head went missing after they went to rescue you."

"He did. But they're going to find him. Soon." If only I believed those words. "Everything's going to be ok." Other than the fact that I might be an orphan.

"Ok. I have to go now. I ran so fast no one could catch me and they're probably worried."

"You're right. Go on."

(-)

Someone knocked on my door. This time, I didn't tell them to go away.

"What?" It was Shinsou.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I just could really use someone to talk to right now."

"Of course." I patted the foot of my bed. He sat down.

"Right before the rescue mission, Mr. Aizawa spoke with a few of us."

"About what?" He sighed.

"I wish I could hate Todoroki for what he did. I mean, Mr. Aizawa taught me so much. He was the one that got me into the hero course. The binding cloth I use, it was his idea for me to use it. He was the one who taught me how. But the four of us- me, Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki- we all promised him that day that we would keep you safe. So I can't hate Todoroki. He had to make a hard choice that day, and he chose to make the right one. Even if I'm struggling to see that." His hands balled into fists.

"That was the promise?" It all made sense now. "I understand your frustration. Maybe more than anyone else."

"Did he train you, too?"

"He was my homeroom teacher, but he didn't give me any special training." I debated my next move, then handed him the picture from my sketchbook.

"What's this?" He looked at it for a moment. "Mr. Aizawa and that hero from America?" He handed it back to me, obviously confused.

"Copy Cat. Ina Inara. Born in Japan. Transferred to a hero agency in America after being a sidekick for two years." I blinked back tears. "My mother."

"W-what?"

"This picture was taken while Mr. Aizawa was visiting her in America. About two months after this, my mother went missing. She was pregnant." He thought for a second.

"So you're saying Mr. Aizawa is..." I nodded.

"Yeah."

"It all makes sense now." There was a frantic knock on my door before it flew open.

"Good. Now I don't have to find both of you." It was Present Mic. "Come with me." I studied his face for a hint. Fluster. Exhaustion. Hope. Relief. It hit me.

I jumped out of bed, leaving my sketchbook on my pillow and throwing my shoes on. We followed him as he ran toward the door.

"Wait!" I stopped. "What about Eri?"

"She's getting ready for bed. We're bringing her in the morning." We continued running.