Izuocha's Love Stories

SHATTERED MIRRORS (CHAPTER 3)

CHAPTER THREE

Inko's face swam in front of her mind, her words from earlier mixing in with the agonized shouts from Deku. She thought back to the mother's request; to look out for her son.

Ochako looked down at her fingers, at the gravity-defying power she wielded within them. She thought back to Deku, throwing himself carelessly to stop Overhaul. She looked back to her friend, now helpless, wordlessly crying for help.

She stomped her foot into the dirt and balled her hands into fists.

Ochako was done with this. She could do better than this. She could...she could be a hero. The hero Inko saw in her.

She could look out for him, both on and off the battlefield. That was the least she could do. If she couldn't stop him from throwing himself into death recklessly, then she would have to make sure to yank him out at the end of it.

Because that's what a hero would do.

Without another thought, another fear, another trepidation, Ochako tapped her hand and leapt into the oblivion of darkness separating her from her Deku.

She felt the air rush by her hair as she floated, pushing her back and keeping her away from him. She gritted her teeth and pushed onward, willing herself forward. She would not be overcome by this, not anymore.

When she finally felt her feet touch on solid ground, she sprinted towards him. She could see him closely now, body glowing as his scream continued. But the sound grew quieter, as if his pain was relenting — or as if his throat was too raw to continue.

"I'm...I'm...going...to...save you!" Ochako panted, leaping over the rocks that materialized to impede her path.

He was right there, eyes ablaze with green fire, white energy creating a mystic aura around him. She ignored it all as she reached out towards him. He turned his washed-out gaze towards her, screams abating as he looked at her in confusion.

"I'm not gonna sit here and watch you die anymore!" she shouted into the darkness once more, just as her hand connected to his arm.

The inky darkness exploded into a brilliant light and she was consumed.

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Ochako's eyes opened groggily, the dream shocking her into wakefulness. Her head ached as she groaned out about waking up in the middle of the night once again.

She shambled out of bed and tiptoed over to the washroom. Her body and mind protested but she still sought the familiar refreshment. And perhaps something more.

Her toes pattered quickly across the tile flooring of the washroom as she almost ran over to the sink, turning the faucets and splashing cool water across her skin. It did the charm, as usual, slapping her into wakefulness after a disruptive dream.

She looked up into the familiar, mocking glass of the mirror in front of her. The image within looked much the same as it always did. Short, brown hair dishevelled. Eyes, sunk and shrouded in the dark rings around them, looking sleepy and just a little bit annoyed. A mixture of warm sweat and cool tap water dripping across her skin.

But there was one key difference.

The girl in the mirror wore a smile on her face. A confident smirk, one that challenged the person gazing within. The grin of a hero who fought through fear and nightmares to save the day, proud and unwavering despite the dauntless challenges ahead.

There was a spark there, too, in her eyes. It seemed small but it was something she missed seeing in herself. It might not be as brilliant as his but...it could do.