The Origin of something new (mha ff)

Chapter 40

Kaede slept for a very long time. Mina had knocked on her door a thousand times, but didn't dare disturb her friend. The whole class was waiting for Kaede to finally wake up. Even students from the other classes had come by quite by chance to pick up something. It wasn't until Aizawa entered the dormitory with a serious face and the words, "Where's kaede?" that kaede was taken from her room. She sat sleepily at the table, a cup of coffee in front of her. The class bustled around the room, pretending to do something as they listened. "We should go through it in the right order." Kaede was still confused when Aizawa pushed a tablet towards her. "Look." It was an article about Hawks and how he had taken on an internship girl he always had to walk with. ",,The only positive thing about her is that Hawks is always walking the streets now and we get to see him more often,,, Ouch, that hurts." Aizawa turned the page. "The next one, that was just the beginning." At the next article, she was puzzled and frowned. She didn't like the headline "What did Hawks really hire the UA student for". A photo popped up. A photo of Hawks flying through the air with her, her in his arms and both of them laughing. "ohoh" "Go on." Another photo of the two of them, but from behind. "A romantic picture in the sunset," as it said underneath. "Oh shit, it's getting worse." "Watch out, the best is yet to come!" Mina called from the kitchen, so she couldn't see Aizawa staring at her through the wall. One last photo of Kaede in Hawk's lap. Her eyes were closed, and Hawks was also leaning back with his eyes closed. "Who is the girl who works for Hawks without working, known by the hero name Empathy? Is it possible that Hawks is in an unofficial relationship? We, my dear readers, will find out for you!" She stared at the last sentences in disbelief. "Not good." "Not good indeed." Aizawa took the tablet again. "There are heaps of people from the press outside the door. You don't have to say anything about it, but I think you should know." "Thank you." He continued to look at her, then glanced at the others in the room. "You can decide for yourself if you want to say anything about this." She just nodded. As soon as Aizawa had left the room, the others rushed towards her. Mina almost knocked over a vase Momo had created. "Explain yourself!!!!!!!" Mina shook Kaede. She was awake now at the latest. "I'm not in a relationship with Hawks." "BUT THE PICTURES KAEDE, THE PICTURES!!!!!!!" "Looks like you two enjoyed you were in his lap." This sharp comment came from Bakugo. Kaede stared him down in return. "I'm going to my room. I need to think about what I'm going to say to the press." "But Aizawa said you don't have to say anything," Momo tried to reassure her. "Yes, but it's not just my business. It's Hawk's reputation too." "And her future as a heroine that lay in Hawk's lap." "Thank you Izuku, for that super-awesome suggestion." She angrily stomped off while the girls eyed Izuku. "Izuku..." "I know, I'm sorry!" Mina just sighed as Kaede ran up the stairs. More to herself than to the others, she said. "She'll talk about it when she's ready."

"Do you think there's really something going on with Hawks?" Denki played a game against Eijiro, both tapping wildly on the controllers. "Well, the photos... that says a lot." Mina looked up from her phone. "I'm happy for them. They look so happy in the photos." Katsuki also chimed in, "Remember Hawks was let in to see her at the sports festival? The teachers must have known a long time ago." Thoughtfully, the students sank back into their activities.

"Guys..." Mina made a jump to the TV and stopped everyone else's game because she turned it on. "Someone get Kaede!" Without asking any questions, Eijiro ran up the stairs. Mina switched to a channel that was just showing the situation and the photos. Kaede came and sat down next to Mina. They listened to the presenter: "That was the situation this morning, but now someone has come forward who would like to say something anonymously about the case:" The picture jumped to a person with his face covered. "The article I saw said, 'The girl who doesn't work', but I can testify that she does work. I was about to end my life one night when I saw red wings dropping the girl right in front of me. She was beautiful, she shone with golden light like an angel. She saved me, from myself. I didn't know who she was then, who they were, but now I know her name. Empathy saved me." "Do you know anything else about their relationship?" Kaede was glad that the reporter did not elaborate on when this incident took place. If it had happened before her internship time, there would be problems. "At least now we know you work hard for your money too." "Not funny Denki." "I'm going to the press." They stared at her. "What?" "I can't let them poke around in my past any longer. I'm supposed to be a shadow. I will face consequences if I remain the centre of attention any longer." Confused, the others looked at each other, only Bakugo seemed thoughtful. "Should I go with-" "Thank you Mina, but I must do this alone. Watch me on TV."

"My name is Kaede Miharu, I am Empathy." She made a visible pause in which she inhaled. "Are you-" "I am not here to answer your questions. I will tell you so much that you will stop secretly taking pictures of me and stalking me, harassing me and disrupting my work." She ignored the reporters and turned to the camera. "I am not in any relationship with the professional hero Hawks. He is my brother." Everyone was shocked. Her friends in front of the TV, the reporters and everyone else who was watching the interview. "Well, half-brother, actually. We both grew up without parents so we were raised together. We are not just like siblings, we are best friends. Of course I'm interning with him, we're a dream team. I have done my work and prepared for a stressful shift. I am a student, hero work is exhausting, of course I had to rest before. I wish I could sit on a rooftop and enjoy the peace and quiet without being followed and photographed by sneaky drones. Thank you for your attention."

"That was badass." "You even managed to do it without swearing." "Well... if you're his sister you can certainly introduce me to him sometime, can't you?" They all laughed at Mina's suggestion. They talked together for a while longer until Mina and Kaede went to the room together and sat on Kaede's bed. "Why didn't you tell me?" "What exactly do you mean? That my parents are dead? That Hawks and I grew up together?" "There's more you're not telling me. I'm your best friend, I care about you, but I accept that you don't want to talk about it. I don't want you to think- you can tell me anything, right?" "But how would I tell you Mina? It doesn't feel right. Should I have randomly gone to you in one day to tell you that my parents are dead? I'm not the person to talk about my feelings." "Then don't talk about the feelings, but about what happened to you. I want to know you. Know what makes you you. Your past is what makes you and I don't know anything about it. I don't just want to know the things you enjoy, the things you love and can't get enough of. I want to know about the things that give you trouble, the things you can't do on your own, the things I can be there for you with." "I can't give you what you want." "No Kaede, you can't give yourself what you want." Mina moved to her and took her hands. "Now tell me." So she did. Kaede started to tell.