【 Tranquility 】

-Ravaging Truth-

TW: This chapter contains blood and violence

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"Don't lose focus. All of you, move faster! No matter what you're doing, you should always be aware of where you came from. That's what it means to improve. Always keep in mind why you're sweating, and why you keep getting nagged." Aizawa told us.

Where I came from...
Angrily, I solidified my water to create a projectile, shooting it forcefully onto the ground.
I know my origin, just what am I supposed to do or feel when I feel like I went against it?

I might've troubled a kid.

Suddenly I heard Pixie Bob shout, "More importantly, everyone, tonight...we'll have a test of courage with the classes pitted against each other. After training hard, you can play hard! The carrot and the stick! So do your best right now!"

I sighed and stretched my hands.
"Yessir!" We all answered.

I had shifted where I was training yesterday. Instead of being closer to the forest, I was high up on a cliff where there would be more heat. My speed of switching between water and solidified water had increased a little so it was time I tried to better its performance when in hotter temperatures.

I created slides and pillars, spheres and saucers over and over until I felt that there was an improvement.
My wrist ached from overuse, but minor pain won't do much.

My fists clenched as orbs of water circled it, soon turning spiky like crenated red blood cells. "Continue training. Just. Train."

I'll think of what I should do about Kota later.

I couldn't wait for the sun to set.

—
Hours later, it was time to cook dinner again.
"Hey! I could use a hand, Kanami!" Kirishima called out.
"Oh. Yea, sure," I answered, walking over.
While he helped cut the carrots, I helped mash the potatoes.

"Bakugo? You're really good at using the knife! It's unexpected..." Uraraka said.
"What do you mean, unexpected? How can you be bad at using a knife!" Bakugo shouted back.
"There he is. We haven't seen the capable side of him in a while," Kaminari remarked as he walked by.

Kirishima sighed and said that everyone was too energetic, and I agreed with a perfunctory nod.

Diverting my attention back to my potatoes, I affirmed myself as I pressed them down.
I'm upset because Kota's emotions keep playing in my head.

An apology would mean I might end up saying something that might hurt him more.

Any. Single. Wrong. Word. Could. Hurt. Someone.

"...You alright?" Kirishima asked.
The skin on the shoulders "jumped" and I shook my head, "Exhausted,"
He chuckled and put the carrots in the pot, "Yeah, but the Test Of Courage will cheer us up."
His familiar smile brought me some relief, "Yeah, it'll be fun."

When the talking subdued, my face relaxed again, my eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly. Kirishima peered over, "Seriously, though. Are you troubled with something?"

My words were caught up in my throat, even while my mouth was open. "Huh—Uh...do... you know the kid Kota? Mandalay's cousin's nephew I think."
He nodded in response.

"Uh... Midoriya and I followed Kota into the forest yesterday because we thought he might be hungry or get hurt. But...it only resulted in conflict. Kota hates heroes and we tried talking to him about it but I feel like we just negatively indoctrinated him with our perspective or something."

I put the bowl of mashed potatoes down. "To live life surrounded by people you don't like, only for strangers of the same kind to tell you to confront a negative belief? It's probably painful."