Our Darkest Hours

Break Time

"What the hell, Toshi?!" Sophia yelled after she deemed them far enough away from everyone else. His eyes were wide but his mouth stayed in a firm line. 

"I have-"

"Don't even start that denial shit! Why would you do that? I was going to join your team willingly!"

His eyes narrowed. "You would have told me to let go of my hold on the others in favor of you convincing them to join. I told you, I don't need your help."

Sophia crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't have done that. I know you need to show off your quirk. I'm just saying, I would have been more help if I had my wits about me and wasn't a mindless drone!"

Toshi scoffed and made to leave. She grabbed his arm, making him sigh and hang his head. "You were right. I need to show off my quirk- the only problem is it's hard to when everyone, including you, have such flashy quirks. That lightning guy, that arrogant jerk, the ice guy who got in on recommendations...." His head lowered and he backed up a little. "Everyone is more blessed than me. I had to show off what I could do with my own abilities, and how I could use other people's quirks."

Sophia's grip loosened, then it fell completely. "You were using me?" Hitoshi didn't answer. She scoffed in disbelief and wiped her eyes before tears could form. "Ok. Fine."

"Soph-"

"I won't tell anyone about your quirk because I want the chance face off against you myself. Now go get ready- I want your best." Hitoshi nodded and left, leaving Sophia alone in the dark and unused corridor. She felt the breaking point coming and took deep breaths to avoid it. 

A red feather floated in front of her face. It made sense, considering that the halls lead outside with no doors to block outside animals. She absently reached out to grab it, admiring the beauty and wondering if it came from a cardinal or even a robin. Though, it looked too big for either of those options to be viable.

But the feather ruffled in her grasp though there was no wind. It seemed to struggle, but like it was trying to do it subtly. A red feather that was moving on it's own... 

She let go of the feather. "Wait, Hawks!?" At her words, the feather perked up. It pulled the side of her shirt to turn her around then started pushing her. Likely towards Hawks himself. "Ok, ok, I'm going." 

Sophia should have told him that she needed to eat, to prepare for what was next, but if the Pro Hero Hawks was telling you to go somewhere, you went there.

. . .

"Perfect! The girls bought it!" Mineta cheered, much to Denki's dismay. 

"Quiet down, will you!" He shushed, looking around wildly to make sure no one heard him. Thankfully, the cafeteria was nearly empty in favor of the stands outside and locker rooms for the girls. 

"Relax, they're all gone anyway. But it's upsetting that we didn't get to have Sophia be apart of it." 

"She wouldn't have believed us anyway- she told me her Dad helped her fight for her uniform."

"Such a shame about that, I'll never-"

"Anyway!" Denki interrupted, grabbing a couple burritos from the buffet and regretting his alliance with the boy. "I better go find her. I haven't seen her for a bit and I don't think she's eaten since breakfast."

Mineta shrugged and Denki chose that moment to run off. He did an extra round of the cafeteria to be sure, then went outside to check and see if she was at any of the booths and games. Though, some of them were selling food, so the burritos may have been for nothing. Still, he looked. It was a struggle to not play some himself so he told himself she wouldn't be playing games and started looking in some of the outside corridors.