"Fractured Quirkline" - A My Hero Academia AU (ON HIATUS)

Chapter 2 - Familiar or Unfamiliar?

The morning sun's rays reflected off of the high buildings that border the city streets. A couple of birds even fly overhead, some letting out a few chirps. Reina was constantly looking left and right periodically, taking the sights of the city, as she was cooped up in the hospital for some time, she felt like it would be the only place she knew.

Reina: 'Wow... I had forgotten how beautiful the city actually is. Maybe it won't be so bad. Perhaps it won't be too hard to-'

Being too distracted by the city's grace, she accidentally bumps into a passerby. She immediately stops and turns to the young man she bumped into.

Reina: "Ah! I'm sorry!"

???: "Oh, no, no! You're okay. It was my bad in the first place."

The young man turned around to face Reina, and when he did, the teen was immediately stricken with shock and fear. The man had pointed ears instead of normal round ones. The whites of his eyes were yellow, his irises a bronze-like color, and his pupils were oval shaped. Like a lizard.

Reina: 'Huh?!?!?! H-his ears...!! His eyes...!!!'

???: "Um, miss? Are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Realizing that she would sound a bit crazy if she asks him about his appearance, Reina decided to save face and reluctantly made up a lie.

Reina: "Ah! Sorry, I-I thought you were someone I had a bad encounter with."

???: "Oh... I'm sorry that I reminded you of that person."

Reina: "No! No...! It's not your fault! It wasn't a violent e-encounter anyway. Only some bad mouthing. *sigh* I-I should really get going, or else the next train will be gone. I apologize for worrying you with my troubles."

She bows at a respectful 90 degree angle in hopes of both lighting up the dark atmosphere she had unintentionally created, and to get out of there ASAP.

???: "It's quite alright. I'm sure that the pro heroes will be on the lookout for them."

Taking a breath, Reina put on a smile to ensure the situation has been resolved.

Reina: "Yeah. You're right. Thanks."

She turns back around and starts walking again down the street, however she finds her mind plagued by the man's appearance, and how it wasn't normal.

Reina: 'What the hell was that? His eyes and ears weren't normal at all... not even close! Was he not even aware of that?? And how haven't other people realized that that isn't normal!? And... he said that the "pro heroes" will be on lookout? Doesn't he mean the police? Heroes are only works of fiction. It's impossible for them to even exist in real life.'

As Reina walked along the street with mind now struggling to comprehend the existence of heroes in the real world, a balloon suddenly floats in front of her face. She quickly takes hold of the string before the wind could take it away, and a young boy runs up to her with a relieved look on his face. He must have been chasing after it. His mother approaches just behind them. Both mother and child had very distinctive looking eyes, but Reina didn't question it, as they looked relatively normal.

Reina: "Oh! Hi there. Was this your balloon that was floating away?"

Little boy: "Yes, it is! I thought it was gone forever! Thank you for saving it, miss!"

Reina: "You're welcome. *bends down and gives the boy his balloon* Here you go. Now be sure to keep a tight hold on the string. You don't want to lose it again."

Little boy: "Right! Thanks again!"

Little boy's mother: "I have to thank you as well. It was quite a coincidence that you happened to be in its path."