Painting Waves: A My Hero Academia OC Story

Chapter 1 - Obstacle Course

Cyara could feel it.

The bubbling nerves coursing throughout every passing second. Tension that had been so thick a knife could not make a cut. The hall was silent a moment ago as they gathered in that same room, their uniforms smooth against each of their own bodies. She heard one classmate question it, and they simply got a response saying "fairness."

Maybe she only felt that tension, rather everyone else seemed to engage in mindless chatter now that she looked around. So, she took a deep breath and redirected her gaze down at the water bottle gripped in her hand.

This is it, huh? Everyone can either see me do something right or royally screw up...

Her gaze could be rather intense at times, and before her thoughts could tumble down yet another spiral as they did prior, a deep yet stern voice called to her classmate Izuku Midoriya.

"...What is it, Todoroki?" Midoriya responded.

She turned her head to face the altercation, not having seen Todoroki be so confrontational before.

He began, "Objectively speaking, I'm more capable than you. All Might's got his eye on you, and while I have no intention of prying into why that is..."

"I will beat you."

Her eyes widened, replacing all previous thoughts with the certain declaration of war Todoroki gave. It had been exactly what she would've expected, truthfully: quick and to the point. Meanwhile, Kirishima's hurried footsteps sounded on the floor as he placed a hand on Todoroki's shoulder. "Hey man, why are you picking a fight? We're all friends here-"

As quick as the hand rested on Todoroki's shoulder, it had been shrugged off. "I really don't care. I'm not going to pretend to be friends with anyone."

Cyara merely clenched her fist that had once been pressed against the table, gently placing the water bottle to the side as she got lost in her thoughts once more. She couldn't figure it out– let alone understand– how she had felt about the declaration. No, rather, how exactly she felt about Todoroki's unknown situation all together. Her brain was a labyrinth— one that held no exit, twisting in many mysterious ways.

He was her, she was him. At least, at a time before now. She could never forget that moment she watched him freeze that entire building on the displays; his eyes holding such a cold anger directed at someone who wasn't even there. It had been unmistakable– because that was once her.

It ran in her brain far more often than she'd care to admit. She intended on becoming a hero, one that saves those that many would turn away from, so she knew that disregarding his feelings was less than ideal.

Prying had not been an option; she had an acute awareness of what that would result in. Therefore, she shoved that twinge of sorrow down, and decided to focus on the moment— on what she could do. The chairs squeaked as her classmates stood, the barrage of 20 heading out towards the stadium. She scrambled to her feet to follow close behind. Right! There's no time to focus on that now! I have to prove myself to everyone!

The moment her foot stepped into the hall, a deep, horrid voice from her past echoed back into her mind, "No matter how much you train that damn quirk, you'll never be strong!"

Her brows furrowed intensely as she continued forward, despite the negative emotions washing over her the moment that voice rang through her head. Like hell she would listen to that, she'Id prove everyone wrong.

–

As Present Mic announced the students of each class, the collective cheers of the crowd roared louder every step she took towards the gate. A weight rested in her chest from the sound, swallowing thickly and pursing her lips. Despite the goosebumps splayed across her skin, she kept pushing forward, the light from outside growing brighter with every step.