𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

[46]

Two of hearts

46

___

Y/n's head pounded relentlessly, each throb a drumbeat of agony that echoed through her skull. With a low, pained grunt, she slowly pushed herself off the concrete, her muscles protesting with every movement. Her fingers grazed her forehead, coming away sticky with dried blood. She touched her lips and felt the crust of blood caked there, mingling with the fresh taste of copper in her mouth.

How long had she been knocked out?

Groaning, she forced herself to stand, her body screaming at her to stop. Every inch of her felt battered and bruised, the pain radiating from her core like wildfire. She glanced down at the ground, and her stomach churned at the sight of one of her molars lying in a puddle of spit and blood. The sight made her cringe, and she instinctively stuck her tongue into the gap where her tooth had been. The gummy texture of her sore gum, raw and tender, made her want to be sick.

She took a deep, shuddering breath and started to move, each step sending fresh waves of pain coursing through her body. Her legs wobbled beneath her, barely supporting her weight as she staggered towards the area where the examinees who had passed were gathered. The victory felt hollow, a mockery of what it should have been. Kai had let her pass, and the realization gnawed at her, making her feel more like a fraud with every painful step.

As she stumbled forward, her mind kept drifting back to Kai. The way he had so effortlessly beaten her to a pulp, his twisted words echoing in her ears. He knew everything about her, or so he claimed, and the more she thought about it, the more it refused to make sense. How had he known so much? Why had he been so intent on tormenting her? The pieces of the puzzle refused to fit together, leaving her with a growing sense of unease and confusion.

Each step was a trial, her body ached with every movement. Her muscles felt like they were on fire, each contraction sending fresh stabs of pain through her limbs. Her ribs protested with every breath, and she could feel the dull throb of bruises forming beneath her skin. The world seemed to tilt and spin around her, her vision blurring at the edges as she fought to stay upright.

She finally reached the door to the room where the examinees who had passed were waiting. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the handle. The prospect of facing her classmates, of admitting to them how she had 'passed,' filled her with dread. She wasn't sure she could handle their questions, their concern, not when she felt so utterly defeated.

Taking another deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room fell silent as she entered, every pair of eyes turning towards her. She could see the shock and worry in their faces, and it made her want to shrink into herself, to disappear. She stood there, swaying slightly, her body a mass of bruises and cuts, her face a mask of pain and exhaustion.

Without a word, she pushed past everyone, ignoring their gasps and murmurs of concern. Midoriya was the first to try and approach her, his eyes wide with worry. "Y/n! What happened to you?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

She didn't respond, brushing him off with a sharp glare. She made her way to a table with a glass of water, grabbed it, and poured it over her head. The cold water washed away some of the dried blood, but it did little to cool the fire of anger burning inside her. She slammed the empty glass down, her eyes blazing with fury.

Kaminari exchanged a worried glance with Kirishima. "You look terrible," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"No shit."