HIATUS Reader X MHA (Isekai)

Le Tournament Arc: Half-time

Todoroki pulled Midoriya aside once we got to the cafeteria, presumably for his therapy session.

Midoriya sent me a look as if to ask if I would be okay with Katsuki and Selwyn.

My head tipped down in a slight nod as Midoriya went with Todoroki.

Katsuki and Sel walked silently behind me as we found a table.

Questions and concern hung in the air as we ate.

Katsuki was the first to speak. "Do you, uhm," He cursed under his breath. "Do you want to talk about it?" His eyes were fixed on the table, unwilling to meet mine.

I thought about it for a second, overly aware of my puffy eyes. "No, it would probably lead to another episode."

Before either of them could say anything else, my phone rang.

I checked the caller ID.

Tartarus Prison.

Where my father was being held.

My lip curled in disgust as I rose from the table. When my voice came out, the vehemence was palpable. "Excuse me, I have to take this."

Selwyn put his hand on mine as I left. "Kamik-"

"It's fine, Sel." I pulled my hand away and turned a corner out of the room.

I held the phone to my ear, the cool glass making contact. "Hello?"

A tired woman answered. "Is this Kamiko Piercefell?"

My jaw clenched. "Yeah, that's me."

"Please hold for Desmond Piercefell."

Silence hung over the line for a moment before there was a click. "Kamiko."

"What do you want?" I grit my teeth.

There's silence on the phone.  "We got cut off short last time. There's more I had to tell you."

The emotion has leeched from my face. "I don't have all day, Father." I'd never said a word more sarcastically. "Spit it out."

"Why I killed her." He said, almost remorseful.

Air punched through my lungs. "What?"

He was quiet before he answered. "I met up with someone at the event. He showed me contact between her and the heroes, saying she told them the location of the event. I didn't believe him at first, but then they showed up."

"You killed my mother," I growled, "because you had the tiniest shred of proof that could have easily been faked, that she snitched?"

He was quiet once more. "I recently found out that the man had been the actual leak and that he'd used the distraction to get away."

"Oh, a distraction? Is that what her death was to you?"

There are two kinds of anger. There is, of course, the hot, wet anger that sends tears streaming down your face. The kind that has you screaming your emotions, trying to get it into someone's head that they've hurt you. With warm, wet anger, it's the kind you stew in until you lay broken on the floor of your room. And above all, it's so personal.

And then there's the dry, cold anger, where your words are sharp, and you're detached from the situation. With cold anger, your mind is overwhelming clear, and that anger is the kind you glare at someone with, and it sends shivers down their spine. It's an anger that hardens you into stone stronger than diamonds. It's the ice that patches your wounds and leaves you with shards sharp enough to cut glass.

I was feeling the latter.

"Her life meant that little to you?" Danger leaked from my voice.

"Kamiko-" For the first time in a long time, Desmond Piercefell was afraid. But it wasn't enough.

"You enjoy rotting in that prison until you die, Desmond. Because if I see you before then, I will show you exactly what kind of distraction you can become. They will never stop finding your body. Did I ever tell you what happened to me when they captured me in Bulgaria? What happened before I broke out?" My fingers are turning white as they curl around the edges of my phone.

He doesn't answer.

"Did I?" I snapped at hum.

"No." He answered, voice meek.

I turned my head towards the phone. "The man they had torturing me had a healing quirk. He would cut little pieces off me, starting with my fingers and toes, all the way to strips of my skin. And he would make me watch as he fed it to rats. Then he would heal me, not a scar left behind, and do it again."

"If I ever see you again, I'll make that seem like mercy. Do you understand?" My voice dropped even lower.

"Yes." He whimpered.

I hung up the phone and angrily walked back to the cafeteria.

Someone walked up behind me with a fast pace. They tried to grab my shoulder.

I grabbed them by their wrist, twisted it, and got low as I threw them over my shoulder.

Monoma stared up at me, frightened and groaning.

My eyes were cool on his. "You ever try to touch me again, and you'll regret it." I walked back to Selwyn’s side.

"Est-ce que ça va?" He angled his head towards me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I answered, sitting down to eat.

Katsuki's brows were drawn together as he eyed me down.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before it was announced that lunch was over and that contestants should move for the arena

I didn't know who I was fighting first, but one thing was certain.

They would be someone to pity