Rebirth | BNHA |

Chapter 3: Liberosis

Playlist: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Nina Simone

Minori's eyes fluttered open. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. She blinked against the sunlight and furrowed her brows. This wasn't Thanatos. She sat up. There were no sterile white walls, iron bars, or the dampness that clung to her skin. Instead, the room smelled of fresh paint.

Since being taken in after the Hecate Massacre, Minori never found a proper place to call home. She had spent the past thirteen years at Thanatos. Every day had been a battle for survival, and the scars, both physical and emotional, ran deep. Teachers had shown no mercy. They often singled her out for punishment. Their words cutting as deep as any blade. Guards had taken a cruel pleasure in making her life miserable, abusing their authority to inflict pain. The other students were no better. Driven by fear or hatred, they isolated and tormented her relentlessly.

When Minori was finally admitted into U.A., Sora declared that living in a place as depressing as Thanatos would only hinder and worsen her education and well-being. With the help of Nezu, the two had slaved over paperwork for the Hero Commission for hours. They only agreed to Sora's terms once she took complete responsibility for Minori. If Minori went rogue, authorities would blame and charge Sora as an accomplice.

So, here they were.

Minori traced the edges of the bedsheet. It was soft, foreign, like borrowed skin. She sighed and swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stretched her stiff muscles. She padded down the hallway. She was careful to step over the creaky floorboards to not wake Sora, and entered the bathroom.

Her eyes flickered to the mirror. There were dark circles underneath her grey eyes, the same color of the steel walls that had imprisoned her. She removed her bonnet. Her curly white hair was a matted mess of tangles and knots. She reached for the faucet. The water that rushed out was clear, not murky and brown like the water from Thanatos. There was no need to scrub herself raw.

She had barely gotten any sleep since arriving at U.A. Her mind would drift to her time in Thanatos.

It always began the same. The sound of footsteps that echoed off the walls as it grew near. Shadows moving on the wall. Then, a blinding pain as the baton connected with her ribs. There was no escaping the blows. If she attempted to resist it would only get worse. The guards would kick and beat her until they felt satisfied. Sometimes, they wouldn't stop until she lost consciousness.

When she came to, it would be morning and her body would ache all over. She lied still on her cold, hard cot and listened to the stirring juveniles for as long as she could. But, her time was always limited. Soon, the guards would force her out, ignore her protests, and drag her down the hall. They'd throw her into the cafeteria where she'd scramble to her feet, pushing through the bruises that would bloom on her body, and try to grab something, anything, to fill her empty stomach.

It was a battle to survive. But now she was at U.A. and a week had passed. She hadn't had any encounters that resembled her time at Thanatos. In fact, her interactions had been rather pleasant. There were the usual glares of course, but for the most part everyone ignored her like a fly on the wall. It was nice. Quiet.

Well, everyone besides one.

Minori turned off the faucet and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around her body. Ashido's bubbly and friendly personality was so different from her own. The girl was like a ray of sunshine. Bright, warm, and a constant presence. Everything Minori was not. It was strange.

Though Ashido has kept her distance, the battle trial incident hadn't stopped her attempts to interact with Minori. She continued to smile in her direction. There were a few times where Minori caught the pinkette coming toward her direction and stop abruptly. Ashido would hesitate and then turn back around, visibly restraining herself.