HIATUS Reader X MHA (Isekai)

Le Tournament Arc: Intermission

"Sel," I was whispering now because that's all I could do. "I've always been selfish. You've seen me. Every time I chose my life over someone else's in a training room, you've seen me be selfish."

He ran a hand through my hair softly, now supporting me from our spot on the wall. "You did that to survive, kiddo. Remember what they kept saying?"

"You or me?" Tears trickled across my face, creating warm streaks that lead to little darkened spots on the blue of my uniform.

"It's okay to pick you. And I've seen you be selfless, too. You died saving someone you didn't even know, for fucks sake." His breaths were ragged, almost like he was on the brink of crying himself.

I didn't say anything else, curling my knees closer into my chest while I leaned on Sel's.

"Please," His voice cracked a little bit. "I hate seeing you like this, I hate when you see yourself like this. How could you be selfish when everything you do, everything you've done has been for someone else?" His arms were tight around me.

I look up at him in teary-eyed confusion. "What?"

He dragged his hand through my hair again with a somber look. His own cheeks are wet with sorrow and his mouth was pulled into a frown. "You stayed with Desmond for your mother's sake, you didn't fight when you were captured for Aizawa, you're staying here for those two boys, don't even get me started on the things you've done for those girls you fought with. When was the last time you did something for yourself?"

I paused, trying to think of an answer. "I don't know."

"You're not selfish, kid. So please, don't look at yourself that way."

I nod, not quite believing him.  It dawns briefly on I'm not crying anymore, but my chest feels empty and numb now.

I can't feel anything else at all.

My legs shake slightly as I stand from my spot, Selwyn rising with me.

He knows I'm not entirely fine, I'm sure. His eyes are still narrowed with concern, and his lips are still drawn into a frown.

The hallways feel longer to walk through now, though it could just be that I was walking slower this time.

"Hey, Sel?" My eyes don't leave the ground as I whisper.

"Yeah?" His voice is smoother and calmer now.

There's a silence before I respond. "Do you think I'll ever really get to be free?"

He smiles softly down at me. "We're half-way there already."

I lean into him a bit, letting him support me as we walk.

When we get up to the viewing zone for 1-A, not everyone is there.

Iida is gone, presumably to see his brother.

Midoriya is undoubtedly with Recovery Girl for surgery.

Everyone else has a short variety of emotions.

Some are nervous with bitten down nails and downcast gazes as they try to figure out how did, if they were good enough.

Bakugo holds a determined and unbothered gaze, he knows he'll win, knows that his family will bear pride when he goes home with a grin.

Todoroki is deep in thought, his eyes flicking up at me and analyzing me for a second. I can tell in his stare that he's wondering what I've held up my sleeve when we trained together.

And Tokoyami looks like he's about to piss himself with his eyes darting nervously between Bakugo and the floor.

I decide to sit next to a crestfallen Denki.

He looks up at me, hurt a bit at first, but then concerned when he sees the tell-tale signs of a crying session on my face. "Are you okay?" He asks tentatively.

My eyebrow raises. "Are you?"

His expression falls as he looks back down. "I'm just kinda upset that I failed so fast and easy. I thought I would be strong enough to last at least a little longer, but you took me out without even using your quirk!"

My head tilts back as I look at the sky. "Y'know, I beat McSplodes-a-lot over there without my quirk all the time. Do you think he's weak?"

He turns to look at me, hope flickering in his eyes. "No?"

"You'll be fine, Kaminari. You're gonna be just fine."

The cloud I was watching passed out of my field of vision as Mic called me and Todoroki down for fight.

"And hey," I look back down at a smiling Kaminari. "Maybe you can take me out on a date after I win this thing."

He beamed up at me, a blush coating his cheeks. "YEAh!" He coughed a bit. "I mean, yeah! Sounds good!"

A laugh bubbled out of my chest as I started walking back down to the arena. "We'll talk later, Kaminari. Text me a time, yeah?"

And just like that, I left.