Mailin’s POV
The evening had been running smoothly enough. The students were excited about the test of courage, and even though some of them still had to endure the supplementary lessons, the overall mood was light. Shota and I dragged Mina, Eijiro, Rikido, Hanta, and Denki away for their remedial training, the energy in the air reminding me of the first day I started working alongside Shota. It felt good to be a part of this.
“Alright, let’s make this quick so you all don’t miss out on too much of the game,” I say, giving them a pointed look as they groan about missing the fun.
Inside the facility, we run into Neito, who is also in need of remedial lessons. He gives his usual smug grin, but I barely register it as we prepare to start the lesson. Shota stands beside me, calm and focused as always.
Just before we begin, Mandalay’s voice rings out in my head through her telepathy, causing an icy feeling to settle in my chest. “Pro Heroes, there’s a villain invasion!”
Shota’s eyes snap to mine, instantly alert. Without hesitation, he orders Vlad King to stay behind and protect the students. The gravity of the situation hits me like a cold wave, and suddenly, the air feels too thick. Shota is already heading outside, and I quickly follow, heart pounding in my chest.
When we step outside, the night is eerily silent. The calm before the storm.
Shota’s voice is low and tense as he assesses the situation. “This isn’t good.”
Before I can reply, flames erupt to our right, and Dabi appears from the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips. Before we can react, he launches a torrent of flames directly at Shota.
“SHOTA!” I scream, my instincts kicking in as I lunge forward.
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Shota’s POV
The flames engulf me before I can react, and for a moment, all I can see is fire. But then, I feel a shift—the heat dissipates, replaced by something cool and calming. Mailin.
She’s already in front of me, her hands outstretched, manipulating the water with precision as it shields me from Dabi’s attack. The contrast between Dabi’s fire and her water couldn’t be more stark, and yet, Mailin stands her ground, her blue eyes focused and sharp.
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Mailin’s POV
I barely register the heat of Dabi’s flames as I counter his attack with a wall of water. My body moves on instinct, drawing from the nearby springs to create a barrier between Shota and the villain.
Dabi’s eyes narrow as he realizes I’m not just some passive bystander. He smirks, launching another wave of fire in my direction. But I’m ready this time.
I twist my hand, bending the water around me and sending it crashing into Dabi. The force of my attack overwhelms him, and for a moment, I think I have him pinned.
“You’ll regret that,” Dabi growls, but I meet his fire with my own strength, pushing back with every ounce of control I’ve honed over the years.
Shota watches from the sidelines, but I can feel his tension. He’s ready to jump in at any moment, but I’ve got this. This is personal now.
With one final burst of water, I manage to subdue Dabi, pinning him to the ground. Shota is by my side in an instant, his capturing weapon already wrapping around the villain as he demands information.
But Dabi isn’t the type to cooperate. He sneers, refusing to answer our questions. I glance around, noticing the wildfires spreading through the forest. There’s something bigger happening here, and I can feel the urgency building in my chest.
Just as Shota tightens his grip on Dabi, his body begins to melt into a puddle, disappearing before our eyes.
“Damn it,” Shota mutters under his breath, but there’s no time to dwell on Dabi’s escape. The forest is burning, and the students are still out there.
---
Shota’s POV
As soon as Dabi disappears, I turn to Mailin. “We need to get to the students.”
She nods, her face serious as we head into the forest. I can see the concern in her eyes, but there’s no time for reassurances. We’re both thinking the same thing—our students come first.
As we make our way through the forest, we run into Izuku and Kota. Izuku is clearly injured, but he’s not slowing down. “Take Kota,” he says, breathless. “I need to find Mandalay.”
I stop him before he can run off, my hand on his shoulder. “Relay a message to her: the students need to regroup. The villains are targeting us.”
Izuku nods and disappears into the trees. Mailin gently scoops Kota into her arms, her touch soft despite the chaos around us. There’s something about the way she handles the child that makes my chest tighten.
---
Mailin’s POV
Kota clings to me as I hold him close, his small body trembling in my arms. “Will Deku be okay?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I glance at Shota, who meets my gaze with a steady look. “He’ll be fine,” Shota says, his voice gentle. “Midoriya’s strong. You can thank him the next time you see him.”
The softness in Shota’s voice as he speaks to Kota sends a warmth spreading through me. I’ve always admired the way he handles the students, but seeing him like this—with a child who’s clearly scared and vulnerable—it stirs something deeper in me.
As we make our way to safety, my mind drifts to thoughts of us—of Shota and me, and the life we’ve built together. I imagine a future, one where we have our own family. Shota would be an amazing father, I realize. He already has that protective instinct, that quiet strength that draws people in.
My heart swells at the thought, and I can’t help but smile softly to myself. In the midst of all this chaos, I’ve found something I never expected—a future.
YOU ARE READING
Ripples of Fate
RomanceAt U.A. High School, aspiring heroes are trained to fight, protect, and heal. For Mizuhana Mailin, her dream of becoming a hero is not about power or fame-it's about saving lives. With her water-based quirk that focuses on healing, she stands apart...
