Mailin's POV
The air in the hospital is thick with tension. Each step closer to the lab feels like I’m wading into deeper, darker waters. The water molecules in the air hum beneath my skin, reacting to the looming threat. My Waterbending senses are on high alert, and beside me, Shota walks with silent determination, his hand occasionally brushing mine. It’s like a reminder—no matter what happens, we’re in this together.
Our team has been dispatched to take down Kyudai Garaki. Every hero moves swiftly, burdened by the weight of what we’re about to face. Ahead, Shota activates his Erasure Quirk, his eyes gleaming with fierce focus. Each time I see him like this—so in control, so powerful—I can’t help but feel a deep surge of pride, and something more.
Gran Torino zips past us, diving into battle with the High-End Woman. Nearby, Endeavor shields Mirko from a barrage of attacks, her movements sharp despite her injuries. Chaos unfolds all around us, but I force myself to focus.
I spot Kyudai fleeing.
"Not so fast," I murmur under my breath. Lifting my hand, the water responds instantly, rising from the pipes and forming a protective wave around me. Shota is still dealing with the Nomu, his capture weapon snapping down with his usual practiced precision. He catches my eye—his silent command: Go.
I don’t hesitate.
The water surges forward, crashing into Kyudai and pinning him against the wall. His frail form sputters under the pressure, but I hold firm. Shota’s right behind me, his presence a comfort amidst the chaos.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I whisper to the quivering villain.
But then something shifts. A chill crawls down my spine.
---
Shota’s POV
I watch Mailin from a distance, holding Kyudai with her water, her control precise and unyielding. She's incredible, balancing strength with grace. I’ve seen her bend water like this a hundred times, but in moments like these, it feels like I’m seeing her power for the first time.
The Nomu around us aren’t letting up. Gran Torino and Endeavor are locked in battle while Crust fights off the others. But we have to stay in control.
Then I see it—Kyudai’s expression shifts. His lips curl into a wicked smile just as the floor beneath us begins to disintegrate.
“Mailin, get back!” I shout, throwing my capture weapon toward her.
She reacts quickly, pulling the water back and leaping toward me, but the decay moves faster. I lash out with my capture weapon, wrapping it around her waist and yanking her to safety just as the ground crumbles beneath her feet.
We hit the ground hard, her body colliding with mine. For a split second, all I care about is whether she's okay.
“You alright?” I ask, my voice barely concealing the panic I refuse to let surface.
Her blue eyes meet mine, soft but resolute. “I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
For a moment, I want to hold her, to tell her how much I hate seeing her in danger. But this isn’t the time. Instead, I help her to her feet, our hands lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
---
Mailin’s POV
The moment Shota’s hand touches mine, a warmth spreads through me, cutting through the cold fear gripping my chest. He’s saved me again—pulled me out of danger. But there’s no time for tender moments, not now. Tomura’s decay is spreading, faster than we anticipated.
“I’ve got your back,” I say, stepping forward, eyes locked on Kyudai, whose smirk is infuriating even as the world crumbles around us.
“Let’s finish this,” Shota replies, his voice steady but urgent.
We move in sync. Water swirls around us, a protective barrier against the decay and the onslaught of Nomu. I can feel Shota’s eyes on me, can feel his Erasure Quirk working to keep the Nomu at bay. Ryukyu, Rock Lock, Gran Torino—they all move with us, but the real danger is just ahead.
And then I see him. Tomura Shigaraki.
Decay is spreading like wildfire. The entire lab is crumbling around us, and my heart stutters in fear. Shota’s grip on me tightens as we retreat, trying to stay ahead of the destruction. The screams of civilians echo in my ears, and I can’t stand it.
"Shota, I need to do something," I whisper, urgency clawing at my throat as I look at the trapped civilians.
He hesitates, his protective instincts warring with his trust in me. But then he nods, releasing his hold. "Go. I’ll cover you."
I gather every drop of water around me, bending it to my will. The water surges from the pipes, drains, and even the air itself, forming a massive wave that crashes down over the decay, halting its progress momentarily. It’s not much, but it’s enough to give the civilians time to escape.
---
Shota’s POV
Watching Mailin control the water like that—so effortlessly, so powerfully—it does something to me. She’s always been strong, but right now, she’s unstoppable. As the decay creeps closer and the world falls apart around us, all I can think is how much I need her by my side.
We fight, side by side, until Gran Torino swoops in to pull us out. The decay is spreading too fast. We have to retreat. But even in those final moments, I can’t take my eyes off her.
She’s my partner in every way. And I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to her.
---
Mailin’s POV
As Gran Torino lifts us to safety, my gaze locks with Shota’s. There’s something unspoken between us—something deeper than this battle. Something that anchors me, even as the world crumbles.
No matter what, we’re in this together. Now and always.
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...
