𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 014

CHAPTER 14: The First Step Forward

The days following the U.S.J. attack passed in a strange, quiet blur. The halls of U.A. High School were still bustling with students and teachers, but there was a tension in the air that hadn't been there before. The events at the U.S.J. had shaken everyone to their core. It wasn't just about the villains anymore-it was about the fact that the League of Villains had dared to strike at the heart of U.A., where everyone had believed they were safe.

You walked through the school corridors with a weight in your chest, replaying the events of the attack in your mind over and over again. The chaos, the fear, and-most of all-the confrontation with Hydrax. Even now, days later, her words echoed in your mind, cutting deeper than any physical wound.

"Raindrop. Weak. You don't even remember me."

Who was she? Why did she have such hatred for you? The answers seemed just out of reach, taunting you from the edges of your memory, but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't recall anything that might explain her connection to you. That only made it worse. You felt like there was something vital missing, something that could change everything if only you could grasp it.

As you walked into the classroom, you spotted your classmates already in their seats, talking in low murmurs. Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida looked up as you entered, offering small smiles of encouragement. They had all been through the same ordeal, but somehow, it felt different for you. Hydrax had made it personal, and you couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.

"Good morning, Mizushima!" Iida greeted, his voice as chipper as ever, though you could tell he was trying a little too hard to sound normal.

"Morning," you replied, sliding into your seat next to Midoriya.

"Are you feeling okay?" Midoriya asked quietly, concern etched in his features. "I know things have been rough since the attack."

You gave him a small smile, grateful for his kindness. "I'm fine. Just... still processing everything, I guess."

Midoriya nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Yeah, me too. But we'll get through this. We're all learning and growing, right?"

You appreciated his optimism, but you couldn't help the nagging feeling that your path was going to be more complicated than just learning how to improve your quirk. There were deeper questions-about Hydrax, your past, and what it all meant.

---

Class began, but your mind wandered as Aizawa-sensei spoke about the upcoming Sports Festival-the next big event that every student in U.A. was eagerly anticipating. The Sports Festival was a chance for each of you to prove yourselves, to showcase your quirks and abilities in front of the entire hero community. It was an opportunity to shine, to show just how far you'd come since starting at U.A.

For most of your classmates, it was a thrilling prospect. The excitement in the room was palpable, with students already talking about the events they hoped to participate in. Bakugo smirked confidently from his seat, clearly looking forward to proving himself as the best. Todoroki, as usual, remained quiet but focused, his intensity hard to miss.

But for you, the thought of the Sports Festival brought a different kind of pressure.

The attack at the U.S.J. had made you painfully aware of your limitations. You had fought, yes, but you had barely survived. Hydrax had exposed every weakness you had, and now, with the Sports Festival looming, you couldn't afford to let those weaknesses define you. Not again.

---

After class, you found yourself heading to the training grounds, determined to work on your quirk. The water that had once felt like an extension of yourself now felt unfamiliar and unpredictable, as though it was slipping through your fingers whenever you tried to control it.