My Hero Academia: EMTs

Shopping Time!

Hotaru:

I feel so lonely. Daddy... do you really think this is right? Do you really think it's good?

Maybe daddy doesn't like me anymore. No... No, that's not daddy. He likes me. But...

The memory plays in my head.

It was just a few days ago.

I had just finished visiting with Ochaco. She showed me how to put on makeup. Daddy came to see me, and I saw tears in his eyes. He took me into the hall. I didn't know why Daddy was crying, so I hugged him to make it better. He picked me up, like he did when I was smaller, then carried me to a room at the end of the hall.

"Honey, I'm gonna need you to be strong for me, okay?" He said. I didn't know what he meant, but I never liked it when he talked about being strong. Something bad always happens when grown-ups say they want you to be strong.

And something terrible did happen.

He opened the door next to me into a nice, comfy-looking room. It had a bed—my bed from home... I walked in and saw that it also had my old, worn dresser. On the dresser were my pictures of Grandma and Grandpa and my picture of my favorite day playing with Daddy in the park back when I was nine. Under the bed were the two dolls I rarely played with and the toy cars I always played with.

"Do you like it? There wasn't much to set up. Your clothes are in the drawers- the ones that don't need to be hung up, of course, and those are in the closet." Daddy put his hands in his pockets while I looked around.

"What's going on?" I asked. "Why is all my stuff in here?"

"Cause this is your room now. You'll sleep here, study here, play here- well, when you're not doing those things around the campus." Daddy said.

"Oh... okay. Where will you sleep? At home, you sleep down the hall." I giggled, looking out the door and down the hall. "Those are all girl's rooms, Daddy. Daddy will be sleeping in a girl's room. Daddy will be sleeping in a girl's room. Daddy will be sleeping in a girl's room." And on I started to chant, playing, of course- I never suspected the truth.

"Honey," he put a hand on my head. "No. I will be in the boys' area on the other side of the building. UA is a boarding school now. After the last few villain attacks on the school, all students are being placed under high security, not just you."

"But... but how far away will you be from me?"

"Pretty far."

"If I cry, will you hear me?"

Daddy got down and looked me in the eyes. He always does that when he's about to say something I won't like. "Kid, if you get scared, try to get over it, but if you can't, one of the girls will be able to hear you if you yell, alright? You'll be fine."

"But... I don't understand... How can I sleep if I... If you're not there... If you're not near..."

He shook his head. "This is how the school is set up now. And really, you need this. You need to be more independent." He chuckled. "These rooms are very nice. There's even a fridge- go on, check it out."

"Daddy- you don't like me anymore?"

"No... no honey, it's not like that. I love you, but you need... well..."

"To be alone?"

"Something like that." He messed up my hair and got up. "Be brave."

And he walked out.

So now, here I am... alone for the third day in a row. After school and training with Bakugo, I just go to my room and study.

I'm currently doing my homework, but whenever I need help with a problem... daddy isn't there.