Mara Lee is just your regular teenage girl living a double life as New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Woman. Until one fateful day when she's thrown through a strange orange portal and everything she's ever known changes drastically. Trapped in...
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The most hurtful words are always the ones you never expect would sting.
That was the reality I was coming to terms with as I sat on the Midoriyas roof, the cool night air tousling my bangs. Because as much I wished I could brush it off, tell myself it was just my pride that had been hurt, that wasn't true.
Not after he'd looked me in the eye and told me it'd be okay, that he'd help me, that I just had to stick with him.
The most hurtful words are also always the ones you can't refute.
When he'd stood, shouted that it would never happen, disgust clear in each syllable he spat out, all I'd been able to do was stare at the ground.
Because what could I say?
How could I argue?
He wasn't mine to fight for.
And that thought stayed with me until I finally went inside and feel asleep.
......
The next day, people seemed revved up for the festival.
"How's your training with Bakugo going?" Kiri asked me with a wide smile.
"It's okay," I said with a shrug.
He eyed me. "You sure? You look pretty down. Did he do something?"
"No, no, I'm good," I assured him.
He didn't look convinced, but he punched my shoulder lightly and whispered, "If you ever need help with him, just let me know. I know he's tough to deal with."
Kiri's warmth was appreciated, but it was hard for me to fully receive. I glanced at the door. Izuku had been pulled out of class by All Might. It'd been happening more and more often lately. It weirded me out, but he seemed delighted, and who was I to ruin his mood? It just felt lonely these days without him around as much.
"Why the heck are you all here!?" Uraraka's sharp voice cut through my thoughts.
"Do you have some business with our class?" Iida added.
I turned to see who they were addressing.
A large group of students had gathered in front of our doorway, blocking them from exiting.
"They're scouting out the competition, idiots," Bakugo said, walking by my desk.
He didn't spare me a glance. Typical.
"We're the class that survived a real villain attack," he continued. "They wanna see us with their own eyes." He grinned at the group. "At least now you know what a future pro looks like. Now move it, extras."
Iida sighed. "You can't walk around and call people extras just because you don't know who they are."
I glared at Bakugo's back. He was making a show of himself as usual. It was making me want to shut him up. But someone beat me to it.
"So this is Class 1-A," muttered a calm voice from the crowd. "I heard you guys were impressive, but you just sound like an ass." A tall guy with purple hair pushed his way through, eyeing Bakugo. "Is everyone in the hero course delusional, or just you? How sad to come here and find a bunch of ego maniacs."
I snickered, watching Bakugo straighten his shoulders, trying to look intimidating.
"You think we're scouting the competition?" the guy continued. "Maybe some of us are, but I'm here to let you know that if you don't bring your very best, I'll steal your spot right from under you. Consider this a declaration of war."
"Yeah, you guys are just a bunch of brats who think you're better than us!" a guy with gray hair shouted. "Class 1-B is going to smoke you! It's going to be embarrassing for you when you're KO'ed!"
Bakugo stared at him for a few seconds before turning and exiting the classroom.
"Where are you going!?" Kirishima called to him. "You gotta say something! It's your fault they're all hating on us, Bakugo!"
The blond boy sneered. "These people don't matter. The only thing that's important is that I beat them."
"I."
Not we.
"I."
Any sense of comradery that had developed between us during training was gone. Because I was confronted with the reality.
This was who Bakugo was.
Proud and haughty and individual to the end.
He didn't need me.
He didn't need anybody.
And I'd known it since the day I'd met him.
"What's wrong?" Uraraka asked sweetly, seeing my gaze darken.
I shook my head. "Nothing. I just forgot for a while."
.....
"Izuku, Mara, please be careful," Inko said, leaning over us as we tied our shoes. "Don't get hurt."
"We won't!" I said with a grin.
"Promise!" Izuku added.
"I'll record the whole festival in HD!" she cried enthusiastically. "So do your best, guys! I'm proud of you already."
Izuku laughed softly, grabbing his backpack. "Okay. We're off now!"
I hugged Inko and followed Izuku out the door.
"Nervous?" I asked as we boarded the train.
"Of course," he said sheepishly. "How could I not be? I mean, do you think I even have a chance at winning?"
I shrugged. "Anything could happen. It's going to be tons of different quirks flying everywhere. You've got a shot, so go for it."
He smiled. "How about you? I can tell training with Bakugo helped! Your muscles have gotten so much more defined."
I licked my lips. "Let's just say I hope to see you in the finals, Izu."
And with that, I stepped into the gateway of UA, excited to see the face Bakugo would make when I humiliated him in front of the whole country.
