Love without Boundaries

The Choice

As the two fought in the one room, Mirio and I on the other hand, went towards the exit, trying to find the others. I was still scared to move while Mirio continued to move forward, even though he was hurt.

"Must... get... you... out of... here..." he grunted, in pain as he continued to lead me out.

He was in so much pain that he not only lost his power... but he was losing so much blood, he was determined to get me out of there fast and safe just as planned.

"Come on... we have to... get you... out...."

He fell on the ground and was trying to regain his energy. I, on the other hand, had to think of the situation going on. Overhaul will die... if I do not save him. But... if I go with him... I'll never see everyone I love again.

"I'm sorry Mirio..." I spoke without looking at him.
"Don't." He spoke, slowly getting up without looking at me, "I made my choice. I would've done it again if I tried. Now come on. We're getting you out of here."
"...no."

He stopped and looked at me.

"What do you mean, no?"
"Kai is still back there... hurting... because of me. I have to save him."
"No... please. You... you can't!"
"Mirio... please forgive me."

I turn and run back with my little legs towards the battlefield where my brother and Midoriya were fighting against each other.

*****

Meanwhile, as the smoke cleared up, Midoriya stood there with a stabbed wound on his leg. It looks as though he barely dodged one fatal attack from Black Cat. Black Cat, in Overhaul's form began to laugh.

"Impressive. You were able to dodge my attacks. Tell me, hero... will you be able to dodge the next one? Maybe we ought to test that theory."

He was prepared to activate Kai's next attack as Midoriya embraced himself for the impact. Just as he was about to make contact, a footstep was heard, echoing inside the cave.

"Brother, stop"

The boys looked at me, noticing my stand and trembling in fear. Midoriya, noticing me there, thought this was some sort of trick: having Toga or someone impersonate me, but no... it was the real me.

"Let... Kai... go." I replied in fear.
"Hey, you shouldn't be here!" Midoriya cried out to me. "Go on, get out of here! Find Mirio! You need to get out of here safe."
"...I won't go. Not when Kai is trapped in there..."

Black Cat, in Overhaul's form, looked at me as I slowly walked towards him.

"...you wish for me to go with you, right?" I asked, slowly walking towards him
"Yes... come with me, my sister. We will leave. Right now." Black Cat spoke in Overhaul's voice.
"I'll go..."
"No, please!" Midoriya pleaded, holding her by the shoulder. "You don't have to do this! We'll save Chisaki, please!"

Brushing him off, I continued halfway, resuming my proposition.

"...on one condition."
"Condition?" Black Cat questioned me.
"...release Kai from your curse."

He scoffed.

"You're joking, right?"
"He's not apart of this mess. This is between you and me. I'm begging you more than anything! Just let him go!"

He then began to chuckle in Overhaul's voice as he heard my plea.

"How cute~ My sister, begging for a villain's life to be spared. Please... after all that he's done, you really expect me to release him? He's created powerful bullets that can wipe off the powers that you currently lost, he's become an asset to the league of villains and killed so many others long before meeting you. Don't you get it?! He pitied you all because you were young and naïve."
"No... that's not true!"
"He treated you as if you were a little lost puppy... planning to use your power for evil."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"He's a monstrous villain who cares for no one! No humanity left in this soul!"

He gripped his own chin, preparing to kill him right away.

"Tell me, sister. You want to save someone like that!?"

I stood there, unsure what to do.
I wanted to save him.
But not like this.
If only I had my quirk... I would've...

"Why are you doing this to me, brother?! Why do you want to ruin my life?!"

As I spoke those words, my horn began to grow as my hair began to change. My brother, noticing the change, slowly removed his hands away from him and walked towards me.

"Ruin your life? No, no. I'm here to save you, not like those heroes who took you away from me. Tell me, dear sister, enlighten me for a moment. Why do you want me to spare his life? Are you... in love with him?"

I stood there, unsure what to respond with. What did he mean by "love"?

.....

"Hey... Dad?" I called out to my father years ago. "Dad!"
"What is it now, my daughter? I'm busy with paperwork."
"Well... it's um... a personal question."
"If it's a quirk related thing, I told you that your power will evolve overtime."
"No, it's not that. Um... it's actually this."

I held a book to show him what I was reading: a fairy tale book with a princess asleep and a prince preparing to kiss her.

"What about it, my dear?"

"What does... true love mean?""Love that is true and pure to those who seek it. Now, I'm going."
"No... what I mean is... what does it-"

Before I could finish, the door closed behind him. Unsure what it meant, I looked at the pages once more, trying to understand what it means for true love.

"Why would love be true? There was no one who loved me anyways..."

In pain, I tossed the book aside and went to resume my training.

When I asked Centipeder and BubbleGirl days later, they mentioned that love's similar to finding something you enjoy in life and that power can become stronger still overtime. Has my power gotten stronger... even after losing...? When I met Kai, he has treated me with such kindness. Was any of what my brother say was true? Did he truly use me to get what he wanted? I was unsure.

However, as I was about to speak my words, I looked up, seeing the ground above broken. There stood a dragon, a few girls and... one of the men from Kai's group, falling towards the ground. What was going on?