Ultra Responsibility (My Hero Academia X Spider-Man Reader)

Issue 129 - Hero Too

Recovery Girl cleared me to perform three hours before the festival opened.

The decision came with enough conditions to make it feel like another medical test.

I had to take my medication before entering the gym. A monitor remained attached to my wrist, and Peni had permission to cut the sound system if another episode began.

Aizawa gave the final warning.

"If you lose awareness of where you are, the performance ends. You will not argue, and you will not try to continue."

I looked at the bandages covering the scratches on my arm.

"I understand."

"You said that before the last rehearsal."

"I was wrong before."

Aizawa studied me.

"You can still decide not to do this."

Students hurried past the infirmary doors carrying festival decorations and equipment. Music travelled through the corridors while visitors gathered beyond U.A.'s security gates.

I had spent most of the week wanting to escape the sound.

Now the thought of returning to a silent room frightened me more.

"I want to play."

Aizawa moved away from the door.

"Then don't make everyone regret trusting you."

****

The class waited behind the curtain.

Jiro checked my hands twice. Peni checked the medical monitor three times. Kirishima walked past often enough that even he stopped pretending it was an accident.

Nobody asked whether I was ready.

The answer would not have helped.

Iida finished counting the class and frowned.

"Midoriya is still missing."

"He went to collect the last supplies," Uraraka said. "He should have come back by now."

Bakugo sat behind the drums.

"If Deku misses the show, we start without him."

Present Mic began introducing Class 1-A.

The lights beyond the curtain darkened. The sound of the audience grew until I could feel it beneath the stage.

Jiro adjusted her bass.

"Remember, if the pain starts—"

"I stop and look at you."

She nodded.

Bakugo raised his drumsticks.

"Can we get on with it?"

The curtain began to move.

I looked towards Jiro.

"Wait."

She saw something in my expression and lifted one hand.

Bakugo lowered the drumsticks with an angry breath.

The curtain reached the top.

Hundreds of students and visitors filled the gym. Lights swept over the rows while the crowd waited for the first song.

My shoulder tightened.

For a second, I wanted the curtain to close again.

I placed the guitar against its stand and walked towards the microphone.