Reconnect

Chapter 2

(Image: Andi's Hero Costume [before her haircut])

"So what's the plan?" Shoto asked.

"You distract him; I'll go around and nail him?" Knightmare replied.

Shoto turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "Still oversimplifying things, I see."

Knightmare smiled at Shoto cheekily. "I thought that was one of the reasons we were friends."

Shoto couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. He opened his mouth to speak but Vector shouted at them, clearly sounding impatient. "Are the two of you done flirting or what?" he asked. "I didn't come here so I could watch two heroes play grab-ass."

Shoto and Knightmare regarded Vector with equally bored expressions. "Mommy and Daddy are talking," Knightmare said. "Wait your turn."

Shoto rolled his eyes at Knightmare's antics before he looked at her. "Should you really be egging him on like that?" He asked.

"What's the fun if we just take him down?" Knightmare replied cheekily.

"Just... go do what you do best," Shoto sighed and shook his head.

"So you're finally admitting that I'm better then you."

"We'll talk about that later."

"Later it is."

Vector growled and picked up another car. Shoto stepped forward with his left foot and the second the car left the villains hand, an ice spire erupted from the ground and pierced the aluminum frame of the vehicle. Knightmare took the moment to get low to the ground and run around the villain, giving Vector a wide berth.

The second the car was pierced with Shoto's ice spire, he reached out his right hand and used his fire to shoot towards the villain. Knightmare smirked under her mask. He was doing exactly what she needed him to.

That's right, focus on Icyhot, she thought as she rounded up behind him.

She was about to sneak up to him and put her hands on either side of his head, but before she got the chance, a semi-visible hand reached out and swung high. Knightmare cursed and held up her rods to block the attack, jumping back.

"Did you really think that I was going to just forget all about you, Knightmare?" he said and turned, looking at her. "You're my target after all."

Knightmare's eyes widened and she felt her heart pound in her chest. She looked at Vector with a different light, not so much fear, but definitely confused.

"Why? Why are you after me?"

Vector smirked. "Beat me and I'll tell you."

Knightmare growled and looked at Shoto. "Change of plan," she called to him. "Plan B."

Shoto grinned and nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about. When the two of them were in school, they had developed a system of "plans" that they would use when they were out of school and fought villains together. At the time, they assumed that they would always be a crime fighting pair since they worked well together, but as time passed, it was clear that it wasn't going to happen. But neither of them ever forgot the plans.

"Do you really think it's smart to be planning in front of the guy you're going to fight?" Vector said.

"You think you know what plan B is," Knightmare said and straightened up. "I hope you're good at close combat."

Knightmare didn't wait for Vector to answer before she rushed at him, swinging her rods at him. With her left she used feint attacks and her right was the actual blows that landed. She danced around him, avoiding his attacks. She was carefully aware not to get in the way of Shoto and his plan. When the air grew colder, Knightmare flicked her eyes down and saw herself reflected back.

Smirking at Vector she landed gracefully on the ice and crouched, swinging her rods at the villain. He laughed, thinking he got the upper hand and jumped in the air to avoid it. When he landed back down, Shoto reached passed his head and grabbed Vector by covering his mouth with his hand. With one solid jerk, Shoto pulled him back while Knightmare grabbed Vectors feet. The villain was thrown to the ground and Shoto crouched over him, moving his hand down to his throat and glared down at him.

"You really shouldn't underestimate pro heroes," Shoto said. "We're pro for a reason."

Vector growled and glared up at the pro hero. "If you think that's all it's going to take to stop me then you have another thing—"

He didn't get to finish his statement before Knightmare put her foot on his crotch. "One move and little Vector here will be in a world of pain," she said, her voice dark. "Now tell us, why are you after me?"

"I'm not entirely sure, to be completely honest. I'm just the messenger," he said and smirked. "Sojiro sent me to find you and tell you this: He's coming for you."

The world fell out from under Knightmare at that moment. She was almost positive that her heart had stopped as well. Her stomach and chest started to burn in pinpointed locations and her breathing sped up. She hadn't heard that name since she moved out of her brother's house after she graduated and made her debut.

Sojiro.

The name of the man who raised her until she was four. The man who abused and misused her, tormented her until her quirk manifested and he skipped out. What did he want with her now? Why would he come after her? He hated her very existence so why now?

"Hey, hey Yoru."

Knightmare turned to see Shoto standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder. She looked down to see that Vector was gone and that the cops were taking him away. Swallowing hard she looked at him, brushing his hand off her.

"It's nothing, Todoroki," she said and ran a hand through her hair. "Don't worry about it."

She turned and started walking off. She didn't get very far before Todoroki grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Hey, don't do that. We used to tell each other everything. Come on, what's up?"

Andi paused and pursed her lips. "We haven't been that close since high school," she said, sounding almost sad at the thought.

Todoroki's hand tightened on her wrist for a moment before he let go, his arm falling limply at his side. "Can you at least tell me who this Sojiro person is?"

She was silent for a long moment and then she bowed her head, letting out a breath. "Sojiro Yoru."

She didn't wait for him to say anything more before she pulled down her mask and started walking off. She ignored the reporters that asked for an interview or a sound bite. Not impolitely mind you, but she held an air of authority when she said "not now" that caused the reporters to back up. She was almost positive that there were going to be rumors about what happened but at that moment she couldn't care less.

Todoroki watched as she left, frowning slightly. The name she gave, Sojiro Yoru... if she knew who was after her then did she know why? He clenched his fist and looked to the side. Her last words echoed in his head as he turned and started to walk off.

"We haven't been that close since high school."

He clenched his jaw as he walked off. Was it his fault? Or was it both of theirs? Sure he noticed that they had grown apart and yeah it bothered him, but was there anything he could have done? She chose to partner up with Kaminari after high school and he started his own agency. What could he have done to stop that? She was his best friend in high school...

He shook his head. It's useless to dwell on that now. I have to find out what I can about this Sojiro Yoru before I go talk to her again.