Boku no Hero Academia

Your Number One Fan

ATTENTION VIWERS: this chapter contains content that pertains to sexual assault and trauma. If this is uncomfortable for you as a reader, please take heed to these words.
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Not all men were created equally. I learned this important lesson long ago, when I met a very important person to me...

My eyes fluttered, looking at the white blanketing the earth, untouched and elegant. Standing near the window sent chills through my tiny figure, and my hands became clammy due to the sudden cold clashing with their warmth.
"Etsuko, please come away from there." The instructor led me by the hand deeper into the room, where all the other children clustered. "We'll all go outside soon." She said cheerily. What she promises is the exact opposite of what my little head desired; I wanted the snow to continuously emanate perfection in its simple vision. My eyes strained to see it, wanting it's view.
I thought the other children were quite annoying. I dissapointedly rejoined the group, but sat farthest away as I could at a little round table with a boy with raven hair and eyes as black as coal, the shines in his eyes were big and shimmering.
"Okay group, today is hero day, which means we're going to present who each of our heroes are and Why! How fun!" Miss Instructor said happily. Mr. Instructor passes out sheets of paper to each kid. I noticed how lots were bunched up closely at the frontmost tables, so crowded.
The instructors showed us exactly how to set up our little activity. Soon the room was littered with crayons and sheets of paper, and the loud, whiny voices of the children filled the room. It quite bothered me that the children were rowdy, but I couldn't do anything to help it...
The boy sat across the table fiddled with different colors, and only twirled the crayons between his fingers
"Who's your hero?" I asked. He only seemed to reel back, as a deep color set on his face.
"Mine is my mommy!" I slid my paper to his side of the round table, hoping that by sharing an interest on a topic would help him to open up. He looked at me through his long hair, and his mouth twitched.
"I..." He was extremely reluctant.
"Don't forget to put why they're your favorite hero on the paper kiddos!" The male instructor announced to the room.

"What's your name?"
"... Rakurai."
"Like, lightning?"
"... Yes." He said.
"Why are you being quiet? I'm your friend." I wanted to be just that.
"..."
The snow at this point was practically calling my little name, and I awaited for the time to strike upon the clock, when at last it had. Rakurai sat beside me, still quiet, for a very long time.
"Rakurai?"
"...y-yea?"
"You wanna build a snowman?"
"Uh-uhmm..." He hummed, putting on his snow gear, his cute little parka, and a scarf that must have wrapped around his neck five times before it rested nice and snug.
"Okay kiddies, single file now, like a pencil!" The lady said so joyously.

I rolled and rolled up a big boulder of snow, while Rakurai seemed to try to hide behind them.
"Rakurai, can you gather some little rocks?" He cowered at the thought, and it made me shudder, why would a child be so afraid to play?
"We can get them together." The idea seemed to make him feel better, but he was still yet very cautious, and I found out why very quickly.
Rakurai was yanked by his scarf, falling harshly onto the snowy ground.
"Look at Rakurai, I could use him as a stool!" A group of kids snickered and teased. Their words made my blood boil, and I felt my face growing warm, as I saw the tears prick at the corners of Rakurai downcast eyes. The kid tugged more at his scarf, and I saw it tighten and become more stiff.
"Don't cry, you big baby!" He demanded.
"Hey!" I shouted, causing the crowd to jump.
"Stop choking him!" I cried.
"I'm not choking him! Why do you care anyway?" The kid proclaimed.
"Because you're being mean!"
"No I'm not!"
The kid went to push me, and without a second thought, I felt a jolting sensation push through my arm, and the kids were on their butts, in the cold, biting snow.
Rakurai looked up at me, almost pleasantly. The kids were so shocked, or maybe even about to cry.
"Fine you quirkless baby! I'll be back!" The kid scrambled away, and in this moment, Rakurais brows furrowed and he mustered the nerve to reply,
"I'm not quirkless!" Tears welling in his eyes, and that was the end of it. They had hurt my friend for a very long time, just because his quirk had not developed yet in his youth,
"If I use it though, I will get really hurt..." Rakurai explained, brushing the snow from his mittens. I resented anyone who would do such a thing as hurt another soul just for quite little things... It repulsed me, and made me want to protect Rakurai for as long as we were by each other's side.
"Rakurai..." Etsuko turned to him.
"Why?" He asked, wiping away the fat tears that fell from his little eyes.
"Why would you save me?"
"Because everyone needs a hero!" Etsuko flashed a smile, a few of her baby teeth missing. Rakurai stared up at her, his eyes shimmering not only with his thick tears, but in an admiration toward this girl.
"I..." He began, looking down at his red hands.
"I want to be a hero, too." He admitted to her.
"Then I'll be your number one fan, okay?" She smiled warmly, and his eyes stung with tears as joy fluctuated through his tiny little body, barely able to contain the happiness that swelled his heart, tears falling again. He held a shaky hand to his cheek, wiping more tears away, and they both giggled.
"Th-thank you." He muttered
By the time we came in from the cold, Rakurai's paper was still empty, but not for long.
He spent that afternoon scribbling a very rough picture of me on that paper.
"My hero is Etsuko because she scared away the bullys with air."