Shine (BNHA Fanfiction)

Calm Before the Storm

Jump, land, jump, land, jump, land, jump- Hikari let out a yelp when instead of descending, she went flying sideways. While in the air, Mezo had grabbed her arm. Him, Izuku and Shoto were all darting through the air towards Atsuhiro at double the speed he could ever go. The students smacked into him painfully and they fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Give Kacchan and Tokoyami back to us!" Izuku growled.

"Whoa, whoa, what's this? Oh, hey, wait, I know these kids." Twice's voice sang before getting lower. "Who are they?"

"Outta the way, Compress."

Hearing Dabi's warning, Hikari's gaze shot up. She saw Atsuhiro start to fizzle away beneath them and knew instantly she was right in the middle of the stitched man's crosshairs. The blue flames shot out and licked at everything in their path. Hikari dodged just in time despite her aching wounds, but heard Izuku and Mezo scream out.

"My arms are burning!" Mezo wailed. Twice and Himiko were instantly on them, attacking without question. Despite her need to move, the blackette was nearing her end of stamina. Adrenaline no longer masked the pain from the new and old wounds. Two cuts on her thigh, one on her bicep and the large gash on her back was ripped open once again, making it bigger than it previously was. She did her best to keep pressure on the injuries she could reach, but the heat of battle was merciless. Atsuhiro appeared again, brushing off his coat.

"Ugh!" He exclaimed, waltzing over to Dabi. "I can't believe you wrecked my exit. Unrehearsed amateurs."

"You got Bakugo?" Dabi asked, arms out. Hikari forced her body to move, but this time, it was purely on willpower. She got to her knees and shoved her body off the ground, onto her feet.

"Of course." Atsuhiro shuffled around in his pocket, unaware of Hikari shuffling closer.

"Midoriya! Todoroki! Chiba! We're done." Mezo looked to the two villains. "He gave away his best trick. I'm not sure what your Quirk is, but it had to do with those little marbles, right? The ones you'd stashed in your pocket. So I'm guessing these are Tokoyami and Bakugo."

Hikari knew she should be happy, but something did not sit right. Had Mezo really bested Atsuhiro without evening know his Quirk when Hikari could not top him in all her years?

"You rescused them-!" Izuku gasped.

Atsuhiro laughed. "Colour me impressed. Although I would expect no less from someone with so many hands."

Shoto blocked them off. "Let's go." He began running with Mezo and Izuku in tow. Hikari could not move her legs. If she did, she was sure she would collapse. Her entire body was numb, as if her blood circulation was cut off. The world tilted this way and that like the deck of sailing ship on rough waters. Although the corners of her vision were beginning to grow fuzzy like static, she could see Kurogiri opening portals by each villain.

"It's been five minutes since the signal. Let's go, Dabi." The mist said.

"Hikari, darling~"

She got a sudden chill, feeling like her blood turned to ice. Atsuhiro was behind her, a foot away and talking to her.

"After all these years of training you, you were bested by a stranger. Embarrassing, isn't it?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, the three students turning to stare.

"Wh-What...?" Izuku's eyes widened.

"She's a villain, little boy. Raised, protected and trained by everyone in the League of Villains. Especially by yours truly. Haven't you noticed the similarities in the way we move? I taught her the proper way to stride confidently and to...never give up hope."