Butterfly [ ON HIATUS/MIDORIYA ]

001. fire storm

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"EVERYONE! Stay back!" 

I could hear yelling from outside. The flames were eating everything around me. I couldn't breathe. I just had to keep my students in my line of vision. The field trip I planned for my kids had taken a disastrous turn. It was the city museum; the kids were really excited to get a day off from the hard work that is kindergarten.

I held on to my kids with everything, keeping them in a tight knit group around me. I couldn't show them I was panicking, even if I was. It would make them cry harder. I was looking for an exit, anything! Come on.

"Sensei, I-I'm scared," one of the children clung to my dress, whimpering. I put my hand to my eyes, hoping to see through the dense smoke. Embers flared around us, cycling upwards.

"I know but we're going to be okay!" I tried to comfort her, holding putting my hand on her back as I looked around. The children depended on me and I... I was determined to save them from this. The yelling from outside and the screaming from inside was almost unbearable, shaking me to my core.

I coughed through the flames, going down on their level while chaos erupted around me. My knees were covered in soot. Tears gathered in my eyes, trying hard not to think about the possibility of dying. "Okay everyone, we— we have to be brave."

My voice was shaking, but they listened intently. "We have to be like heroes right now, okay? Everyone, stay low to the ground and move toward the light. Move toward the voices outside. I-I'll be right behind you."

I heard no protests as we tried to maneuver the building. Debris covered in flames was falling from the ceiling and my whole body was shaking, constantly keeping count of my kids.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

I could hear the villain in the distance, laughing and throwing flames anywhere he could. He was out of control, a man without any regard for anyone else. He was an agent of chaos, determined to just burn the building. Burn the history.

1, 2, 3, 4 , 5 , 6 , 7, 8, 9, 10.

Then, a louder voice sounded ahead of us. "Do not fear, I am here!"

My kids began disappearing in front of me, like they were ushered out. I could hear yelling from outside.

1, 2, 3, 4 , 5 , 6 , 7.

"Deku's here!"

1, 2, 3, 4.

"Look, he's saving the kids!"

1, 2, 3.

The voices from inside became less and less. My kids were being picked up by this hero, rescued in large groups. I caught a flash of his green hair and his determined face. I didn't have much time to think about anything else.

1, 2.

I did catch his eye for a moment, his smile and his sharp chin. I felt safe in that moment, peace. He was there, things would be alright, wouldn't they?

1.

Why was I not seeing anymore kids?! I had one more left. One more... one... oh, no.

"Sakura!" I yelled, running headfirst back into the flames. She was the shyest child in my class. My goal was to get her to come out of her shell, gently easing her. There she was, frozen in fear, her little legs frozen in place. She reached out her arms to me, crying.

I forgot completely about the pro-heroes that were already on scene. I was determined to save my student. I swept up her in my arms, running as fast as I could back to the exit. The smoke gagged me, my lungs heaving. I didn't care, my faces gaining slashes.

"What's this? Another hero?" The villain cackled, and I felt a crushing pain in my leg. I was so close to the exit. Why couldn't I— just get there?!

I crashed to the ground, protecting her head and she rolled out, sprawled on the ground. My leg was trapped underneath a burning bannister. Sakura stared at me, tears pouring down her face. She wouldn't let go of my hand. I groaned in pain, the burning unbearable, but I looked her in her eyes, giving a faint smile.

"Go, Sakura! Sensei will be okay!"

I didn't believe myself. She waited for a moment, then let go of my hand. Crying, She started crawling toward the light until I saw the green flash again. Cheers erupted from outside as I laid on the ground, my leg burning. I had done my job, I had gotten the kids out. The pain was almost unbearable. I couldn't get out, I couldn't move.

I felt my body being lifted off of the ground, high above the burning wreckage. Only it was warm and felt like a campfire. I tried to wriggle out, the smoke shielding my vision. I flung up my arms, shielding my face from the flames. It was a fire hand. The face of the projected villain filled my field of vision, his flames spreading throughout the building.

My eyes widened, my arms revealing my face. He was terrifying, like every nightmare I've ever had. I tried to scream, but nothing came out.

"Pretty thing," he tutted. "Such a shame."

"Let's break his pride."

Before I could react, his face disappeared. Then, I fell. Hot air whooshed passed my ears, the burning ceiling glinting in my eyes. My arms were flailing, looking for something to grab, but there was nothing. I was free falling.

I never knew what death would be like. One day I'd meet all of my students again. Maybe I would see my parents, maybe I would come back. My thoughts couldn't run any faster than the incoming floor of ash.

My fall was broken by some burnt furniture and fallen bannisters, finding myself deep in the wreckage of a still burning pile. A piece of wood had lodged itself into my arm and my back was definitely messed up. The wind was knocked out of me so I couldn't scream, but my entire body trembled.

My head was bleeding, my hand out stretched out in front of me. I was numb, completely. Everything was ripped up, scratches and deep gashes all over my body. The pain was gone from my mind, building a shield around my hollowed body.

The commotion above sounded like a fight, but time was lost on me. I was just waiting to die, blurring in and out of consciousness. It felt like hours, noises melting together from outside.

"Deku did it again! He's amazing!"

"Can you believe it? That villain was insane!"

"Wait, these kids had a teacher—"

I lifted a hand, the only thing that was outside of the rubbish I was dropped upon. Water was beginning to be sprayed all over the building, dripping down and soaking me. The chills took over my body. How was I not dead?!

"There she is! My God—"

The light shone in from above. A blurred figure reached down to touch my hand. I glanced up through my hair, the my broken body barely able to move. That was the last thing I saw. My world went dark.