KamiJirou-Dreaming

Aftermath

Outside the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall, 9:00 p.m.

Denki sat in the open backside of an ambulance, outside the mall, the murmurs of an onlooking crowd muted. He looked around. The flashing lights of ambulances and police cars, of fire trucks and passerby cars. Denki looked at his legs. They were shaking uncontrollably, in fact, he couldn't even feel his legs. Kyouka sat next to him, silent. The whispers of the crowd started becoming much more audible as pro heroes started to show up.

"Wow, look at that! It's Kamui Woods, the new rising star!"

"Oh my gosh, look, it's Hawks!"

A huge gasp overtook the crowd. Denki and Kyouka looked up. A huge man, muscular and toned yet tall and slender, in American-styled tights, a huge, reassuring smile on his face, suddenly appeared. All Might had arrived. The crowd was racked with sighs of relief, with cheers of joy, and talk of amazement. Kyouka and Denki, however, remained quite emotionless. They had gotten used to the number one hero's presence in his time teaching the two. The massive hero walked calmly towards his two students.

"Young Jirou, your aunt is waiting for you behind the police blockade. As I hear, you were the one to call for police as you and Young Kaminari proceeded to stop the bomber," All Might gave her a thumbs up and a pat on the head. He smiled even wider, if possible, and said this. 

"If you think you did not do much, then you are mistaken. It's a great deal of skill and courage to not only find the villain and identify him, but to act upon the finding. Without your call, the whole city would have been thrown into a panic, and whats more, you followed your partner into what seemed like certain death." He took both hands and put them behind his back.

"Running in to save lives even when your own is in jeopardy is the true meaning of a hero. You showed that today, so for that, good job!" He stuck out a thumbs up once more dismissed her, and watched as she got into her aunts car( all her bags in the trunk ). She looked at Denki, smiled softly, and drove away.

Denki dreaded what came next. He looked down and gripped his pants. Surely he would be reprimanded for using his quirk when not supposed to. Surely he would be punished for being foolhardy enough to put everyone's lives on him. He grit his teeth and hoped for the best.

"Bravery is not not having fear, that is stupidity and insanity. Instead, it is having fear but moving past it to accomplish your goals."

Denki looked up, frankly very confused. But All Might was still smiling. The police detective that had questioned him earlier stood next to him, also grinning. 

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Young Kaminari, you showed true bravery and inner strength as well as skill and wits. Many wouldn't move to help, but you did. You took the hopes and dreams of everyone in the room and  protected everybody, like a hero does."

The detective spoke up, 

"Hero's often speak of a moment when they were younger, when the world and people around them were in danger, their bodies just moved in reaction, they didn't even think about it. And you had the same thing,"

All Might nodded in agreement.

"It is a hero's job to meddle in places he is not supposed to. You've shown that today, Young Kaminari."

All Might lifted his face and gave him a thumbs up. Denki managed a small smile. He was grateful that these people were trying to cheer him up, but they didn't get it. The bomber wasn't a villain. Denki knew it. From the way the boy looked at him, there was something that was off. But he couldn't think about it now.

"I must be off, there's many different accidents tonight, villains seem to be more active this time around. Tsukauchi, take care of the situation here, please. I will see you in class, Young Kaminari."

Denki watched as All Might jumped far away to the inner city of Tokyo, where the sounds of sirens and scenes of fire littered the skyline. Denki hopped off the ambulance, said his thanks to the EMT's and the detective, and walked home.

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On her way home, Kyouka couldn't stop trembling. Of course, she was going to her aunts house, her parents weren't home from their all important business trip. Her aunt talked in fast, scared tones. 

"What happened back there? Why didn't you wait for the pros? Why is All Might there? Why did I get a call saying you were in danger?"

Kyouka's blood stopped as one last  line left her aunt's mouth.

"Why did you follow Denki?"

"BECAUSE I HAD TO" she exploded.

Her aunt pulled over and stared at her in shock. Kyouka faced her beloved aunt, blood boiling and let a out a torrent of answers, pouring out her frustration and fear and uncertainty into one answer.

"I'm training to be a hero, so isn't it my duty to put my life on the line to help others? Why do people insist on keeping me from doing my job, I want to be a hero, I don't want to stand around anymore! STOP TELLING ME TO BE SAFE, THAT'S NOT HOW THE WORLD WORKS ANYMORE, JIN!!! ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TOLD ME I HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO BE WHAT I WANT! WHAT'S THE POINT OF A HERO IF SHE CAN'T SAVE OTHERS? WHAT'S THE DAMN POINT OF FUCKING LIVING IF DENKI DIES WITHOUT ME BY HIS SIDE?"

Kyouka stopped, breathing hard and sweating. Her aunt slowly pulled her thoughts together as she closed her mouth.

"So it all comes down to you protecting protecting others, mainly Denki?" she said finally. Kyouka realized what she said. "T-that's n-not what I-" "No I get it," Jin interrupted. She gave her a apologetic smile, "I let my love for you overcome the true meaning of my teachings. It's just, well, I couldn't take it if you died, y'know? It'd crush me. But deep inside I'm deeply proud of you. You overcame your fear and followed your partner in order to save others, you didn't abandon the mission." Kyouka looked down, "I'm sorry for yelling at you, it was uncalled for." "No, I completely understand. You had a lot of fear and uncertainty building up, huh?" Jin reached over and cupped her niece's cheek in her hands. At that point, Kyouka started to cry. It was all true. 

"You weren't sure you'd survive, but you pushed through. You went in there and did your job and the only things you could do to help. You followed your partner to certain death."

"B-but I w-was so s-scared, Jin." Kyouka sobbed.

"But you went in anyways, you faced your fear and you ran in even though you could probably do nothing at all." Jin wiped tears from Kyuoka's eyes. "If you weren't afraid, I'd call stupid or insane. But you showed nothing but courage today, and I'm proud of that. Bring it in." They both leaned in for a hug. Kyouka sobbed into her shoulder. 

"So, you're not mad at me?" she asked.

Jin laughed softly. "Of course not, I could never." They pulled away from each other. "Come on, let's go get some Korean Barbecue, how does that sound?" Kyouka smiled and wiped her tears with her shirt. 

"Sure."

Hey Hey Hey, happy belated new year, sorry for the wait just had a bunch of stuff to do at the end of the year. As always, thanks for your support and stay tuned for the next one ;)

-J. Linz