My Healer Academia (Bakugo x OC x Todoroki)

Start Line Pt 2

A/N: Another productive writing week! Here's a Wednesday update for y'all again – I may or may not start updating twice a week hehe. I've been a little ahead of my chapters, but as of now the updates will still be regularly on Sundays. However, depending on requests, I'll increase the frequency, so let me know! And enjoy <3

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               "O-Ow... My head..." Light flooded Ai's vision, but it still took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the new setting. Where am I? The dark ceiling looked familiar, as did the material of the sheets that embraced her. Sitting up made her body scream but looking around was the only way for her to understand what was going on. "I'm... home?"

               "My, my." The sing-song lull of her aunt's voice filled the air as Ai watched her bedroom door swing open. "You've come a long way, haven't you, Ai-chan?" Ai looked down at her lap in shame. She hadn't seen her aunt in years, living alone so that she could disassociate herself with the branding of Recovery Girl. It was also difficult on Chiyo's end, whose busy life didn't give her enough time to veer away from her UA obligations, but she also acted with respect to her niece's wishes, which is why she left Ai alone. "We need to talk."

               Chiyo sat cross-legged in front of Ai. "Auntie..." Ai's hands were balled into fists on top of her thighs as she kneeled in front of Chiyo, swinging her forehead down onto the bed. "I-I'm so sorry!" She let the blanket soak up her tears. "I... I thought that if I distanced myself from you, that if I became strong on my own, th-that I could make it into UA..." Her aunt sat quietly, listening patiently. "But I was wrong... I know my written exam wasn't the best, and I barely made any points in the practical... I... I just wanted to become someone strong enough to... t-to be a hero who could have saved mama and papa-"

               A hand was placed on Ai's shoulder, a gentle squeeze signaling her to stop. "Ai-chan... I couldn't be prouder of the person you've grown into." The young girl's cries were inconsolable, for they exerted the force of years of insecure struggles and trials, but still, Chiyo held her niece, bringing back the love in her life that she desperately longed for. Only when Ai came to a sniffle did her aunt decide to speak again. "Now... Let's talk about that quirk of yours."

               A small disk rested in Ai's hands as she sat at the desk next to her bed. Chiyo had left after their conversation about Ai's capabilities, leaving her with a letter from UA that she personally brought.

               "I don't know what they put in here," her aunt had told her, "considering it is against the rules to apply under an alias." Ai flinched when she realized that not only did her aunt catch her, but so did the higher ups at UA, and she felt her heart sink. "However," Chiyo gently placed the envelope in her niece's hands, and she offered a warm smile to ease her qualms, "if you followed your heart, then you should be satisfied with the results, right?"

               "Even so," Ai mumbled, slowly tightening her grip, "why does my chest feel so tight?" Taking a deep breath, she finally gathered the courage to place the disk down and watch it brighten to life.

               "I AM HERE AS A PROJECTION!" The sudden outburst almost made Ai fall out of her seat. All Might..? "Young Ai Kyuseishu – or should I say, Ai Shuzenji? Unfortunately, I have not been able to meet you in person, but from witnessing your actions alone, I can tell that you are a very bold individual! AHAHA!" Ai's eyes widened, captivated by the number one hero's personal message to her. However, a hand appeared in frame, drawing away his attention momentarily. "Hm? Wrap it up? But I'm giving her a pleasant introduction... It's going to push everything else back? Alright. O-kay!" Returning his attention to the screen, All Might continued with, "Even if you passed the written exam, you only made sixteen points on the practical exam, which is not enough. Of course, that means you didn't pass..." Ai's fingers squeezed the tops of her thighs, and all she could do in her hopeless situation was bite her lip and hang her head. All of that work... All for nothing. "...If that was all there was to it." Those words gave her the strength to look back up. "I am an entertainer as well! First, take a look at this video!"