Electrical Gemini | BNHA |

Chp. 14 | A date off |

"Nariko-chan?"

A noncommittal hum answers.

"Why- what exactly are we doing today?" Midoriya turns to face Nariko as they walk towards the station.

Nariko, with her hands, clasped behind her neck, shrugs. "Nothing much, just thought we can use a little breather after that festival,"

'And maybe a little fun before the internships start and we're needed back on the field.'

Midoriya's brow furrows, assessing the bandages that were still wrapped around Nariko's arms and a bandage on her cheek.

"And stop looking at me with those puppy eyes-"

Midoriya squeaks averting his gaze.

"-these things are just for show,"

Midoriya's head whips back to see Nariko wave her arms loosely, as a gesture to her bandages.

"Like hell, they are," Zen cuts in. "You fried your skin with that last attack, and you know that your self inflicted wounds don't heal as fast as the other kinds of wounds,"

Midoriya sends the girl in question a questioning look as if asking the girl for confirmation.

Nariko makes a tsking behind her throat while rolling her eyes.

"We should stop dallying if we don't wanna keep the rest of the group waiting,"

"Eh?! What do you mean the group?!"

-----

Uraraka and Tsuyu wave their arms around, motioning the group of three to where they stood.

Nariko jogs over to the girls with Midoriya and Zen trailing behind her. The girls all squish themselves in a three-way hug, greeting each other.

"Oh, I wonder where Iida-kun is?" Nariko thinks out loud as soon as the three-way hug parted.

"Ooh, didn't Midnight-sensei say something about Iida-san having to leave the festival early because of a..." Zen goes silent, looking up trying to remember the reason for Iida's early departure,

"Oh! He left early because of a family emergency!" Uraraka exclaims as she fills in for Zen. "Although Deku-kun and I tried to call him afterward but uh..."

"He never replied," Midoriya finishes.

'Oi oi, I get they're like the OTP of this little story, but that was adorable how Izu-kun finished Ura-chan's sentence,' Nariko thinks, feeling giddy, completely disregarding the reason for Iida's departure.

Snapping herself out of her daze, she throws her arms up in a wide gesture. "Anyway! What did you guys wanna do first?"

Midoriya casts a scrunched up look towards Nariko. "I actually think we should find out if Iida-kun is alright, shouldn't we?"

"Yeah I think we should, I was sorta getting worried he hasn't called back," Uraraka backs Midoriya up.

"Kero, but shouldn't we let Iida-kun reach out first?" Tsuyu places a finger below her lip with her tongue poking out. "It is a family emergency, so it might be personal kero."

"My sentiments exactly Tsu-chan!" Nariko bounces to block the group from the front. "I called you all out here so we could relax... I get that you're concerned but if Iida-kun really wanted to tell us he would've." Nariko shrugs at the end in contrast with the serious tone she adopted towards the end of her statement.

The group looked towards each other, concern still evident on their faces before Kirishima spoke up.

"Y'know I care for my friends... but Nariko-chan has a point! And plus the manly effort by Nariko-chan would go to waste if we don't enjoy ourselves soon!"

Nariko beams at the red-haired teen while slinging an arm over his shoulder. "That's the spirit! Now c'mon there are a few things I wanna try with you guys!"

-----

"Are you sure it was a wise decision to let her go?"

Kito doesn't look up from the book he was reading as he answers. "Was there really a choice to begin with?"

Chiako scoffs, crossing his arms. "I see your point..."

Moments of silence pass by before Mika squirms out of Kito's hold.

"I don't want to go."

The only two males in the room look up, almost missing the whisper, with furrowed brows.

"This isn't up for debate-"

"But we have a choice don't we?" Mika whispers, wrapping her arms around herself. "We have the power, all we need is the command to-"

"Not with these things we don't," Chiako cuts in tapping the metal collar that was attached to all their necks.

"Nariko-"

"Shouldn't push herself." Came the firm reply from the general himself.

"And you're saying we should suffer!" Mika's words echo in the small library. Everyone in the room was taken aback by the sudden outbursts, including the speaker herself.

"I- I..." Mika stutters out looking down. "I didn't mean it like that..."

Kito stands up, using his full height, and looks down on the two other occupants in the room. "I thought I made myself clear when I said no one was to use Nariko other than me,"

The two in the room avoided their commander's eyes before Chiako steels himself to meet Kito's eyes and answer.

"We didn't say or do anything-"

"But you insinuated something." It wasn't a question as Chiako lowers his head back down. "And by doing so you only fueled Nariko's already growing curiosity, a curiosity that will get her killed someday."

Kito turns away and stalks closer towards the fireplace opposite from the two. He pulls out a cigar from the packet that sat on the ledges of the fireplace, lighting it with the fire from it.

Kito himself rarely, seldom, yelled nor raised his voice, yet the intimidating aura surrounding him plus his towering structure made it difficult for the other two other bodies in the room to utter a word in his presence.

"I hope you two remember why we're doing this in the first place."

Kito was answered with silence but he knew that either way everyone in this team was going to follow him, one way or another. Just the thought made Kito's insides burn, accompanied by a smile towards the gentle flames in front of him.

'Just a little longer... Elaine... please wait for me... wait for your Nii-san.'