She was panting furiously. Raspy breaths taking in the chilly morning air. Gulping and huffing in her labor, the girl ran with all her might to outrun the long legged female pursuing her.
"T- Toga! Wait!" (Y/n)2 darted into the street right as the blond girl hid behind another corner. She didn't care that this twin or whatever looked, sounded, and talked like her, this wasn't HER (Y/N)!
Himiko had been patient and waited three whole days for her (Y/n) to return. She hoped that maybe once she was feeling better she-- ... Well, her days of waiting were up. The girl was through with waiting. She couldn't stand the thought of being alone like before all over again!
Himiko noticed really quickly that this (Y/n) didn't have any quirks, making her escape that much easier. She was, however, fairly athletic and a capable runner. All to the young girl's disappointment.
Toga hopped onto a trash can in the alleyway and crawled over a fence. She landed into a rough roll and stumbled away before the teen could catch her. Using her vague memory of how she first found her (Y/n), the girl retraced her steps back to the Yakuza base.
How she first found you was fairly simple. She just went around asking people if they knew someone like you until eventually she started getting answers. It really wasn't all that hard, so she thought it was really funny whenever people started freaking out about how she possibly could have found (Y/n).
Finally, after so much running, the girl found the wall surrounding the Shie Hassaikai. She ducked behind some bushes and crawled around in there before eventually finding that hole she used before. The fit was snugger than last time, since she was a fast growing little one, but she managed to slide through yet again.
"Toga!!" As she happened to be passing the iron gate, her pursuer spotted her. "Hey! Wh--where are you going?!" (Y/n)2 ran for, jumped to, and climbed over the wall. "Your (Y/n) put me in charge of you and I take my job very seriously! What is this about?? Where are we??" The simpler you had a look around at the base, viewing the distant trees, traditional houses, pebble paths, and parking lot all for the first time.
"Toga?" Some pretty eyed brunette wearing a weird bird mask approached casually from the nearest building, thumbs in his pockets. His eyes trained on you2, brows furrowing more the closer he came. "(Y/n)? You're supposed to be at the hospital."
Toga gasped. "Hospital?! Did (Y/n) get hurt!!?" Already, she was in tears at the mere thought of it. To think she came all this way just for there to be no (Y/n). (Y/n)2 stepped protectively in front of the blond child, not trusting this stranger one bit. Kai noticed this and didn't get any closer.
"Uh-um, listen, sir! I'm sorry for bothering you. Toga here ran off. I- I was just trying to make sure she was alright... I take it you know her from somewhere?"
Kai nodded. "She's been living here with (Y/n) for almost a year... Now who might you be?"
"Oh, me??" Placing a hand on your2 chest. "I'm (Y/n)'s quirkless twin sister! She-she handed this girl over to me before vanishing!"
Kai's brows furrowed, crossing his arms. "I didn't know she had a twin sister..." You2 had no idea the depth of the relationship original you had with this guy, nor how much he did and didn't know about your personal lives, so, she tried her best to remain as vague as possible.
Scratching the back of her head furiously, "Oh! You know! I'm just her boring twin sister; nothing really interesting to it, so it would make sense she wouldn't ever care to say anything about me!" You2 forced a smile and playful laugh.
"Strange.. (Y/n)'s usually pretty open with me about these things..." The man itched the side of his jaw. What else didn't he know about you..?
"Um, Mr. Kai, what happened to (Y/n)? Where IS she???" Himiko hopped nervously. The young man rubbed his brow.
"Hhhhh, she's been committed to a Psychiatric Hospital a city away from here... You just missed her. She was hospitalized yesterday."
"Sai-kee-at-ra..? What? Mr. Kai, can I visit her?? Please please please?!?!" Other (Y/n) pulled the child back. She had a firmer grasp on the situation than Himiko.
"No, Toga, a Psychiatric Hospital is a lot different from a normal hospital.. You can't just visit whenever."
"But why???"
"It's where people go when their brains are sick."
Huffy, Toga tore her arms away from the teen trying her best to comfort her. She preferred Kai over this copycat. "Stop talking to me like I'm a baby! Use bigger words! Just say she's depressed! I can understand that s###!"
"Toga!!" (Y/n)2 scolded. The girl just stuck her tongue out at her. The world around her shifted again as Kai turned against her through the simple act of nudging her toward the young woman with his knee.
"It's probably better to let this twin or whatever take care of you, Toga.." Kai spoke softly.
The girl's eyes filled with tears again, head dashing right and left between the two elders. She was so overwhelmed, betrayed, and sad, Toga fell on her knees and started to cry. "BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO! I WANT TO STAY HERE AND WAIT FOR (Y/N) TO GET BACK!"
"She'll come get you when she's better." Kai rolled his eyes. You2 sat in the dirt with the child, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Listen.. I know this is hard for you, but I promise it won't be this way forever." You2 leaned her head in, getting a better look at the girl's eyes. "(Y/n) is a strong, stubborn person. Trust me, I know." She chuckled. "And I know for a fact she wouldn't leave you behind without planning on coming back. So...let's all be strong, together, okay? It may be a week, a month, or even a year. But I know she's coming back.
...Because the (Y/n) you know is the strongest girl in the world.. And she never gives up on the people she loves."
---------------
The wind tossed about his hair. It was a little damp and chilly up here, but man was the view good. Nothing super fancy or anything, but from this rooftop, one could see the roofs of hundreds more in all directions, as well as a city off in the distance. Trees sprinkled throughout as well.
Tenko spat out some hair that kept flying into his mouth and stepped up to the edge of the two story building's roof, peering down into his backyard. "...You know, if I didn't have One For All, I might just jump."
Iguchi, lounging at the very peak of the roof like some sort of king on his throne, threw out an exasperated sigh. "You know you really need to stop making jokes like that. They're not even funny anymore. Just plain sad."
"Teh... and what else am I supposed to do..? Somehow see the light in all of this?" Iguchi's eyes narrowed. His friend had always struggled with letting go of things, so this wasn't exactly new for him.
"Hhhhhh... You do you, Bruce Wayne... Whatever." Iguchi laid on his back, hands behind his head as he stared up at the dreary gray sky.
Tenko's torso twisted back to his friend. "..Aren't you at least a little shaken by (Y/n)'s betrayal, Iguchi??"
"Psh, I mean I guess! Doesn't really shock me as much as you, but then again that's just the plus side of being a natural pessimist... Things like this don't really surprise me..." Even as he stared sternly at the sky, Iguchi's eyebrows started to tremble a little bit. He quickly corrected himself from feeling such negative feelings, however, sitting himself back up and staring out at the widespread view of the suburban neighborhood. "So what's the game plan then? You're acting like you're in the middle of a crisis or whatever. Something new you wanna try?"
Tenko dragged his fingers through his scalp. "Ghh, no. (Y/n) being a villain doesn't change anything... Not like I ever needed her to become a hero." Confidently, the teen placed his hands on his hips. "Heck! I'd probably still be on track to becoming a hero even if we never met!.. She did steal that Decay quirk from me, after all. Probably woulda still gone to UA and used that quirk the way she does.." Gloating now, the boy protruded his lips as he spoke in a muffled manner. "We did stop that Sicilian Mob outbreak thing last week almost entirely on our own, after all~! I didn't even break any of my bones that time either~! We didn't need (Y/n) to help out with that!"
"Tch. We were so badly chewed out by the authorities for intervening that we almost became criminals ourselves!" The chuckling Iguchi laid back down. "Hmh... Really annoys me how that's all set up... If vigilantism wasn't so terribly frowned upon, I'd probably just become one of those and live a normal life outside of that. Don't really have the celebrity-type personality that's now required for something simple as heroism." The pink haired one frowned. That slap on the wrist for jumping in to help really woke him up to a lot of the corruption he never cared to see within the hero community. Tenko wasn't quite as stirred by that, however; just glad they got to help out. But, oh well. Guess Iguchi was just naturally more bothered by injustices like this, having his life been built around seeing them every day. "Anywho, so guess we really don't have much to discuss then?"
Tenko stared ahead at his friend sadly for a minute, then turned back to stare over the view. The wind threw his hair into his face again, his heart swirling with emotions. "...Hey, Iguchi?"
"Yeh?"
"...How do we know when to forgive someone and when not to?"
"Uhhhh, I-unno." He gave a 'does not care' shrug.
"Wow. Thanks." Sarcastic.
"You're welcome." Sarcastically not sarcastic.
Tenny stared down at his hand. He flexed the muscles, observing the scarred tissue in his skin. He tightened all five fingers into a fist... What exactly was forgiveness anyway..? He had this same moral dilemma in regards to his own father, a man he'd learned to distance himself from, but..
Well, the old man of his wasn't acting how he was used to him acting. After receiving his family's new address, he'd started randomly sending him letters asking about his day, updating him here and there on shows or sports he thought Tenny might be interested in, and even asking for replies on occasion. Tenko didn't have the soul to write a response, but he also didn't have the calloused heart to ignore the letters either. So...he was just trapped in a limbo. A confusing balance between loving a person and hating them. Was this..how (Y/n) felt about her dad? Is that why they seemed to have such a confusing relationship?? Ugh, even trying to think about it was giving him a headache.
The biggest thing on his mind was the concept of forgiveness. Could he forgive his dad for how he treated him in the past?.. Could he forgive (Y/n) for breaking their promise, crippling Aizawa, and becoming a villain...?
Honestly... He didn't know.
---------------
In your past life, after breaking your leg and crawling around helplessly for a few days, your aunt visited, saw the state you were in, and rushed you to the hospital. You were finally given the proper care and treatment your leg needed, however a bit too late. Your leg didn't heal right.
From then on, you walked with a slight limp. You couldn't run or partake in sports. Karate was the exception so long as you were careful. And most annoyingly of all, your leg would start to ache any time the weather changed.
These were all things you were forced to adjust to in life. You started drawing, for example, to pass the time whenever everyone else was running around playing. And you loved to drive. You didn't become a speed demon for no reason, after all. You loved going fast. Your leg couldn't stop you whenever you were driving. There was nothing it could do to get in the way of your fun. Your freedom. So, in a way, guess you could blame your broken leg for dying that day, over sixteen years ago.
Just like with your leg in your past life, there were going to have to be several adjustments made to accommodate for this new injury of yours. Right before leaving for the hospital, Kai had you give him the rewind quirk. The subject who usually had it was allowed on paid vacation. Kai ensured he would practice with his new quirk until he was confident enough that he could heal your eyes. At least, with that assurance in mind, you no longer feared inevitably living like this for ever... Still, there were a lot of adjustments to be made.
For example, navigating. Believe it or not, it's a lot harder for you to walk around a completely normal room blind than it was to fight blind. One is a controlled environment in an empty space with only one other person whose clothes and body are constantly making noise. The other, on the other hand, is a completely silent room full of objects to trip over and or stub your toes on. Suffice to say, you preferred fighting in rings blindfolded than you ever would simply trying to find where you last put your toothbrush. Not only that but there was also something humiliating about living the mundane life like this. In the ring, if you made a mistake, that was forgivable. It was especially understandable, since fights are challenging enough without being blinded. But... Having to call for help because you accidentally trapped yourself in a corner between two chairs and a desk is certainly not the kind of thing people would give you grace for. Giggles from the staff were like knives to your ego.
-----
You somehow found your way into the industrial kitchen of this building and felt around the countertops and appliances, driven toward the sounds of sudsy water and scrubbing. You eventually bumped into the young woman washing the dishes. "Oh! Sorry."
"No, it's alright. So what are you doing here? Aren't you a patient?" The woman leaned forward, spotting all the apprehensive faces of the staff who had been following you around nervously.
You smiled softly and reached your hand out, wanting to feel the hill of bubbles you hoped would be there. No bubbles... "Mind if I help out? I know how to wash dishes. Just show me what to do and I'll do it!"
"...Huh?"
"Please? I'm really bored. Going from such a hectic life to this is killing me!" You clasped your hands together, bowing politely.
The woman leaned to question with her eyes all the people standing behind you. They all gave each other looks, having an entire debate without making a sound. Finally, the woman tore herself from this soundless conversation. "Sure! Just let me get you some gloves real quick."
"Okay!"
You were an easygoing gal in this institute. But, it didn't take long for the staff to realize that when you wanted something, you WANTED it. And there was next to nothing they could do to keep you from it. Luckily for them, most of the things you wanted were simply to help out. It was hard finding things to do with your blindness, but once you thought of something, for them it was like keeping a month from its beloved lamp.
You weren't easy to befriend either. Though calm and fun to talk to, your conversations ended the moment it became personal. Even to the professionals there, who were supposed to help you through your traumas, you hardly said a thing to them. You also didn't get along with the other patients quite as well. They were too whiny for your tastes. But, you were polite at least by attending the daily small-group chats among the women.
It was hard to connect on a personal level here. Not only because you didn't let anyone in, but also because you felt so out of place. Most of these ladies were victims of some kind. And you.. well... You were a murderer. All these women bonded over one thing, and you didn't fit so cleanly into that.
Thanks to your pushy nature, nearly the entire staff here knew you or at least of you. Most knew of your criminal record too, which made things complicated, but whatever I guess. Even the other patients here were starting to catch on that you were a person of interest too. Didn't take much to become the talk of this town.
You coulda sworn no one was in front of you, yet there you were, accidentally tripping over someone in the halls.
"Ouf!" A woman fell to the ground in front of you.
"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" You crouched down, feeling around for her. "I- I'm so stupid! I keep walking around like my eyes still work! Terribly sorry!"
"Hm, no it's okay. I probably should have made a noise or something." The woman touched your wrist. That helped you find and grab both of her hands to help her up. The woman's skin was dangerously cold.
"Woah! You're so cold! Do you need a blanket or anything?? I can go track down one of the staff-"
"Hmhm, no, I'm fine. That's just a feature of my quirk.. My skin gets a little chilly when I'm startled."
"Your...quirk?" Gasp. "You wouldn't happen to be Rei Todoroki, would you!?"
The woman tore her hands out of yours. "Why do you ask?"
"I- I- I'm sorry, Ma'am!" You bowed. "I'm friends with your daughter, Fuyumi! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
"You're friends with... my Fuyumi..?" She echoed.
"Mhm! Mhm!"
Rei sighed, but it was the kind that made it sound like she was smiling too. "...How is she doing, then?.. I haven't spoken to any of my children in a few years now."
"She's doing well. She's in college now! She struggles sometimes, but it seems like she's getting pretty good grades!" You boasted for her, making the woman smile more.
"Awh.. Do you know what she's studying for?"
"Becoming a teacher, if I'm not mistaken. A-and Natsuo just recently decided that he wants to become a doctor!" You steered clear of mentioning Shoto, knowing already that was her soft spot and where she'd probably stop talking to you.
Rei covered her mouth with a hand, laughing softly as little tears filled her eyes. "That's so precious... My babies really are growing up fast, aren't they?" You noticed by the sound of her voice that she was on the verge of crying, so you steered away from the topic.
Tapping Rei on the shoulder, "Hey, um... I'm actually out here looking for the snack room. Do you happen to know where that is..?"
"Huh? I didn't know we had a snack room?"
You cupped a hand around half of your mouth, leaning in to whisper. "It's actually supposed to be a secret room, but one of the staff told me it's on this floor somewhere~ I technically know where, but I can't see anything. Would you mind helping me? I bet you'll find something tasty in there too~~"
The woman snickered, taking your arm in her own. "So the rumors about you really are true, then. You are quite the troublemaker."
Happily following her lead, "Psh, I don't try to be!"
"And that makes it any better?"
The two of you became friends after that, one or the other stopping by to visit every day.
---------------
You liked being outside, especially when the weather was nice. And you liked experimenting with sculpting now that your eyes couldn't function normally. You could use your knowledge of arts and crafts for clay models and these things you liked to call "bumpy paintings" instead, which were basically just sheets of clay you liked to poke with toothpicks and stuff to make into pictures...hopefully. You were off to a pretty rough start so far.
Today though you were just enjoying the breeze, thinking about what you wanted to scratch out next. Being blind opened you up to a whole new world in a way. Instead of looking at things for reference, you had to physically reach out and touch them. It was a little embarrassing, but necessary all the same.
You were petting the bark of a tree, wondering how you could replicate its texture, when someone came calling for you. You recognized the voice at once. However, it had been so long, trying to remember who it was was like guessing actors you'd only seen in one movie before.
"(Y/n)..? Is that really you?. Hey! (Y/n)!" You quit petting the tree at once and sat straighter there in the grass. Could this perhaps be a nurse, a therapist; had you done something wrong?
You sat there tensely, trying to look as innocent as possible when the man finally reached you. He was huffing and puffing up a storm. What you couldn't see was the massive scar on the left side of his face.
"Ohh boy, you wouldn't believe the shock I experienced after finding out you turned into a villain and came here as well! Guess they really just let you guys do whatever, huh?" Sounded like he was trying to joke and play it light-hearted, but it was painfully obvious how little he agreed with you staying here.
"I'm sorry... Who are you?" You turned your head to the man, staring at him now with your cloudy blue eyes. You had been told a few times that they actually looked quite pretty. Without the black pupil in the center, the whole thing was a sea of misty blue.
The man gasped. "Oh! I didn't realize you were blind." He just thought you were being rude.
You smiled gently. "Hmhm, that's okay. So, who are you then?"
"..." The man rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess it has been quite some time since you last saw me.. I'm Tenko's dad. We met a few times back when you were really close with my son. Remember?"
You tilted your head, your mouth falling open, but just a little. "O?.. You're right. It has been a while... I'm guessing you're about to ask how your son is, then?"
The man nodded. "Ye-yes! I started sending him letters a couple months ago and still haven't received one back from him. Is he alright?"
"Physically, I believe so... Not so sure how he's doing emotionally now that I've been arrested, though..." Didn't take sight for that image of your closest friend backing away from the glass door to fill your heart again with anguish. Eating you up inside. All you wanted to do was find and hug the boy so badly! His sad eyes and soft hair were too pure for this world! The way he looked at you like some monster really stabbed you in the gut!
Tenko's dad sighed, watching your attention diminish. He realized there wasn't much he could really say or do here to fix his problems. You, just like him, had limited access to the outside world. This very garden, for instance, was walled off so that only the patients and staff of this facility could come and go. And though you technically could leave whenever you like... Was there really anything out there to go to?
Mr. Shimura sat in the grass a few feet away from you, stopping for a moment to enjoy nature as you did. You returned to feeling the bark, grass, and leaves as the man started small talk. What started as conversation about what you were doing, the nice weather, and forecast for the next week slowly transitioned into you sharing recent stories of your time with Tenko, your shared friend, Iguchi, a few of the few running jokes the three of you shared, and funny stories from school. Though Tenko's dad still clearly had a strong bias against heroes, he intently listened to these tales, finally seeing a window into the school his son was attending from an entirely new point of view. These stories did not change his lifelong beliefs. Nothing probably would. However, they made it a little easier for him to imagine why his son would oppose him so strongly.
After the long chat, your throat was starting to get sore from talking so much, and Tenko's dad was content in a way he hadn't been in such a long time. And since there was no one else out here to help you around, he -- surprisingly -- offered to help guide you inside instead. You let him lead, simply placing your hand on his shoulder and following his direction. The man was strangely kind and polite when in the right mood.
---------------
After another long day at work, Tenko slipped off his shoes, changed out of his work uniform into some of the baggiest clothes he owned, grabbed a pack of gummy snacks, and sat on the floor in his room in front of the TV. Iguchi usually left for work an hour before he arrived, so it was a rare occurrence for the two to bump shoulders in the evening.
Tenko scrolled through his menu of game options to play... and scrolled.. and scrolled.. and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled. The list started looping back around after a while, passing the #1 game on his list. It was his favorite shooter game, no doubt, but.. it was always the game he, (Y/n), and Iguchi played together. Opening that up would mean reliving countless memories now cloaked in a veil of pain.
"...Maybe I should play something new.." He mumbled to himself, leaving his menu of game options to instead browse for new ones. He scrolled and scrolled around on there, but nothing stood out to him as interesting. Nothing worth his time, at least.
Whether he wanted to believe it or not, the kid was rapidly losing time like this. An entire hour passed and he was still looking for a new game to play. Realizing this put him in a really sour mood.
"Tenko~! Tenko!" Hana shoved her little brother's door open. The teen hissed at the new light spilling into his darkened cave of a room.
"What do you want?!"
"What do I want?? I've been calling you for dinner the past thirty minutes!" Rant over, the young woman dragged her hands through her loose hair, sighing empathetically down at him now. "Mom and I are already done and the food's cold. When you're done eating, make sure to put the leftovers in the fridge so Iguchi can have some later. Oh, and clean out the microwave, too! You boys eat and prep your meals like pigs."
Tenko stuck out his tongue, making a fart noise at his sister. "Why do you always make me clean up after??"
"Because why not?! So are ya eating or not??"
"Ughhh, fine! Just give me a minute." Not like he was in the middle of a game anyway. But it still took him a few seconds to turn off the TV and hide his controller under a pile of yet to be folded clean clothes on the floor. Hana left him after their conversation was over.
Tenko trudged out of his room, chilled by the non-stuffy air. His bare feet squeaked on the wood floors. Didn't take long before he was in the dining room. Their house really wasn't that big. Iguchi and Tenko would've had to share a bedroom had they not converted the garage into another bedroom instead.
Tenko regretted not sliding on some slippers as he walked back and forth between the kitchen and dining table, putting the leftovers into the fridge. He saved himself a portion of course.
After that, the teen thought of a place to sit. ... The living room was empty, so maybe he could watch something while eating?.. Meh, there were no shows or movies to be interested in at the time. This new wave of older fashioned film really sucked. But then, that left him with nothing to do. Like. At all. He couldn't even bother his sister anymore, since she was usually talking to her new boyfriend over the phone after dinner. Guess he could mess with the both of them~? He sure did know a lot of incriminating stories from their youth, after all~ ... Meh, maybe another day. He really didn't want his dinner to be splashed up into his face or anything. Ugh. What to do?
---------
It was actually pretty warm out here.
Tenko sat with his legs crossed on the top of the roof, slurping his noodles alone. A warm front brought forth a wall of definitely summer air. Though night, it was still warm out here.
The ground sparkled brighter than the skies above, which from this suburban neighborhood was but a black void, only the occasional shimmer of a star poking through. The crescented moon was at a weird tilt too, making it an interesting marvel to watch.
The sounds of distant sirens caught the teen's ears. As if acting on instinct, Tenko almost set his bowl down so he could jump in and ensure everything was alright. The memory of that dog faced cherif replayed in his head, however, stilling his drive to be rash.
...He wasn't a hero yet. Tenko had to remember that. And even when he did one day become one, there was no way he could possibly save everyone.
After all... He failed to save the person standing right in front of him most his life. The more he looked back, the more he regretted not stepping in sooner; somehow helping to solve all her problems... That way.. she would have never had to resort to crime, and her soul wouldn't have become so corrupted.
Tenko sighed, then slurped noodles sadly... Why did everything he think about have to circle back to (Y/n)? It was like he was obsessed with her or something! He certainly wasn't trying to be! He just-!.. Hhhh, guess since he's already experienced this before, Tenko should have known getting over his old friend wasn't going to be easy. *pathetic noises* Maybe he should have taken the easy route and killed himself back when he was thirteen.. instead of suffering this torture forever. Tenko groaned and set his bowl down to hug his knees. Great. His appetite was ruined now.
"Something troubling you, Young Shimura?" All Might's vestige appeared in a mist behind the boy. His large form cleared out until the middle aged man appeared as normal. The previous #1 hero sat down beside Tenko, the boy's bowl separating them.
Tenko chuckled dryly. "When isn't there?"
"Eheh.. Is there perhaps anything more specific you would like to share?"
Tenko glanced All Might's way through the corner of his eye. He stared lazily ahead, by now used to these spirits following him around. "Nothing you haven't heard already.. I miss (Y/n) but can't bring myself to forgive her, my dad keeps sending me annoying letters that I don't know how to respond to, and like always I still question how the heck I'm supposed to live up to everyone's expectations!!. I think I have a grasp on the basic mechanics of One For All, but all these added quirk buffs are really tripping me up. I'm still embarrassed it took me over two months to get the hang of my own grandma's quirk! And hers was said to be the easiest!!" Tenko tugged at his own hair, clenching his jaw and closing his eyes. "I still worry about Sensei Aizawa too, of course... I know he's not dead, but... hmmh.. I worry about him, like I worry about everyone. And no matter what, I can never stop worrying!" Tenko hit his head but stopped when a faint touch comforted his shoulder.
All Might's large hand rubbed the teen's back, staring down at the kid with a loving, understanding smile. "..You're under a lot of stress, and that's understandable. When I was your age, I too was wrapped up in worries of all kinds... Like how I was going to get a job to help my mother out, as well as her declining health, and can't forget the neighborhood bullies too. You could say becoming the Symbol of Peace on top of all that was just another burden.. but I never saw it that way. No, in fact, I saw it as the solution to all of my problems! It was just the source of hope I needed to face everything else head-on with a smile!" Tenko glanced at the vestige again. Yep, he still had that classic All Might smile on his face. Didn't help to brighten his own mood, however.
All Might's hand slipped off the boy's back. Instead, he used that hand to prop himself up while he leaned back to gaze up at the sky.
"..In order to become the symbol of peace, you must first become the symbol of hope. And in order to do that, you must first have hope.. Hope in the world, hope in yourself! And yes, even hope in the people around you; that they might get better some day. After all, that's why we fight! Isn't it?" All Might demanded the teen's attention. Tenko obliged, staring up into the man's deep blue eyes. "We fight for a better future, right?" He waited for Tenko to respond, so the boy nodded. The man's grin grew as he closed his eyes. Such a pure smile on such a macho man."Why not then extend that same hope to ourselves and our friends?!" He reached out and pat the boy's head. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit, Young Shimura! I think you have the making of a fine hero, my boy... As do your friends.
Yes. I still hold hope for them as well."
Tenko was blushing slightly, touched by the compliment. He stared down at his lap again, then beyond at all the shimmering lights of houses, cars, and roads. His hands fidgeted with one another a little bit.
Was that what he was missing? A bit of hope?? It sure seemed to connect his problems together under one umbrella.
"Thanks, All Might.." The boy smiled slightly.
So was that what forgiveness was? Hope, even belief to some degree, that the person in question will get better?
With it so simply put, it suddenly became so much easier to see himself forgiving both his father and you.
While hope was definitely part of forgiveness, there was something still missing from the equation.
What he needed, for this added boost that would give him the courage to hope, was a sign. A sign from both of you that his hoping would be worth the effort.
---------------
Going to cram school only to listen to people murmuring her name was no fun. Having her friends distance themselves from her just because she looked a lot like a certain suspect wasn't fun. Being put under constant supervision of some kind by the school staff wasn't fun. Getting weird looks out in public wasn't fun. None of it was fun.
But, she had to help however she could to keep the Diforester alter-ego looking as clean and innocent as possible. Even if that meant having to argue daily that she indeed wasn't a supervillain. Even if she had to bear the humiliation of so many stares.
(Y/n)2 arrived home after shopping and set to cooking right away. She had two, sometimes three or more people to cook for, after all.
Jin's business was going well, so that was a plus at least. He hired on a couple new guys for no reason other than companionship, meaning he relied on his quirk less and less as the years passed. He still went to (Y/n)2 for advice, even though her IQ wasn't much higher than average. But, now that she was often too busy with school or chores, this was a nice way to stay involved with the business.
Toga, though definitely the misfit here, was a nice addition. She was small and cute. Jin absolutely loved to spoil her, and it wasn't long before she was like his new mascot at work. Other than that, (Y/n)2 prepared for the long run, creating a fake identity for the girl as their little sister who was just shipped to them by their good-for-nothing parents overseas. Meant she had to stop calling the girl Toga, which annoyed the child. But, there wasn't a way around it. (Y/n)2 also prepped for the girl's schooling. The teen had to be prepared for the case that the original never comes back for the child. If she landed in a mental hospital... then there was no telling how bad off the other was or how long she would need to stay there.
After about a week, it looked as though Himiko was finally starting to accept the misfortune she had been given. Not in the happy way, though. She just seemed incredibly sad most of the time.
After making dinner, the young woman called the girl's name. She wandered into the kitchen, dragging her feet. "What's for dinner, Miss?" Instead of calling her by any name, Himiko instead called (Y/n)2 "Miss." It was allowed, since the teen didn't know how to go about correcting her.
"Just some beef broth udon."
"Hhh, you always make that."
"Wha-at?! It's good!" (Y/n) rubbed the back of her head. Himiko grabbed her bowl and sat at the small circular dining table quietly. She was definitely pouting, just sitting there stirring the contents of her bowl.
After a while, the blond girl leaked a couple small tears and sniffed. However, instead of crying, the young one actually laughed a little bit. "My (Y/n) was terrible at cooking."
"Heheh, yeah, I'm not too different I guess. I only know a few recipes, but- but I'm trying! I just, need.." You2 was so nervous. She stared at the ground scratching her arm.
But the girl didn't mean to insult you2 with that comment. "No-no, I mean... You're actually really good at cooking. You really are different from the other one." Though it sounded like a building insult, judging from her face, (Y/n)2 deduced this was actually a compliment. This was confirmed when the girl smiled. "I'm glad you're different!. You're special!"
...
(Y/n)2 clutched the cloth in front of her chest, other hand covering her mouth. That hit a lot harder than either expected it to, but, the more her words replayed in her head, the more the tears started to flow.
After living her life as nothing more than somebody's clone for nearly four years, it was so rewarding to hear that she was actually special in some way. That she was different than the psychopathic monster her other self had become. That she...was unique.
Himiko liked that she was special too. It meant that slowly, over time, she could come to see this young woman as her own individual person too. Separate from you.
---------------
Scratch Art was already a thing, right? If not, well then guess you just made something up all on your own.
You sat in your room at the desk facing your window. You knew it was the window thanks to the blanket of warmth hugging your skin. On the desk was your little clay portrait, which you were scratching different shapes and squiggles into, using your fingertips to feel out the overall image you were trying to create. Creative arts was taking a while to get the hang of, but luckily for you you had plenty of time to practice. Right now, you were trying to scratch out a simple forest.
A soft, recognizable knock sounded at your door. "Come in!"
"Hello.. Oh? Drawing again?" It was Rei. She carefully closed the door behind her.
"I guess?" Couldn't really call this drawing, but it was close enough I guess.
The woman pulled up a chair and sat at the desk beside you. She grabbed from the stack of papers on your desk and started writing quietly beside you. Judging by the lacking sporadic pencils strokes, it didn't sound like she was drawing. Rather, she was writing.
"...What are you writing?"
"Hm? How did you know that I was-?"
"-My ears are cool."
"Oh.." The woman chuckled. "I'm... actually writing a letter to Fuyumi right now."
"Awwwwe, well good for you! She needs to know how her momma's doing!" Elbowing her playfully.
"Hmhmhm.. Thanks for giving me the confidence to do this, by the way. I've been wrestling with myself for years about whether or not I should try to contact them."
"It's my pleasure, honestly!"
"Is it alright if I write about you in here?" Your face paled after she asked. No doubt the Todoroki family would get suspicious about something like that: how you of all people know so much about their personal lives.
"Um... Maybe not." You set the inkless pen down, nervously blushing as your head hung low. "...I'm not sure your kids would want to hear about me just yet.. me being a villain and all. They kinda all already turned the cold shoulder on me... I don't want to make them worry when they hear about how we've become friends. No doubt that would make them a little uneasy."
"...Ah. I see.. I'll just have to save talking about you for another time. ... Oh, and by the way... Why do you never talk about your problems while in the group? We're all willing to listen and eager to help however we can."
"It's..." You hissed in through your teeth, inhaling sharply. "To be honest, it's because a lot of you are mothers, and, well, I don't want to make you all uncomfortable by talking about my mom related problems."
"Hm... Well, you don't have to worry about that. I'm a mom, so why don't you practice sharing on me? I'm all ears."
"That's...very nice of you.. but you're the one I'm trying to offend the least."
"Oh..? How come?"
"Well my.... Oh, frick it. My mother tried to kill me when I was little... Afterward, I stumbled my way into villainy, until I made one mistake after another and wound up abandoned by everyone... Then... I blinded myself by pouring boiling water on my face." You lowly mumbled that last part. Still, the woman gasped. "You've been keeping things from the others too, specifically about Shoto... I'm sorry, but I know the truth." Hunching so your face wasn't far from your art, "I know more than I should, and for that I apologize." How terrifying it was to be so close to someone who was once in the same position as your mother. Someone brought to the edge of insanity and turned on their child, scarring them for life because of it... Unlike Shoto's.. your scars took a lot longer to settle in. But now you were forced to face them every day... Every day you opened your eyes but failed to see through them.
You laid your forehead down in the clay, squishing your art. With a shuttering breath, "..I don't know why I thought I could get away with it all. Maybe I was too numb to the consequences? Because I already thought I had nothing left to lose?... Well, here I am really at rock bottom." Your lip quivered, your whole body fighting the coming cry. "And yet still I know I don't deserve this.. I deserve far worse than this. I deserve Hell and more!" You froze when a gentle hand was placed on your back. She scratched your back carefully.
"I think you and I are in the same boat..." She cooed, tears already in her eyes from thinking over the similarities. "But... I think we should learn to forgive ourselves. That's what you've been telling me, hasn't it?"
"But ho-ow.. How can I possibly forgive myself??"
"The same way you forgive other people. By loving them more than you hate them.. Much more."
Your tightly clasped eyes opened more. You slid your arms off of the desk, lifting your head a little so your face could feel the sunlight. "...Kay.. Now how do I love myself?"