Buzz. A message from Midoriya:
"Villain attack downtown—huge one. Pro heroes everywhere. Come see?"
Hikari groaned, tossing off her blanket as golden light poured in through the window. "Of course, he's chasing villains before breakfast…"
She stretched and sat up, brushing a hand through her long hair. The sunlight made the tips glow, and for a moment, the warmth almost made her forget it was another day of school. Almost. Her eyes flicked to the All Might poster on her wall—and just as quickly, she flipped it over.
She got dressed slowly, tying her boots with practiced ease as her phone buzzed again.
"Crap—I forgot to wake you up! I ran straight to the fight without thinking," Midoriya said, his voice full of nerves and excitement.
Hikari laughed softly. She could practically see him on the other end of the call, scribbling notes, wide-eyed with admiration for every hero on the scene.
"Midoriya, don't get too close. I'm not covering for you if you're late again."
"Got it! But you're still walking with me, right?"
"Nope. Bakugo's on his way. Text me when you get to school."
She ended the call, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. Just as she stepped outside, she spotted Bakugo waiting at the gate, arms crossed, smirk ready.
Hikari rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, looping her arm through his.
"Try not to blow anything up on the way there, Ka-Chan."
At Aldera Junior High, Bakugo was already in rare form.
"Listen up! I'm gonna crush every one of you losers—except Hikari, of course. She's the only one who could beat me in a fair fight. We're gonna be the ultimate team at UA High!"
Their teacher didn't even look up from the paperwork.
"Bakugo, you might want to know that Hikari hasn't applied to UA High. She's received offers from several other prestigious schools."
Bakugo's smirk dropped. For a second, he looked like a boy who wasn't used to hearing 'no' from her.
"What?! You haven't even applied yet?"
His voice cracked with disbelief and just the slightest note of betrayal.
"Don't give me that look," Hikari said, leveling a hard stare at him.
"Midoriya and I were a team before you even showed up. I'm not going anywhere he can't follow."
Midoriya's eyes went wide.
"I already applied! I—I believe in myself!"
The room burst into laughter.
"Yeah, right! Someone without a Quirk at UA?"
"Deku, the only reason they'd let you in is pity. You won't survive the entrance exam!"
Even Bakugo's laugh joined in, sharp and loud.
That's when everything shifted.
The air began to thicken. A shadowy mist started rising—slow and ominous.
"Shut up!" Hikari snapped.
Gas—thick and paralyzing—coiled from her like a serpent. It slithered between desks and legs, setting off a chorus of startled gasps.
"You think it's funny to mock someone for trying their hardest?!"
Bakugo raised his hands.
"Whoa, calm down, Hikari! You can't just—"
But it was to late. She was already at the point where nothing is going to calm her down. Well almost nothing that is.
Only Midoriya stood untouched.
"Hikari, please! Don't! I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Her eyes locked on his. For a moment, everything stilled. The gas began to fade.
"I—just can't let them talk about you like that," she whispered.
Midoriya touched her hand gently.
"You scared me a little, Kari..."
Her breath caught.
"I scared myself too."
The class was recovering—gasping, blinking in shock. But Hikari wasn't finished.
She turned to Bakugo.
"Paralyzing you is too easy. Let's try gravity."
She snapped her fingers.
Bakugo's feet left the floor.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
He flailed midair, furious and humiliated. The class either backed away or laughed nervously.
"Why don't you experience some real pressure for once?"
"HIKARI! My office. NOW."
With a sigh, she dropped him. He landed hard.
"This isn't over," Bakugo growled.
She smirked and walked out.
"You need to understand the consequences," her teacher said in his office.
"They were bullying Midoriya. That doesn't count for something?"
"It does. But there are better ways. You could've talked to them."
"Please," she scoffed. "If I wanted to, I could call my dad and have this erased. But I won't. He's busy."
"You have to control your powers. You're not helping anyone if you lose yourself every time you get mad."
"I'll try," she said softly. "But next time, I won't hold back."
Later, Hikari walked past the classroom and froze.
"Stop hanging out with Hikari. She doesn't need a Quirkless loser like you. She just pities you."
Bakugo's words cut deep.
Midoriya stood tall despite it.
"I won't stop being her friend. That's what it means to be one."
Bakugo knocked him down and stormed off.
Hikari stepped in and helped Midoriya up, quietly healing him.
"You need to work on dodging, Deku. I won't always be here to fix you."
They walked to the fountain together. His notebook floated, burned, and ruined.
Her phone buzzed: a message from Bakugo demanding she come to the arcade.
She texted back:
"I'd rather stay home than deal with you or your ego."
Another buzz lit the screen.
"Whatever."