Chapter 28: Finishing up internships
It was well past midnight and Hosu city was draped in the distilled silence of night. At the hospital, the usual bustle had quieted to a mere murmur of occasional footsteps echoing down the empty corridors. The nurses, engrossed in their duties at the nursing station, remained oblivious to the figure gliding stealthily through the shadows.
Silent as a wraith, the intruder slipped through the labyrinthine hallways, navigating with practiced ease. Passing by room after room, they finally halted at the entrance of a particular room. With cautious precision, they turned the handle, easing the door open without a sound. Inside, a lone figure lay in peaceful slumber, oblivious to the presence that now approached.
The patient, wrapped in bandages, appeared serene despite the pain they must have endured. The soft glow from the monitors cast gentle hues across their form, illuminating the room in a subdued ambience. As the intruder drew nearer, their eyes scanned over the patient's still form, noting the tranquil expression softened, probably by the pain medication administered.
A hand, steady and deliberate, extended over the patient's body. A deep breath was drawn, the intruder focusing intently on their task. In that moment, the room that had been shrouded in darkness was suffused with a faint, ethereal glow. For ten minutes, the soft radiance enveloped the patient, its purpose obscured but unmistakable in its intent. As the glow faded back into the comforting embrace of darkness, the intruder withdrew, moving swiftly and silently to depart unnoticed. However, their departure did not go entirely unnoticed.
"W-wha…hmmm," a voice stirred from the bed, the patient roused from their medicated slumber. Whether it was the sensation of a presence or a subconscious awareness, their eyes fluttered open. In the dim light filtering through the window, they caught a glimpse of a retreating figure clad in dark clothing, disappearing into the shadows.
Momentarily perplexed, the patient hesitated, unsure if they had dreamt the encounter. Yet, feeling a newfound sense of calm and relief coursing through their body, they settled back into the pillows with a sigh. Whatever had transpired, they knew one thing for certain: tonight, they would rest peacefully.
(-)
The morning of the final day of internships had come, and everyone was saying their goodbyes to the heroes that took them in. Izuku Midoriya opened the door to the old apartment building and walked down the steps, a smile on his face as he made it to the sidewalk. "Well, it is time for me to head out now, sir." he said up to the elderly man standing there.
"I'm not gonna say it has been smooth sailing, but you are pretty good, kid." Gran Torino chuckled out. "I haven't moved so much in quite some time."
"I appreciate what you did for me, sir," Midoriya gave a bow to the gray haired pro. "I'll thank All Might for your training."
"Bah, don't need to sweat it. I am sure my old student will appreciate that I managed to get you a little bit further in your mastery," the man shrugged, before leaning in to the space of the green haired kid, "Just make sure to not get yourself in to too much trouble, or I will personally whoop your danger prone ass!" the man glared, as he scolded him.
"Um…um, I-I will try…at least," Izuku stammered, struggling to look the man in the eyes, knowing fully well that he could make such a promise.
Torino sighed, knowing fully well that the kid before him was beyond talking out of. "Anyhow , just keep doing what you're doing…" the man smirked now smirked, "…and with who you're doing it with. If you know what I am getting at."
That garnered a rising blush from the green haired kid, at the mild innuendo, "W-what are you t-talking about?!"
The man chuckled at the obliviousness of the boy. As the teen began walking away, Gran Torino called out one last time. "Hey, by the way… Who are you again?"
"What?!" Midoriya gasped at the bland look on the heroes face. "I-I'm Mid-"
Izuku's eyes widened slightly when he finally realized what he was asking, his face becoming more stern. "I'm Evergreen."
Grinning at the answer, Gran Torino turned and went back inside, not needing to say anymore to the teen. Once the doors closed, the grin on the man faltered as he would need to make a call soon.
-Genius Hero Agency-
"The incident in Hosu City this week…" Best Jeanist looked over at his multiple Sidekicks with serious eyes. "It certainly worries me. Yes, it worries me quite a bit." He continued to comb a shaking Bakugo's hair, the explosive blonde suppressing a growl at the waste of time coming here had been. "People are so easily distracted by big incidents like these. But it's now, more than ever, that Heroes need to remain calm and composed. Because chaos is often so good at drawing out the slumbering brutality in people's hearts." He finished combing Bakugo's hair into a tamed part, so very different from the ash-blonde's normal spiky hair. "As such, we'll continue our usual operations today, just as always. Let our jeans keep our bodies and minds bound upright."
"Sure! Best Jeanist!" The group of Sidekicks, all in fact wearing jeans of some types, chorused back their agreement.
'I came to the wrong place!' Bakugo's combed hair suddenly poofed out into its normal spikes as his irritation grew. He didn't even care for jeans, but had been forced to wear them as an intern of Best Jeanist's Agency.
-Fat Gum's Agency-
Today was their final sparring session, and it was against another one of Fat Gum's sidekicks. Momo and Kirishima stood side by side in the battle room, awaiting what was to come next. Fat Gum observed from a distance, his expression calm yet attentive as he prepared to witness their progress in action.
"All right, you two," Fat Gum's voice resonated across the training ground. "Remember what we've practiced so far this week. Stay focused and support each other."
Kirishima nodded firmly, flexing his hardened fists. "We're ready for this, Momo!"
Momo adjusted her goggles, her mind racing through strategies. "Let's show her what we're made of, Kirishima!"
Fat Gum stepped forward, his gaze shifting between his interns and the newcomer. "Today, you'll face Hana Ishikawa, one of my sidekicks. Her Quirk, Molecular Resilience, allows her to manipulate her body's density at will. This makes her incredibly adaptable in combat, capable of withstanding powerful attacks and maneuvering swiftly. A seemingly perfect matchup for your final battle." The woman stood at medium height with a lithe, athletic build. Her hair was a vibrant crimson, often tied back in a practical ponytail to keep it out of her face during combat. Her hero costume was designed for flexibility and mobility, with reinforced panels that adapted to her changing density and a color scheme that reflected her vibrant personality.
Hana nodded in acknowledgment, her expression focused yet approachable. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do." With that, everyone assumed their fighting stances.
"Begin!" Fat Gum's command marked the start of their challenge.
Kirishima wasted no time, charging forward with his hardened arms, aiming a powerful punch at Hana. She reacted swiftly, adjusting her density to increase resilience. Kirishima's blow landed with a resounding thud, but Hana absorbed the impact with ease, her body adapting seamlessly.
Fat Gum's voice echoed across the field, analyzing their movements. "Good initial strike, Kirishima. Hana, maintain your focus."
"Nice try, kid," she knocked Kirishima back just in time. Momo swiftly threw a few canisters she had created, which exploded to produce a smoke screen, obscuring the older woman's field of vision. "Huh, very clever taking away my sight." Hana adjusted her density again, becoming lighter and quickly evading an incoming staff swing from the side.
"But not clever enough." Changing her density to become much heavier, she launched a punch towards Momo, who quickly dodged. "Kirishima, go!"
"Right!" With that, Kirishima pressed on, launching punch after punch, his attacks relentless as he aimed to overwhelm Hana's defenses. "Kirishima, keep up the pressure!" Momo shouted, her eyes darting between her creations and Hana's movements.
Hana's strategy evolved as the battle progressed. She alternated between increasing her density to match Kirishima's strength and decreasing it to enhance her speed and agility, keeping Momo and Kirishima on their toes.
Fat Gum watched attentively, his presence grounding them in the heat of battle. "Momo, adjust your tactics based on her responses. Kirishima, look for openings!"
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as the trio engaged in intense combat. Kirishima's determination remained unwavering, fueled by Momo's tactical support. Together, they coordinated attacks and strategies, each move a testament to their growth under Fat Gum's mentorship.
Despite their coordinated efforts, Hana's resilience and adaptability began to shift the tide. With precise timing and calculated maneuvers, she exploited a momentary lapse in Kirishima's defense, delivering a decisive blow that sent him staggering back.
"GAH!" Kirishima choked out. Momo rushed to Kirishima's side, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Are you okay?"
Hana approached them, her demeanor composed yet acknowledging. "You're strong," she remarked, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of respect. "But you're predictable. You need to vary your attacks more."
Fat Gum approached calmly, his voice a steady anchor amidst the intensity. "Great spar, both of you. Kirishima, your persistence is commendable. And Momo, your creativity and quirk speed have been exceptional."
Kirishima pushed himself upright, wiping sweat from his brow. "We couldn't win..."
Momo nodded, her gaze fixed on Hana with newfound respect. "But we've learned so much from this."
Hana nodded in agreement, her eyes flickering with a hint of a smile. "Every battle is a chance to grow stronger. You both have potential."
"We'll keep getting stronger," Kirishima declared, his resolve unshaken.
Momo looked to Fat Gum, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you for guiding us through this, Fat Gum."
Fat Gum smiled warmly, a sense of pride radiating from him. "You're both on the right path. Keep pushing yourselves, and you'll achieve greatness."
After exchanging nods with Hana and bidding farewell to Fat Gum, Momo and Kirishima left the training ground, their bodies weary but spirits high. As they walked towards the exit, Kirishima clapped Momo on the shoulder with a grin. "We did pretty good out there, huh?"
Momo smiled back, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, I do believe we worked hard there. And no doubt that our efforts will show when we get back to school," her enthusiasm was palpable.
-Hosu Hospital, Visitors Lounge-
Blossom and Buttercup sat side by side in the quiet visitors' lounge of Hosu Hospital, the sterile scent of disinfectant lingering faintly in the air. The area was empty, which was good as they needed some privacy. They huddled around Blossom's smartphone, the screen displaying a video call with Bubbles. The hospital lounge, though sparsely decorated with minimalistic furniture, provided a serene atmosphere for their conversation.
"I still can't believe that you fought HIM by yourself!"Bubbles exclaimed, fear and worry in her voice.
"Like I said before, you hogged all the fun, fearless leader," Buttercup said with a pout. Blossom responded with a groan and eye roll.
A couple of days had passed since the Stain/HIM incident, and the girls were still uneasy. Blossom had been instructed by the authorities not to mention this to the general public, but she felt it was too significant to keep from her sisters.
"I wouldn't call that experience 'fun,' now would I?" she said, casting a glare at her middle sister. Buttercup just shrugged.
Blossom sighed, "Bubbles, it was... intense," she began, her voice reflecting the weight of recent events. "Honestly, I did not expect HIM to show up, much less control an innocent person's—"
"Innocent my ass! Doesn't the name 'Hero Killer Stain' mean anything to you, red? I don't think he got that name from anything innocent," Buttercup interjected firmly.
"I know, Buttercup. But let's not forget what I told you guys about what happened after HIM left Stain alone," Blossom said.
"I thought you said you kicked HIM out of the guy's body," Bubbles asked, confused by her words.
Blossom shook her head, "No, Bubbles. I basically weakened the guy's body from the damage I and our classmates inflicted. You know HIM; it would take a lot more firepower or an embarrassing defeat before he concedes a fight," she explained.
"I could have handled the situation better if I wasn't so surprised. The way it played out, I was glad I was exhausted before I could have really let loose," Blossom sighed, concerned about what might come next.
"Don't worry, Blossom. At least you managed to handle the situation by yourself," Bubbles said, her words comforting.
"Yeah, yeah, you kicked his ass. Now what were you going to say about 'Mr. Innocent'?" Buttercup interjected.
"Oh yes. It was strange. After the battle, I was out like a light, but I woke up to HIM's energy in the air. When I came to, it was as if the guy had gone mad… like he had lost his mind. And there's a certain memory I can't recall, which worries me," Blossom's tone was somber.
"Seems like Stain made a deal with the literal devil," Buttercup joked, trying to ease her own worry.
"Guys… I have a bad feeling that HIM might try something like this again," Bubbles added fearfully.
"You and I both, Bubs. Didn't the freak say he never pulls the same trick twice, or some junk?" Buttercup said.
"But that's the thing. We don't even know what he is planning next or if HIM, Stain, and that Shigaraki from the USJ are working together. It seems like a recipe for trouble, for both us and this world," Blossom said, the atmosphere in the room growing cold and tense.
"I say we find his red ass and—"
"And what? Need I remind you, Buttercup, that in this world, we are not the only superheroes, and it is bigger and more complicated with all these laws and rules? We can't even locate HIM, since he could have changed his appearance and he is tricky. Not going to reveal himself, unless he wants to," Blossom said.
"I wonder why he won't just fight us. Why is he stalling?" Bubbles asked curiously.
"I don't know, but I guess we will just have to wait and see what comes next," Blossom calmly said.
There was a silent understanding before Bubbles spoke up, "Sorry, guys, I will have to go. Gang Orca has me on patrol and then I will need to hurry and get a train back by Sunday, before school. I will hopefully see Koda on the way back," Bubbles said apologetically.
Blossom and Buttercup glanced at each other before they turned their attention back to the phone, "It's okay, Bubbles. We'll see each other tomorrow when you get off the train station," Blossom reassured her.
"Yeah, then you can tell us more about how you totally decked one of these stupid villains. Give our best to the friendly giant," Buttercup said.
Bubbles smiled at that, "Aww, thanks guys. I will see you tomorrow when I arrive. Miss you, bye," they all gave a round of waves and 'goodbyes' before the connection cut. Putting the phone away, Blossom rested her tired self.
Buttercup quirked her eyebrow at the scene, "Still reeling from the punishment the Ninja guy gave you?"
Blossom groaned, sliding a hand through her hair. "He said he wasn't unhappy with me saving my classmates, but he still gave me the task of cleaning the dojos from top to bottom. Without using my powers," she sighed. "Honestly, having three of them was a pain."
Buttercup tried miserably not to look amused. "Ha, ha, yeah, it's very funny," Blossom sarcastically said. There was a moment of silence before Blossom broke it, "Buttercup…?"
"What's up, Red?"
"Do you… have any idea what HIM could be planning?"
"Heck if I know what that bastard is thinking," Buttercup said, crossing her arms. "What I do know is that he must be very dumb to go against us. We're the Powerpuff Girls, and we'll find that clown-faced, tutu-wearing creep and whoop his—"
"Okay, okay. I get it, Buttercup," Blossom let out a good laugh, feeling better after her sister's somewhat of a pep-talk. Buttercup glanced at her and showed a small smile at Blossom's less stressed demeanor. But before she could relax...
Suddenly, Recovery Girl's voice echoed through the lounge, startling the two girls. "There you are, Buttercup! I've been looking all over for you. We're not done, missy. After that little run you did last time, I'm not finished giving you your punishment!"
Buttercup groaned, clearly not wanting to deal with more consequences. She looked over at Blossom, silently pleading for help. Blossom, however, stared back at Buttercup with a wicked grin, mouthing out the words, "Good luck," much to Buttercup's annoyance.
As Buttercup was dragged away by Recovery Girl, complaining all the while, Blossom returned to taking a well-deserved break. A certain thought flashed through her mind, 'Karma is good.'
-U.A. Faculty Lounge-
"Then there's this League of Villains." Gran Torino didn't bother responding to his old student's words. "The media is already making connections, whether they're true or not, so this League is going to go from a gang of upstarts that attacked U.A. and got beaten, to an organization with something to say." He cleared his throat quietly. "In other words, they're the perfect magnet. The evil of individual thugs isn't worth much, but when it's all united under a single will…it'll become a hundred times more dangerous."
"I know…" Toshinori admitted as his free hand tightened into a fist.
"If this situation was what they were gunning for from the start, then their head honcho isn't a slouch." Gran Torino's eyes narrowed as he continued. "Steadily removing their obstacles, manipulating the whole situation from the shadows, making sure everything goes according to their plan. That way of doing things…" He took a deep breath. "Shimura was my friend, your predecessor as the holder of One for All. And the man that killed her, the one that tore that hole in your gut…I think we both know that All for One is behind this."
"Yes…" Toshinori admitted with a grimace, feeling an ache from his injury. "To think he somehow survived after those wounds…I didn't want to believe it."
"That kid that you've chosen." Gran Torino spoke softer this time. "You need to make sure that you sit down and tell them everything. About you, about One for All, and especially about All for One."
"I know…" Toshinori accepted that with a heavy sigh. Even though such deep breaths or exhalations irritated his damaged respiratory system.
"One more thing, Toshinori…when I faced Stain, there was something else strange about him…" there was a greater air of unease and Toshinori could sense it, "I did say that he had an energy that was filled with so much hate and danger but there was also something else in him, in his eyes. It was like chaos and madness," with that, the call ended and many thoughts were circling the number one hero's mind.
"Chaos? What does he mean and does it really involve…him?"
Chapter 29: Bittersweet reunions?
The sound of train tracks reverberated in the air of the train car, a rhythmic clattering that seemed to pulse through the very walls of the compartment. Each jolt and vibration was absorbed by the cushioned seats, which gently rocked in time with the motion.
In the midst of this ambient cacophony, Bubbles was sitting on one of the seats, fully dressed in her school uniform, with her hero suitcase beside her legs. She had wrapped up her internship with Gang Orca and was heading home, taking the route that fortunately, was passing through Hosu. She took the opportunity to communicate with her dear friend Kouda, while she waited.
I am still a bit sad that you got to meet the Wild Wild Pussycats and I didn't. I read about them and they seem cool, granted, I thought they were actually cat heroes -_-'
Bubbles kind of felt like an idiot for thinking that at first. When she was told about the whole internship week, she was chatting with Kouda and when he told her of his choice, she got super giddy about the thought of more animal superheroes in this world. Besides Nezu. It was after Kouda calmly, and awkwardly told her that they were in fact humans dressed in cat themed hero attire. Safe to say that it was a laugh shared between them.
PING
Kouda: It was actually really cool. I was nervous at first, but I enjoyed their company, especially the one I told you about! Who can speak to you through telepathy.
Bubbles could not help but smile at her friend's text. She could almost feel the excitement coming through the phone and that made her glad to see he was getting out there.
PING
Kouda: I hope your internship was also great? You texted me about it some time back, but I understood that you were busy.
Kouda: Are you back home yet? What about your sisters, have you met up with them already?
She read it and was about to respond, when the train made a stop and the train's door opened wide. Two distinct voices were making their way in to the cart.
"…do keep an eye out for Bubbles. Her text said that she would take this train, at this time," Blossom said to Buttercup, as they scanned to slightly packed cart. "Oh, there she is," Buttercup pointed out. They quickly spot their blonde pigtailed wearing sister, waving them over with a bright smile.
They made their way over to the empty seats available from her. "Hey girls," she cheerily greeted.
"Good morning Bubbles," Blossom greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Bubs," Buttercup then tossed over a brown paper bag, that she walked in with, to the blonde sister. "We got you some grab to munch on. Knowing your 'little' appetite and all," she explained with a little smirk.
Bubbles graciously caught the bag, then stuck her tongue out to her second oldest sister. "Thanks, guys," she opened it to find what looks to be two chicken salad sandwiches, a juice box and a blueberry muffin.
"No problem Bubbles. Now, if you two won't mind, I would like to catch a little nap, before we arrive," she said with a small yawn and rest her head on the seat head behind her.
"Whatever, get your beauty sleep," Buttercup said, pulling out her phone to keep herself distracted.
Bubbles took a moment from her food to ask, "Buttercup, I thought that you would have gone with Recovery Girl, or at the very least, been home by now," curious as to why she was here instead.
"Well, Blossom had already chalked up her 'ninja' training with her hero mentor and came over, so Granny, so graciously kicked me to the curb, while she handles whatever medical stuff is at the hospital. Honestly, I am just glad that I am away from that stuffy place," she said with a groan.
"I see," Bubbles nodded, and proceeded to continue eating her food. The rest of the journey was spent in silence, only the occasional questions, here and there but nothing more.
It was Saturday morning at 11:57 a.m., and Mustufa City's train station was bathed in a gentle, golden light. The sun hung high in a sky dotted with wisps of clouds, casting a warm, pleasant glow over the bustling platform. The air was crisp but not cold, with a hint of summer warmth still lingering from the previous day.
Midnight sat on a bench near the tracks, her civilian outfit a stark contrast to her usual hero costume. She wore black-blue skinny jeans and a red, white T-shirt that clung comfortably to her frame and navy blue and black sneakers. Her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she sported a pair of reading glasses, giving her a more relaxed, unassuming look. She checked her phone for the umpteenth time, her fingers tapping impatiently as she glanced at the screen.
'I hope the girls will be here on time,' she thought, a small frown of concern tugging at her lips. Her usual composed demeanor was tinged with a touch of anxiety as she scanned the arriving passengers, hoping for the familiar faces.
As the clock ticked closer to 12:00 noon, the sound of the approaching train grew louder. Midnight's gaze sharpened with anticipation, and she stood up, her eyes fixed on the tracks. The train rumbled into the station with a deep, resonant sound, coming to a smooth stop before her.
The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and Midnight's heart skipped a beat as she saw the girls stepping out of the train. She gave a soft, relieved 'oh' and took a step forward, eager to welcome the girls back. Coming down from the train were her temporary wards, carrying their suitcases, as they made their way off the platform.
The girls quickly notice their guardian approaching them, surprisingly in normal clothes. They chalk it all up to wanting picking to pick them up. "Hello girls, welcome," Nemuri said with a small smile.
"Hello, Miss Nemuri. Glad to be back," Blossom responded. "Not to sound rude, Miss but, what are you doing here? We thought you would be patrolling?"
"Well, I am going back to work on Monday, such as you will be back at school…" she responded.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Buttercup groaned out.
"I will have to remind you, little missy," Midnight said with a teasing smirk, "Well, seeing as we all had a lot to talk about, I thought it be best to all go home together and rest," she concluded.
"SHE DID IT!" Buttercup and Bubbles instinctually point at their red headed leader, much to her shock and annoyance. De Ja Vu anyone?
Midnight just chuckles at that. "Let's head home, I had prepared something to eat when we get back," she said.
"Alright!" Buttercup fist pumped in the air in excitement.
"Thank you, Miss Nemuri," Bubbles and Blossom thanked the woman, with the former doing so with a warm hug. Nemuri was use to the blonde girl's affections and returned it.
"It's quite alright, dear," with that said, they all leave.
-Hosu Hospital-
Back at Hosu Hospital, Recovery Girl remained on the premises long after her intern had left for the day. Her dedication to her work had her lingering to handle a few final check-ins and assist with rounds in the wards. While many of her colleagues preferred treating children, she found working with older patients, more straightforward and, in her opinion, less of a hassle.
She was meticulously reviewing the last-minute details of the patient reports, her seasoned eyes scanning each document with practiced efficiency. Despite the late hour, she was determined to complete her tasks before heading home, mindful of her responsibilities for the upcoming school day and the looming paperwork she needed to address for her intern.
"Recovery Girl!" her focus was abruptly interrupted when one of the staff nurses called out her name in an urgent tone. Startled, she looked up from her paperwork, her curiosity piqued by the urgency in the nurse's voice.
"Yes, Nurse, what is the problem?" she asked, her voice calm but alert.
"Doctor, we need you in room 304, immediately. It concerns a patient who was presumed to be in critical care," the nurse explained, her urgency palpable.
The word "presumed" caught Recovery Girl's attention, but she didn't dwell on it. She left her desk before swiftly following behind the nurse, her mind racing with concern as she navigated the hospital corridors.
She was drawing close to her destination, "The patient is through here, Miss Recovery Girl," the nurse walked away, leaving the youthful hero to her duties.
In front of the door, it was muffled with voices that she did not recognize. As Recovery Girl reached for the door knob, she entered and was met with a cacophony of worried voices and an unexpected sight: Tensei Iida, now upright and walking, even if a little unbalanced. The room was filled with concerned individuals, including a student she recognized.
Relief and confusion mingled in her thoughts as she stepped inside, taking in the scene before her. The transformation of Iida from a critical state to stable and walking on his own two feet; was both bewildering and shocking.
Tensei Iida's family who had come for a visit, filled the room, their emotions a whirlwind of joy, concern, and confusion. His mother, her eyes glistening with tears of overwhelming happiness, was barely able to contain her emotions as she looked at her eldest son with such happiness; able to walk and not in so much pain. She tried to stifle her sobs, but they continually escaped her, turning into soft, choked cries as she took in the sight of her son walking, albeit a bit unsteadily.
His father, visibly elated, was peppering the hospital staff with questions. His face was flushed with a mix of joy and anxiety as he asked, "Who performed this miracle? How is this possible? What exactly happened? Is my son, finally able to walk now?" His hands fidgeted nervously, clutching at his wife's arm in an attempt to comfort her while seeking answers.
Standing slightly apart was Tenya Iida, his face a mask of shock and regret. The sight of his brother, moving on his own, seemed to both astonish and guilt him. He could barely bring himself to meet Tensei's eyes, his own averted in a mix of awe and self-reproach. His hands were clenched at his sides, his posture rigid as he tried to process the miracle unfolding before him.
Recovery Girl, her professional demeanor unwavering despite the initial shock, took control of the situation. Her voice cut through the chaos with practiced authority.
"What on earth is going on here?" she demanded, her tone a blend of annoyance and professionalism that brought the raised voices to an abrupt halt. Her gaze swept over the scene, assessing the situation with keen eyes.
Before the nurse on call could respond, Tensei Iida made his way unsteadily across the room to Recovery Girl. The effort it took for him to walk over was remarkable in itself, but what followed was even more unexpected. With a deep bow, Tensei lowered his head and addressed Recovery Girl with heartfelt gratitude.
"I cannot begin to show my utmost gratitude for this blessing! Thank you, Recovery Girl," he said, his voice thick with emotion. The sight of him bowing so deeply, especially after having just started walking again, was both surprising and poignant. Recovery Girl maintained her professional composure, though the gesture was undeniably moving.
"Y-yes, well, please sit down, while I look over you further," he quickly dismissed the bow, her focus shifting to the significant development at hand. "It's impressive that you're able to stand and walk already. I am equally intrigued about what could have brought this on," she remarked, her tone firm yet encouraging. She turned to the nurse in the room, "Nurse, please explain," she requested of her.
She nodded, "Y-yes, as I had already explained to the family, when I was tending to Mr Iida's injuries, a few days back, he appeared to be healing nicely, but he was deemed paralyzed from the waist down. I have no prior knowledge of his advanced healing regime or the person who had done it," she properly explained, and Recovery Girl did not take long to properly examine the man. Or to have an idea of who actually did it.
"Well, it is too soon to fully say, not without further testing and a thorough examination…" Recovery Girl took a sigh, "…but Tensei Iida looks to be no longer paralyzed, though I would-" she was cut off before she could say more.
The reaction was immediate. Tensei's mother let out a loud cry of joy, her tears flowing freely as she embraced her husband, who was now actively comforting her; as well as holding back his own joyful tears. The thought of their son being able to stand and walk was too much for them to handle without breaking down.
Tenya remained in his spot, his expression a conflicted mix of awe, great joy, and guilt. He watched his brother from the corner of his eye, with a frozen look, unable to fully engage with the unfolding scene.
Tensei, still struggling to hold back the fresh new tears, and even more so to talk, "I-I can…w-walk?" he asked, his voice trembling with dis and astonishment and belief. "I saw s-someone…a few nights ago," that caught the youthful hero's ears as well as the rest of the others.
Recovery Girl hummed thoughtfully, gesturing him to continue, "It was dark…a-and I thought I was just drowsy from the medication…but I felt the sensation of a light shone on me, the energy pouring in to me was strangely warm and comforting and then I caught a glimpse of a white clothing. But I don't know who they were or why they did this…" he then looked up, he face stained with tears, "but I will forever be grateful to them," he flashed a big tear stained smile.
His voice finally broke, and he choked back tears, clearly moved by the turn of events. "I am so glad, my family were here to see it."
Recovery Girl nodded, her face thoughtful as she absorbed the details of Tensei's account. The room was filled with a mix of relief, joy, and an undercurrent of residual tension as the family continued to grapple with the miracle that had occurred.
"Recovery Girl, please. We must speak with the hero at this hospital who did this wonderful act," it was the husband who spoke up, trying his best to not crack his voice on speaking.
"Yes, yes, let us discuss everything else outside," from the corner of her eye, she could see a person who needed to take his own medicine as well, "Nurse, please inform the doctor tending to Tensei's case, that his patient will need a thorough neuromuscular examination. If the results are variable with my own, then he can take it from there," the nurse nodded and left. "The parents and I will have a short chat. I leave you here with your brother, while we are gone," the youthful hero announced, not giving Tenya enough time to find a way out.
The room remained a heavy silence, broken only by the subdued sounds of Tensei's breathing and Tenya's shuffling. It was as though the world had narrowed to just the two of them, the clamor of the outside and the voices of the other people fading into the background.
"Are you not happy that I am all right?" Tensei's voice, cut through the heavy silence in the room.
Tenya's eyes shot up, wide with shock. He stammered, trying to find his voice amidst the overwhelming rush of emotions. "T-Tensei…I-I…"
"Because you haven't said a single word to me since you arrived and saw me walk. Actually, it was after I started walking, is when you completely closed away from me. So, tell me…" Tensei's eyes turned to his brother, filled with pain and concern, bore into Tenya's own, "…are you okay?"
Tenya's composure shattered. He sank to the floor, shaking uncontrollably, his voice breaking with every word. "I…I am happy, brother. More than I can even say. But I… I can't even look at you. I don't feel worthy to…"
Tensei's brow furrowed, confusion replacing the initial hurt in his expression. "What are you talking about?"
Tears started to stream down Tenya's face as he struggled to get his words out, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. "I tried to get revenge on the Hero Killer, for what he did to you. I was so focused on that… I didn't even notice he was about to kill another hero," it was like a raging storm came out, when Iida said that, "I… I was so consumed by my anger that I didn't see the danger around me. My classmates had to come in time to save me. If they hadn't… if they hadn't… I could have… I might have…"
The words tumbled out of him, his sobs growing louder, each breath a gasp for air as he wrestled with his remorse. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Tensei's eyes were filled with a fierce, emotional storm. He shook his head in disbelief. "You idiot…"
The cruel words cut Tenya deeper than any physical blow ever could. Before he could react, a powerful punch landed squarely in his stomach. The impact left him gasping, clutching his midsection as he struggled to catch his breath.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Tensei's voice was a roar of frustration, his fists trembling with anger. "You tried to take down the Hero Killer alone? What were you doing?!"
Tenya could barely speak through his pain, looking away, his face flushed with shame. "I… I was angry. I felt like I had to do something for you. If I didn't…"
"You almost got yourself killed!" Tensei's voice cracked, his fury interlaced with raw emotion. "And worse, you put your friends in danger too! I told you to stay away from that man!"
"I know my mistake, brother! I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" Tenya's voice was a desperate plea, his eyes squeezed shut as he braced for another blow. But instead of another punch, he felt a strong grip on his arm.
Tensei pulled Tenya into a tight embrace, his own body trembling with suppressed emotion. "You stupid…" Tensei's voice was strained, barely above a whisper. "Don't you ever scare me like that again. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you. I'd be lost without you."
The sincerity and anguish in Tensei's words broke Tenya further. His tears flowed freely now, his body wracked with sobs as he clung to his brother. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to…"
Tensei held him tighter, his own tears falling as he murmured into Tenya's hair, "You're my brother. I need you to be safe. I can't… I can't bear the thought of losing you. Please, just promise me you won't do something like that again."
"I promise," Tenya choked out between sobs, his voice barely audible. "I promise."
They stayed like that for a long while, enveloped in each other's warmth, the tears and anguish slowly giving way to a fragile sense of relief. Tenya was still guilt-ridden, but having his brother alive and well, before him. It made his past choices, appear even more foolish now.
After nearly an hour, Recovery Girl had managed to divert the parents' questions and requests to see and thank the hospital staff member who had healed their son. It was only after they finally complied (the family could be quite stubborn) that they left, with Tenya as well. Recovery Girl couldn't help but notice the boy's more relaxed demeanor and his prominent, red, puffy eyes.
After dealing with the Iida family, Recovery Girl set off to make a phone call.
The phone rang twice before the person on the other end finally picked up. "Chiyo, good afternoon. I hope there's no reason for concern?" Nezu asked.
"Just wanted to let you be the first to hear the news before it gets out tomorrow," she said calmly, knowing full well that the chimera would have a field day. She understood that the principal had taken an interest in these three girls; she didn't know why, only that they seemed quite unique. And they were, in more ways than one.
"I see…"
-Sunday afternoon, at Midnight's house-
The girls were all gathered in Blossom's room, working on their assignments and studying together. Blossom sat at her desk, her hair down, wearing a white T-shirt with a red heart on it, pink pajama pants, and fuzzy slippers. Buttercup, situated on the bed, wore a camouflage green shirt and black baggy shorts. Bubbles was seated on the floor, dressed in an ombre blue shirt and a pair of pink floral skorts.
"Blossom, can you explain to me, how to solve this math equation?" Bubbles asked, visibly frustrated by her work.
Blossom stood-up, and walked over to her sister and crouched down to better examine the problem, "Hm, I see. Well, you need to use the distributive property first. Let's say you have an equation like 3(x+4)3(x + 4)3(x+4). You'll need to distribute the 3 to both terms inside the parentheses. So it becomes 3⋅x+3⋅43 \cdot x + 3 \cdot 43⋅x+3⋅4, which simplifies to 3x+123x + 123x+12. After that, you can combine like terms or solve for xxx if needed."
Bubbles nodded thoughtfully, trying to wrap her head around the concept. Blossom continued, "Once you've done that, just follow the standard steps for solving equations: isolate the variable, combine like terms, and solve for xxx. Do you want to try solving one with me?"
Bubbles eagerly accepts the offer, "Yes, please! The math here is sooooo hard!" she groaned in frustration.
Blossom gave Bubbles a reassuring smile, "It's not so hard, once you get the hang of it," she was met with the sound of blown raspberry from her other sister. "Easy for you to say, brainiac. This stuff is like child's play to you," Buttercup said as she rolled her eyes, looking away from her own studies.
"I wouldn't say that, Buttercup. If you need some help with your work, you know you could always ask," Blossom offered.
She groaned, "What I need is to take a break before these books become the death of me," she exclaimed dramatically, tossing the book away from her as she groaned in to the pillow.
"I wouldn't mind a little rest too, my poor little head is aching," Bubbles added, holding her head as she feigned hurt.
Blossom playfully sighed but looked over at the clock, seeing that it was quarter to three and realized that they had been studying for three hours straight. She turned to them, "Okay, okay. We do need a break, as even I as your own "robot sister," need a recharge," saying that, she shut her book, much to the excited cheers of her other two sisters.
She stood up, "Come on girls, I made a big batch of brownies and left them in the fridge," that ensued some surprised faces.
"When did you make brownies?!"
"And how come we didn't smell it?!"
"Oh please, girls. You two know how you are with chocolate, I couldn't risk you fiends, to even catch a whiff of it. That's why I cooled it down before hand," she let out a puff of her ice breath to empathize her point. That was met with a glare and a pout from her sisters.
As they made their way downstairs, the aroma of some rich chocolaty bake goods permeated the air. Blossom was a little bit surprised at a familiar smell coming from the kitchen. All too familiar as well.
"What the-AH?!" the girls were shocked to see that Nemuri was at the dining table, helping herself to none other than the plate of brownies; remaining with only one in her hand.
Nemuri was blissfully indulging on the chocolate morsels, unaware of the three pairs of eyes, bugging out at her.
"HOW COULD YOU?!" the collective scream, startled the R-rated hero, dropping the brownie to the plate. When she turned around, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, "G-girls…ah…w-what are you doing h-here?" she did her level best to not crack under pressure. It was not panning out well.
"Well, we were going to take a break from studying, with some of the brownies I baked some while back," Blossom's tone was calm, which was more unnerving than Buttercup's growls, as they got dangerously louder.
"O-oh, is that so…well I-I just thought these were-"
"GET HER!" Buttercup declared, charging at their guardian with unbridled anger.
Nemuri had no other choice, she leaped up away from the kitchen counter and attempted to evade the incoming onslaught. Blossom and Buttercup charged at Nemuri, their cries of outrage echoing through the kitchen. The scene turned into a comedic frenzy as Nemuri, with exaggerated agility, darted around the seating room, flipping chairs, and narrowly avoiding the wild swipes of her pursuers. Blossom tried to lasso her with a tablecloth, while Buttercup hurled cushions in a futile attempt to trap her.
Nemuri's frantic zig-zagging across the room included a series of slapstick maneuvers: she slipped on a stray napkin, slid under the dining table, and even narrowly avoided getting tangled in a curtain. As she slipped and slid, she occasionally let out desperate yelps of, "Please, let's talk this out!" and "I promise I'll make it up to you!"
Buttercup finally managed to tackle Nemuri to the ground, pinning her face-down with a satisfying crash, giving out an "Oomph" sound. Blossom stood over them, her arms crossed, eyes blazing with a mix of fatigue, fierce determination and something akin to an enraged chocolate lover's aura.
"WHY THE HECK DID YOU EAT ALL OUR DELICIOUS BROWNIES?!" Buttercup demanded, her voice a thunderous growl as she pressed Nemuri's face into the floor.
Nemuri, with her face squished against the ground, managed to mumble in between apologies, "I-I'm sorry! They were just so good! The texture was perfect, and the chocolate was so rich... I couldn't help myself. And then I thought, 'Just one more,' and before I knew it, I was—"
Blossom, clearly agitated, clapped her hands together with a mock rumble of thunder. Her voice dropped unnaturally deep as she growled, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
The two on the floor froze in terror, their eyes wide. Nemuri's voice quivered as she explained at lightning speed, "IamsosorrybutIcouldn' ,Icouldn'tstop.I justkepteatingand eating, —" She gulped, her eyes darting nervously. "Honestly, I blame you, Blossom! You made so many brownies; those six brownies tempting me, it was impossible to resist!"
Buttercup screeched in indignation, "You ate all six brownies by yourself?! Why, I oughta—"
Blossom, equally shocked, interjected, "Six brownies? No, I made a baker's dozen!" The room fell silent as everyone's ears perked up at the sound of a satisfied gulp coming from the kitchen counter.
In disbelief, the three females turned to see Bubbles, casually polishing off the last brownie on a new plate, with a glass of milk. Bubbles, with a blissful smile, "Sorry, girls, all gone," finished off her treat and said nonchalantly, staring at her sisters.
"BUBBLES!" The three other ladies shouted in unison.
Bubbles looked up, her cheeks full and her eyes innocent. "What? I knew you were making brownies and waitec till after you went to blow the smell away. I just had to bide my time and hide the rest. Guess the smell lingered too long and attracted Miss Nemuri in."
Nemuri, was standing there, looking mortified and strangely impressed at the girl's planning, no matter how devious it was. While Blossom, sighed in defeat. "You know what, I blame myself. There are four females in this house, and I made a batch of brownies. What did I expect?" she slid a hand over her face in tiredness.
Midnight, interjected again, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, those brownies were some of the best I've ever had, and—"
She was cut off by the deathly stares from the red and raven haired girls. "R-right… I have no standing in this, huh?" she mumbled, backing down.
Suddenly, Blossom's phone buzzed, and she glanced down, her eyes widening. "Girls…" she said, her voice barely containing her surprise.
Buttercup was now rummaging through the fridge, searching for any remaining chocolate, while Bubbles whimpered, nursing a blow to the head from Buttercup; step one of payback. "What is it now?" Buttercup grumbled, her voice muffled by the fridge door.
Blossom's face lit up with a mix of surprise and joy. She just held up her phone to the others to read
They all turned their attention to read the message on her phone, "In surprising news, our reporters have just informed me, that the Pro Hero: Ingenium, has said to have made a miraculous recovery and is presumed to be up and walking. It was found out, that he was just discharged from the hospital and sources tell me us that he had recovered just yesterday. No one knows the nature of the quirk or medical professional residing at Hosu Hopsital that was able to perform such a feet. More news to be brought, later…"
The room fell silent as the good news sunk in. Nemuri was both overjoyed and confused at it, then she remembered of what was written, giving the hero a good idea of who's "quirk" was responsible. Her eyes, now laced with suspicion, glanced at Buttercup. She had a feeling that she had a hand in this, while Blossom and Bubbles shared a knowing look as well. All three females now had turned their gaze toward Buttercup, who was chomping on a large, leftover dark chocolate bar with a cocked-eyebrow "What?" expression.
Midnight spoke up, hands on her hips and a quizzical look on her face. "Do you have anything you wish to say, young lady?"
Buttercup looked from Nemuri to her sisters, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Meh, don't you just love the media and its work ethic?" she said, trying to appear unfazed, and quickly dashed away.