(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Rudra dropped from the rooftop into the narrow alley below, landing in a soft crouch.
Dust clung to his coat as he straightened, brushing it off with a casual pat—as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world.
-Pat -pat
"...."
Then he walked out of the alley.
The small park opened before him—dim lights, creaking swings, children laughing as they ran in uneven circles.
His steps slowed as he approached the swing set.
She noticed him immediately.
The girl on the swing stiffened, eyes flicking up in surprise.
"...."
Rudra stopped a respectful distance away and spoke gently, his voice calm, unthreatening.
"Hey. Mind if I sit here?"
He nodded toward the empty swing beside her.
-Nod
She blinked, clearly not expecting that.
-Blink -Blink
"...."
Her fingers tightened on the chains for a moment, then she hesitated… and finally gave a small nod.
-Nod
"I… don't mind."
Rudra took the seat, letting the swing sway just a little.
-Creak -Creak
He didn't push hard. Just enough to move.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
"...."
"...."
He could feel her watching him from the corner of her eye—studying him.
He didn't look like a local. Didn't sound like one either.
She knew most faces in this neighbor-hood.
He wasn't one of them.
Rudra followed her gaze as she watched the other kids playing.
There was longing there—quiet, restrained.
"You know, they seem like they're having fun."
He said lightly, not looking at her.
She nodded faintly.
-Nod
"…Yeah."
"Ever thought about joining them?"
He asked, friendly, casual. No pressure in his tone.
She shook her head almost immediately.
"No, It's… not a good idea."
She replied, a bit too fast. Then, softer.
Rudra turned slightly toward her, resting his hands loosely on the chains of the swing.
He spoke, curiosity gentle rather than probing.
"Oh? Why not?"
She looked down at her shoes, scuffing the dirt beneath them with one toe.
"...."
"I just…"
She trailed off, lips pressing together.
"…I don't want to."
She didn't explain further.
"...."
"...."
"...."
And Rudra didn't push.
Instead, he nodded as if that answer made perfect sense as he said.
"That's okay, You don't have to explain."
That made her glance up at him—surprised.
"...."
Most adults always asked why.
Always insisted. Always wanted answers.
She studied his face which seems he was casual. Not like others who treated her worrily. she spoke in low voice
"…You're weird,"
Rudra chuckled softly as he admitted.
-Chuckle
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
The swing creaked between them.
-Creak
For the first time that evening, the sadness in her expression eased—just a little.
Himiko didn't know who he was.
Not a hero. Not a name from TV.
Just a strange man who had sat beside her and treated her like she was… normal.
Then—
A cry rang out.
-Oww!!!
One of the boys tripped near the slide, skin scraping hard against the ground.
He hit the dirt with a sharp gasp, clutching his knees.
Red welled up instantly. Blood.
Himiko's body froze.
"...."
Her pupils shrank. Her face flushed a deep, unnatural red, heat rushing through her veins like she'd been plunged into boiling water.
Her breath hitched—short, rapid, uneven.
'No… no, no—'
Her fingers clamped hard around the swing's chains, knuckles whitening as her whole body trembled.
'Control… control it, Toga…'
She squeezed her eyes shut.
The sound of the boy crying. The smell of iron in the air. The sight of red against pale skin.
It all hit her at once.
Her expression twisted—half pain, half hunger—as she stood up slowly.
The swing creaked behind her. Her steps became purposeful.
-Creak
Predatory like a bear sighting honey.
Rudra—still just the man beside her—saw the shift instantly.
Her posture. Her breathing. The way her eyes locked onto the injured boy as he thought.
'So this is it,'
She took another step.
Then another. Just as she leaned forward—Arms wrapped around her from behind.
"...."
Firm. Secure. Not violent.
She gasped in shock.
-Gasp
"It's okay,"
He whispered close to her ear, voice low and steady.
"It's okay. I've got you."
She struggled instinctively, breath coming out in shaky bursts.
"Let go—!"
She whispered, voice cracking.
He didn't tighten. Didn't restrain harder.
He simply held her as he murmured.
"You're not bad, You're not wrong."
Her body shook violently while he spoke softly.
"Just breathe, With me. Slow. In… and out."
She fought it—then faltered as he breathed.
"In, …Out."
Again.
"In. …Out."
Her rapid breaths began to stutter… then slow.
The red haze in her eyes wavered. He continued, calm and unwavering.
"I know it's loud right now, But urges aren't commands. You don't have to obey them."
Her grip on the chains loosened tears streamed down her face—hot, confused, angry tears as she whispered brokenly.
"I don't want to be like this,"
"I know,"
He replied without hesitation.
"And that's why you're still in control."
She sagged slightly against him, the feral edge finally breaking.
Nearby, other kids rushed to help the injured boy, a parent scooping him up.
The blood was gone from sight.
The moment passed.
He slowly loosened his hold—but didn't let go entirely. He said quietly.
"You did good, Really good."
Himiko sniffed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, embarrassed and shaken. While she asked in low voice.
-Sniff. -Sniff.
"…You're not scared of me,"
Rudra shook his head as he answered without any hesitation.
"No, I'm worried about you. There's a difference."
For the first time that night, Himiko Toga didn't feel like a monster fighting herself alone in the dark.
She felt like someone had finally stepped in—Not to lock her away. But to help her breathe.
Rudra slowly loosened his hold and stepped back.
"...."
When her breathing finally steadied, he gently guided her back to the swing.
She sat down, shoulders slumped, eyes red.
Rudra took the swing beside her again, pushing just enough to keep it moving.
He didn't ask anything. Didn't rush.
The park grew quieter as the other kids drifted away, parents calling them home.
The night air cooled, carrying the faint creak of chains and the hum of distant traffic.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Minutes passed....
Then she spoke.
"…It's my fault."
Rudra turned his head slightly—but still didn't interrupt.
"My quirk,"
She continued, voice small.
"Transform. When I see blood… I feel hungry. Not for food. For them."
Her fingers twisted in her skirt as she whispered.
"I want to become them, To feel what they feel. Their memories. Their emotions. It's like… the world finally makes sense for a moment."
She laughed weakly.
-Hehe...
"That's messed up, right?"
Rudra said nothing. He let her keep going.
"...."
"Because of that,"
She said, voice shaking now,
"my mom and dad started looking at me like I was dangerous. Like I was already a villain."
Her eyes burned.
"They stopped hugging me. Stopped smiling. Everything was 'don't do this' or 'don't think like that.'"
She swallowed hard.
-Gulp.
"Even my doctor… he looks at me like I'm a mistake. Like my existence is wrong."
Her hands clenched like this world was very unfair to her. She said quietly.
"I came here because I heard them, My dad and my doctor. Talking."
She turned her face away, ashamed.
"He said I can't be saved. That I should be disowned. Or locked up."
Tears finally spilled over as she whispered the last part.
"They were actually thinking about it, They said I was… born wrong."
Her shoulders shook while continued.
"So I ran, I didn't know where else to go."
The swing slowed.
-Creak.
Rudra reached out—not to restrain, not to stop—but to steady the swing gently with his hand as he spoke at last, voice calm and grounded,
"You know, having urges doesn't make you evil."
She flinched slightly, then looked at him. While he continued.
"...."
"Your quirk doesn't decide who you are, It only explains what you feel—not what you choose."
She stared at him, stunned and muttered.
"No one's ever said that to me,"
Rudra met her eyes—steady, unafraid and spoke honestly and simply.
"...."
"Then they failed you, Not the other way around."
Her lips trembled hearing all those words.
"…So I'm not a monster?"
He shook his head objecting her view on herself.
"You're a kid who needs help, And someone who refuses to give up on you."
For a long moment, she just sat there—processing words that didn't sound like condemnation.
The swing creaked softly as it came to a stop.
And for the first time that night, Himiko Toga didn't feel like she had to run anymore.
Rudra stood up from the swing.
The sudden movement made her heart drop.
"...."
'Did I say something wrong…? Was I too much…?'
Panic rushed in fast.
She had finally said everything out loud. Finally been heard.
And now—She felt like she was about to lose him.
"H-hey—"
She started, fingers curling into her sleeves.
Before she could say anything else, Rudra turned back toward her and held out his hand.
Not commanding. Not impatient. Just… there.
"Come, Get up."
He said simply. She froze.
"...."
The streetlight behind him shifted, and for a brief moment the setting sun slipped between clouds, casting light around his silhouette.
In her eyes, it looked almost unreal—like he was standing inside a quiet glow.
Her face flushed. Without fully realizing it, she reached out.
Her fingers slipped into his hand. Warm. Steady.
He helped her up and gently guided her out of the park.
She walked beside him in silence for a few steps, her thoughts a mess.
"…W-where are we going?"
She finally asked, voice small.
Rudra didn't slow his pace.
"To your house,"
He replied calmly.After hearing him her steps faltered as she stammered.
"...."
"My— my house? Why would you—?"
He glanced down at her, not angry, not disappointed. As he said evenly.
"I need to talk to your parents, And give them a little piece of advice they clearly never received."
Her eyes widened. While she asked quietly.
"You're… not mad?"
"No,"
He said without hesitation.
"…You're really coming with me?"
She asked, almost afraid to hope.
Rudra nodded once as he replied casually.
-Nod
"I don't leave kids behind, Especially not ones who are trying this hard to stay in control."
Her grip on his hand tightened—just a little.
For the first time that night, she didn't feel like she was being dragged back somewhere she didn't want to be.
She felt like someone was walking with her.
They stopped in front of a modest house.
The lights were on.
Rudra lifted his hand and pressed the calling bell.
Almost immediately, raised voices spilled through the door.
"...."
"…I'm telling you, this can't go on! She's dangerous!"
A man snapped in loud voice.
"And what are we supposed to do?"
A woman replied, her voice shaking.
"Let her hurt someone?! The doctor himself said—"
"—that she was born wrong,"
The man cut in coldly.
"She doesn't belong in a normal family. Either we disown her, or we lock her up before something happens."
The words hit like knives.
Beside Rudra, Himiko Toga froze. Her body trembled violently.
"...."
She took an instinctive step back, breath hitching, eyes wide with terror and hurt—as if she were about to bolt. As she whispered, voice breaking.
"I—I told you… This is why I ran…"
Before she could retreat any further—Rudra tightened his grip on her hand.
Firm. Grounding. Unmoving. He didn't yank her forward. Didn't pull her away.
He simply held her as he spoke to her in low voice reassuring.
"You're not going anywhere, Not alone."
Her shaking eased—just a fraction.
"...."
Inside, the arguing continued.
"She's not our daughter anymore! She never was normal!"
Rudra's expression hardened.
"...."
The door latch clicked. Footsteps approached.
-Thud. -Thud.
-Thud. -Thud.
Himiko swallowed hard, fear flooding her face while she murmured.
"…They hate me,"
Rudra leaned slightly toward her and spoke low, so only she could hear.
"No, They're afraid of what they don't understand."
The door opened.
A man stood there—stern, exhausted, anger barely masking fear. A woman hovered behind him, eyes red from crying.
The father's gaze dropped—And locked onto Himiko as he breathed.
"…You,"
Himiko flinched looking at her angry father.
Rudra stepped forward, placing himself half a step in front of her—not hiding her, but shielding her, while he spoke calmly.
"Good evening, We need to talk."
The father frowned.
-Frown
"Who are you?"
Rudra's voice didn't rise and calmly replied.
"I'm someone who listened to your daughter, And someone who strongly disagrees with what I just heard."
The silence that followed was thick.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Himiko's fingers curled tighter around Rudra's hand.
For the first time—She wasn't facing them alone.
And whatever happened next—It would no longer be decided by fear.
Inside Toga's Home...
Rudra turned his head slightly—just enough to look at Himiko.
At the girl sitting stiffly beside him, fighting herself every single second.
Then he looked back at her parents then he firmly spoke.
"She stopped herself tonight, No restraints. No threats. No drugs."
That made them pause. While Rudra continued.
"...."
"She was overwhelmed, And instead of giving in, she fought it. That's not a monster."
His voice hardened.
"That's a child begging for help."
The mother's eyes wavered.
"You don't know what it's like…"
Rudra nodded once not letting her finish her words.
"You're right. I don't."
Then he added, quietly but sharply.
"But I know what it's like to see what happens when kids like her are abandoned."
The room went still.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Himiko's fingers trembled. Rudra didn't raise his voice. Didn't threaten.
He simply delivered the truth—unfiltered.
"If you keep listening to people who label your daughter as 'wrong,' you're not protecting anyone."
He met their eyes one last time.
"You're creating the very thing you're afraid of."
Silence crashed down.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Himiko finally looked up—eyes glossy, uncertain, terrified.
Rudra placed his hand gently over hers. As he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"You're not dangerous, You're struggling."
And for the first time—Her parents didn't have an answer ready.
Her father slammed his palm against the armrest, He snapped at Rudra.
"That's enough, Mind your manners. You come into our house and lecture us?"
Her mother nodded stiffly, eyes cold as she looked at the girl beside Rudra. She spoke flatly.
-Nod
"I still can't believe I gave birth to her, A child with such a villainous quirk… she's a disgrace to this family."
Himiko flinched like she'd been struck.
"...."
Her mother didn't stop as she continued.
"We won't bear the consequences of what she might do, If she hurts someone, it won't be on us. We're thinking of disowning her—or reporting her to a mental institution. Locking her up is the only way to keep others safe."
Adamant. Resolved. Unapologetic.
The room went deathly quiet.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rudra frowned. Until now, he had believed—truly believed—that reason might reach them.
-Frown
That with guidance, with clarity, they would realize they were wrong and choose their daughter.
Instead, what he saw before him were two adults washing their hands of responsibility.
Disowning their own blood.
Not because of something she had done—
—but because of what she might do.
To protect themselves.
Himiko's shoulders shook. Her head lowered, pink hair hiding her face as tears silently dripped onto her skirt.
"...."
She didn't argue. Didn't scream.
She had heard this verdict before.
Rudra slowly exhaled.
-Sigh
When he spoke again, his voice was calm—but something in it had hardened completely. Then asked them again.
"So this is your decision, To abandon your daughter before she's committed any crime. To label her guilty for existing."
Her father scoffed at him.
"Call it whatever you want. We're done."
Rudra looked at them for a long moment—really looked.
Not as parents. As people. Then sighed disappointingly.
-Sigh
"…I was hoping, that you were simply afraid."
He straightened slightly.
"But you're not afraid."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're cowards."
Both parents stiffened.
"...."
"...."
"You're choosing convenience over responsibility,"
Rudra continued, voice steady and unforgiving.
"You'd rather erase your daughter from your lives than do the hard work of protecting and guiding her."
He turned his head and looked down at the girl beside him.
At Himiko Toga, shaking, broken, still trying not to be the monster everyone insisted she was.
Then he looked back at them.
"She hasn't harmed anyone, But if one day she does fall… remember this."
His words cut cleanly through the air.
"It won't be because of her quirk. It will be because the people who were supposed to love her first—chose not to. But I believe her she won't become a villain until I Rudra is with her."
Silence followed.
Heavy. Uncomfortable.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Himiko squeezed her eyes shut, waiting—for rejection, for abandonment, for the last thread to snap.
Rudra's hand closed gently—but firmly—around hers.
He rose to his feet as he spoke in a low and firm voice.
"…Very well, If this is your choice—then you no longer get to decide her future."
The parents stared at him, confused and angry. While her father demanded.
"What do you mean by that?"
Rudra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked down at Himiko Toga.
"You don't live here anymore,"
He said softly—but with certainty.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide as Rudra continued.
"…What?"
"You're coming with me, Somewhere you'll be treated as a person. Not a liability."
Her parents shot up from the couch.
"You can't just take her—!"
Rudra turned, his gaze icy while his voice took a dangerous edge.
"You already gave her up, You just didn't have the courage to say it out loud."
The room fell silent again.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): Well I think its a good chapter for Himiko Toga's past. For their parents they don't deserve her.
Whats your thought's guys.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone too!!!
Guys it will motivate me more?