Chapter Text
Hana sat under the tree as she watched the other orphans play, wondering if she would ever make it out of there.
Not in the sense of wondering if she would ever be adopted, but in the way someone in grave danger wonders if they will live to see tomorrow. She knew the orphanage was a temporary fix, a short escape before the guillotine falls. When she heard of her father's capture and prison sentence, she knew it was her only chance to escape. She ran for hours and hours- ending up at a police station- where she pretended to be living on the streets. Police were a little confused over her lack of records, but when she said she only knew her first name they seemed to understand- or at least they thought they did- that she was abandoned at such a young age that she had no recollection of a family. she let them believe it, she looked the part from the running barefoot to her bone-skinny appearance.
It worked in the moment- got her out of that god-forsaken place- but she knew it wouldn't last. She wasn’t sure if the man and the doctor were looking for her by now. They probably had a lot on their plate. She made it hard for them- not revealing her last name- but she had foolishly stuck with her birth name instead of coming up with a fake, so her fate was essentially sealed. Even if they couldn’t look for her now, they would eventually. She knew they wouldn't kill her, she was too valuable. Though she has no doubt she would wish for death with what torture and rigorous "training" she would be forced to endure.
Logically, her best chance to make it would be to get adopted. An adopted Hana- one with a possible new last name- was a lot less likely to be found than one playing a sitting duck at a broke orphanage. She wouldn't risk it though, she wouldn't endanger others just for a taste of safety.
So, this led her away from all the other children mingling with the adults wanting to adopt. Really, she had a low likelihood of being adopted anyway. Not only was she older than most of the children here, she was also essentially quirkless. The doctor always thought her quirk would come in eventually, but she thought that was wishful thinking. In any case, she knew her file has a question mark after quirk. She also knew she looked quite malnourished, so most sane adopting parents wouldn't even look in her direction.
Unfortunately, it seems not everyone here is sane. There were two men walking right to where she was reading her book, very obvious in showing she was NOT Interested in talking. These people didn't seem to take the hint.
She ended up bring very glad she had a great poker face, because when she recognized one of them she nearly reared back in shock. She wasn't familiar with many heroes- not having much of a chance to be- but she knew present mic. He was her sister's favorite, and by extension hers as well. She had spent many cold nights bundled up with Emma as they listened to hands up radio. The man was obviously off the job with the way his hair was let down with more casual glasses and attire.
Present mic stops in front of her and kneels to where he was only a little above her eye level. The other man lagged behind, keeping his distance. Hana could tell this man was much more self-conscious and nervous about being there. He had a good blank face but the way he let his partner take the lead and his hesitation gave it away. She looked back at Present mic. He seemed to study the cover of her book before looking back up at her and smiling.
"Hey kiddo! noticed that book you have there, it's a classic piece of American literature. How are you liking it so far?"
The book was called Of Mice and Men. It was a short one she had found in the orphanage library that morning. she had already almost finished it and could tell it would be one she would like to read again. It was a book written before quirk-times with many layers to it that made it an interesting read.
She grasped for a response. "It's interesting; lots of stuff in it for such a short story. I like the way the characters interact."
She wonders if she said too much, that maybe she shouldn't have responded to the man at all. Maybe then they would have stayed away.
She never was very good at interacting with adults she didn't know, so naturally she was surprised when both men get quite pleased with her response.
"You're quite smart. This book is usually read in schools at a higher level, and you can't be any older than eleven."
The black haired man spoke for the first time, which surprised her. She almost figured he would let his partner do all the talking. He was wrong though- she was twelve, not far from 13. She probably looked younger because of malnourishment stunting her growth.
She felt a bit paranoid. What if the other man was a hero too, and they were sent to question her because she was found out to be a Shigaraki? She decided not to think much more about that possibility. If they were sent to get her for questioning, the dark-haired man wouldn't look unsure of himself. From what she could tell, they were just a couple looking to adopt a child.
She decided it was time for her to add "I'm twelve." Was it a bit rude? Maybe. but perhaps that's what she needed to drive them away. Still, such a blunt response made her anxious. She knew she probably wouldn't be hurt here, but talking to an adult like that made her nervous anyway.
Neither of the men were angry though, in fact the most that was shown from her less-than-polite response was a small amount of surprise from the dark-haired man.
Present mic just simply smiled. "yep, I thought so! don't mind Shouta, he didn't mean anything by it!"
So the man's name was Shouta. She nodded at Present mic in response. He smiled again. He seemed to smile a lot, and the fact that none of them seemed fake confused her. How could someone smile so genuinely so often?
They sat there for a while, present mic mainly just mindlessly babbling to her, she responded when it was needed. She was asked what other books she liked, if she liked any shows siring on television, what her favorite subject in school was, etcetera. She responded dully, she would read any books that interested her, she hasn't watched any shows in a while, she didn't really have one (She had never gone to school, only partially homeschooled by some tutors that taught her some basics, Emma had taught her everything else). Her disinterest didn't seem to deter the men at all, they just seemed to be happy she was responding.
If she were being honest with herself, she knew she didn't mind the attention at all. part of her even craved it. How long had it been since someone had shown such interest in her? Perhaps the last one was Takashi. That was almost three years ago now.
The men eventually had to leave, the sun was setting and she knew she would have to go back inside soon anyway. She internally scolded herself for being disappointed in their deparcher. She knew not to get attached, even if these men were kind to her and showed her attention. It was better for them if they stayed away. If they never came back and never got attached to her. Getting attached could get them killed.
That's what she tried to remind herself as just as the men were about to leave, Shota turned to her and said "we'll be back again soon. If you need anything, let us know." He then handed her a piece of paper with two phone numbers on it. each next to a name.
Hizashi- xxx-xxx-xxxx
Shota- xxx-xxx-xxxx
So Present mic's name was Hizashi. When she looked up, the men were already walking away. Hizashi called back, "Have a good night, Hana!" as they left.
She had never stated her name, which meant they had read her file. That confused her. Maybe they talked to her out of curiosity? She was sure her file was mostly blank.
Later that night when everyone else was seemingly asleep, Hana crept into the small library. In the middle of the room sat a little table with a blocky computer. During the day the children had to ask to use it and were monitored while doing so, and Hana didn't want to go through that trouble. sneaking in when night hit sounded much more appealing to her, and she felt capable with her ability to be discrete.
She booted up the computer and went to the search engine, having trouble typing due to her lack of computer use. When she was able to press search, a plethora of sources came up about Present mic. She clicked the first one that came up, a sight called 'Wikipedia'. She skimmed, looking for stuff she didn't already know. His full name was Hizashi Yamada, He was 30 years old, his birthday was July 7th. The family section was surprisingly blank, apparently Hizashi was a more private person than she thought. There was nothing about being married or anyone named Shouta. Apparently he had never said anything else about family, not in any radio shows in the last 10 years since he started.
Deciding to move on, she next searched for the name Shota in relation to any heroes. There was no way to know if he was actually a hero, it was more an educated guess. His muscular frame and the way he held himself made him seem like a capable fighter. When she came up with nothing, she back tracked. started looking for social media profiles. again, nothing. unsatisfied after almost an hour of searching, she decided to retire to bed and continue her search another day.
As she lay in bed well into early morning, she pondered Present mic and his partner. As pathetic as it might sound, she doesn't think she's ever been treated with such care by an adult before. asking her things and showing interest in her and her well being. She won't get attached though. What's the likelihood they would continue to come see her, anyway? She knew it would be better for them to stay away, so why did she feel this longing for them to come back and talk to her again? Was she really so desperate for attention that she would risk the lives of good people?
She decided that no, she was not, and that she would not think of it any further.
The question stayed in her mind despite her wishes, but the answer had yet to surface.
Her hand curled around a small burner phone. it was one of the only things she had taken with her when she ran, and she knew it was the most important. If that man had found it and figured out who it came from, one of her dearest friends would be killed.
Takashi Iida was a hot-headed boy who Hana whole-heartedly adored. As much he always tried to put on an act of anger, with her he was nothing but gentle and kind. She first met him when Emma took her to a small park after a particularly bad training session. The Hana back then was a different Hana to the one who currently lay in the orphanage. That Hana still had a sort of childish innocence, still had her big sister to stop the training from killing her. She wonders what Takashi would think of her now. That thought sticks with her as she drifts.
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Snow came that night, much to many of the orphans' glee. They would be able to go out and play in it later in the day. Hana doubted she would take part. She sat in the library with a book in hand, staring at the pages trying to read. Her thoughts led her elsewhere.
Emma loved the snow, once she described bringing Hana to see the snow for the first time. She talked about how she babbled and cooed in wonder. Emma said it was one of her most precious memories. Nana also loves the snow, Hana wonders if she was somewhere making snow angels. Hana looked outside again. maybe she would go feel the snow.
Back in the girls bedroom, Hana once again held the phone she could use to contact Takashi. Even thinking about contacting him is selfish. He could be killed or worse. It's not even worth thinking about.
She flips open the phone. There is one contact; a contact she has spent long sleepless nights gazing at. It's been three years since she had seen him. He might not even want to see her now, people certainly change from the age of ten to thirteen. She knows he would answer regardless. That's just the kind of person he was. She presses the message icon.
She thinks on what to say. She types and then deletes it with a grimace. It was quite hard to type on a flip-phone. She lands on the only thing she can think of.
X- Takashi. I made it out for now.
Was it lame? probably. She didn't think he'd mind how boring it was.
She didn't really even have time to wonder when he'd reply. About a minute later a message pops up.
Y- Are u safe?
X- I am at the moment. I am at an orphanage.
Y- I'm glad ur safe
Y- I wanna see u
Y- Would that b possible?
Hana bites her lip. She definitely could sneak off to meet him, but that might go badly. If she gets taken again and the man finds out she met Takashi, She would be putting him in danger. Before she has a chance to say as much, Takashi sends another message.
Y- I understand if you aren't ready to meet
Y- But if it's about my safety then don't worry about it
Y- We can just be sneaky and meet at the orphanage
Hana can't stop the small smile forming her face. She can tell he's grown quite a bit, but he's still so thoughtful. And apparently still knows how she thinks. She thought about saying no, she really did. Unfortunately, she has always been weak.
X- I could meet you at 5 if your able. Please don't tell Nana and Sumi yet. I still don't know what to say to them.
She frowns at that. Unlike Takashi, she hadn't got to see the girls before she got locked away. She knew that tracking them down before would have been easy, but she couldn't. They wouldn't have understood. They would have tried to keep her from getting locked away. It would have got them killed.
She overheard the staff at the orphanage talking about bundling up the kids and taking them outside around five. Looks like she really would be in the snow again now.
Y- I won't I promise
Y- Im so glad ur alive Hana
Y- 5 sounds fine to me
Y- Send where it is and i'll be there
Y- ill b sneaky I promise :)
She sends him the address and tells him to ping her when he gets there. Guilt coils in her gut. She pushes it down. What's done is done. She was going to see Takashi again.
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Personally, Hana never really was a fan of winter. It felt like the cold was attacking her, creeping into her jackets to give her a chill. One thing she couldn't deny was how beautiful it was when it snowed. white covered the ground as little children made snowmen and threw snowballs. The sight warmed her a little.
She watched from the bedroom window as she got ready to meet Takashi. Most of these children were preschool age, still naïve and easily joyous. She remembers when she was like that. She wished she could still have such a happy mind.
Her gaze fell back to the mirror in front of her. She frowned. Looking at herself was never enjoyable. She knew she wasn't ugly, especially now. She looked much better with the little weight she had gained since coming to the orphanage. Still, she knew she was shorter than most children her age, which agitated her.
Her thick hair fell to the back of her knees as she took different sections to brush through. It was obvious she had never had a haircut by the sheer length. When she first arrived at the orphanage, her hair was so tangled it fell to her mid back. She had hoped the staff would just chop it, but instead they put their effort in to get it untangled. They succeeded, and now it was up to her to keep it that way. What a pain.
She analyzed her face. Unlike the rest of her, her face was relatively unscarred. there was a small scar on the side of her jaw, but it was basically un-noticeable. Her skin had turned back to its original olive shade since her time outside. Her eyes had become less sunken in and more how they used to be. Light blue eyes stare back at her. It was one thing she quite liked about her appearance.
She had her sister's eyes.
As she finished brushing the last section of her hair, she realized even its color looked better. Dead mousy brown now shifted back into the honey brown it used to be. One thing that stayed the same was the white section of hair that inhabited the front. This was something she was born with, which makes sense; while her mothers hair was brown, her fathers was a snowy white. It was the hair color usually found in the Shigaraki family. That part made sense, what didn't was how over the years the section that was white seemed to grow. what was once barely noticeable when she was a toddler turned out to be a decent sized section of her hair. She had long since given up on guessing why it grew, there were always more important things to worry about.
Like meeting up with Takashi, for example. She went looking in the bin of clothes the orphanage provided. On the top there was a decent looking black winter jacket. she shrugged it on over her blue hoodie. She figured the jeans she had on would be warm enough. She slipped on the pair of shoes she was provided- beat up white sneakers- and a hideous multi-colored scarf.
When she stepped outside, she immediately remembered why she was never a big fan of winter, as the cold breeze nipped at her cheeks. She stood by the door as she waited for a signal. None of the staff were paying her attention, but that's about like usual. The orphanage was understaffed, and all of their efforts went towards the younger children. As one of the oldest, Hana was trusted not to get into trouble and to take care of herself. That or the staff didn't like the quirkless. She doubted that though, they had been nothing but kind to her whenever she interacted with them.
The flip phone makes a sound. She opens it to see a short message.
Y: Im in between the orphanage and this office building
She looked over at the staff, one was busy trying to calm down a crying child, the other was helping a toddler build a snowman. She slipped off to the side, making sure she went unnoticed. Her hands were shaking. She had been thinking about seeing Takashi for three years.
She got to the side of the building. She sees a head of blue and black hair, and she feels like she can't breathe. In truth, she thought she would never see Takashi again. She thought she would never see any of her friends again. Yet here he was. He'd gotten taller, as he seemed to tower over her. His hair was about to his mid-neck, the blue part pulled up into a hair tie. He looked nice, dressed like the rich boy he was. His red eyes were as piercing as always as he stared off to the splash of paint that covered the orphanage walls. It seemed to piss him off. She smiled a bit at that, some things never changed.
He seemed to notice her presence, as they finally locked eyes. Red meets blue, and his previous annoyed expression vanished, being replaced by one she couldn't quite identify. He stepped towards her slowly. His eyes looked glassy.
"you're really okay. You're really..." he seemed to get choked up. She understood.
He stepped forward again, "Can I?" His arms were open. She nodded, not trusting her voice. She felt his arms come around her, a tear slid down her cheek. He was being so gentle. She can't remember the last time she was like this, like she was precious.
His metal arm made a clunking sound when he wrapped both of his arms around her, likely hitting the metal bracelet that he wore on his other. She buried her face in his chest. He seemed to be shaking, taking in big breaths as he squeezed her tighter.
He started mumbling into her jacket, head bowed, "Oh Hana.. I'm so glad. I'm so glad you're alive." He repeated it a couple more times, as if he was in shock. As if he never expected to see her again.
She felt a wave of guilt wash over her. He didn't think he would ever see her again, because she made sure to tell him he wouldn't. She thought that she would die there, in that dingy old cell after the "training" got the best of her. She Hadn't wanted Takashi to hold on to hope that she would make it, so she had told him bluntly to not look for her, because there wouldn't be anything to find. Being ten at the time, she was sure he didn't think she was gone at first, probably why he gave her the burner phone. After years of her being gone, she's sure it sunk in eventually.
He pulls away, facing her again. Tears freezing on his cheeks. He gains a slight smile, "You look good."
She gives him a dull look. "oh, I'm sure."
Takashi smiles wider. "No, really. You have a different vibe now." He pauses. "You in the clear of being found?"
She grimaces "Not at all. I'm a sitting duck here. It's only a matter of time until I'm dragged back." She moves to go to the office buildings’ side wall, leaning on it and sliding until she's sitting in the snow.
She looks up at the snow falling around them. A fleck falls on her cheek. She hears Takashi slide down beside her. He nudges her elbow with his. She glances at him and sees him staring down at her with worry and confusion, Seemingly trying to think of what to ask.
She decides to beat him to the punch, "How are Sumi and Nana?"
His eyebrows raise as he contemplates the question. "Same as always I guess. Sumi's still as pissy as always. We've been getting into arguments, but that's about normal as well. She seems extra pissy lately though. Anytime I ask her what her problem is, she blows up. She started getting into fights too. I know I get mad kinda easily, but she's a whole 'nother level." He shakes his head in a frustrated manner before continuing, "Nana is Nana. She still never stops talking, especially about you. She started doing this thing at lunch where she Does a speech before eating about hoping that you're in good health and all that. Sumi thought it was stupid, but in the end we all ended up saying it before eating. Made us feel better, I guess.”
Hana's brow furrows as she takes all of that in. The last part makes her tear up a little, so she resolves not to think about it until after the conversation is finished. Sumi getting into fights is worrying, but not unexpected. Nana still being a chatterbox is also not surprising. She's just glad they both still seem like themselves.
Her curiosity gets the better of her, as she asks her second question. "How are your brothers?"
Takashi suddenly looks bored. "oh, you know. Tensei is busy with hero work and the agency, Tenya is still a lame stuck-up." He doesn't mention his parents, and they both know why. There wasn't much to mention.
She guesses Takashi doesn't want to answer other questions about his family and his life, Because he immediately follows that up with a question of his own. "Have you been trying to get adopted? Like going up to people who want to adopt and making a case for yourself?"
She grimaces. "Why would I do that?" Seriously. Did he even know her? She supposes that's not fair though. The Hana he knew three years ago would have definitely gone up to adopting parents and put on a little show.
He goes back to looking worried, and she wishes she had just lied. "You admit that you're a sitting duck here. Being adopted could be great for you."
She voices her disagreement. "The last thing I want is to put others in danger. That's exactly what getting adopted would do. If The man finds me, which he probably will, he will kill anyone I'm found with."
Takashi doesn't seem to be happy with that answer, because he continues on. "So it's better just sitting here? Knowing you're gonna be found?"
To that, she doesn't have an answer. She looks up at the sky and ponders. She could still feel Takashi's eyes on her, knowing he wants to push his case more, but he doesn't. He waits for her.
In hindsight, running away was a decision she didn't really think through. She had no plan to run in the first place, but when the opportunity came she took it. Most of it was a blur. She barely remembers ending up at the police station, and then the hospital. She should have given the officers who questioned her a fake name, but she hadn't even thought about it at the time. She wonders if she had just stayed on the streets, but quickly realizes that would have just gotten her captured almost instantly. She knows that the Man has so many spies roaming around that it wouldn't have been possible to blend in.
She thought more about the last couple of weeks. She contemplated telling Takashi about Hizashi and Shouta. On one hand, she really doesn't want to get his hopes up about a chance for her, but she did want a second opinion about the whole thing. She really was weak.
"There was one couple," she murmurs. "Present mic and a guy named Shota. I stayed away from everyone, but they still came up to me. They said they were going to come visit again and gave me their numbers. They were nice."
When she hones back on Takashi, he's scanning her face with hopeful eyes. He seems to recall something, as his eyes widen. "Present mic? My brother went to UA with present mic! I bet the other guy he was with was Eraserhead. He's a hero too. I think they're married or something.”
She ponders that. She replies with confusion lacing her voice. "He's a hero too? I tried looking him up, but I got no results. That name isn't connected to Present mic on any websites either."
He doesn't seem surprised, only nodding before responding, "yeah, that makes sense. Eraserhead is underground, you probably won't be able to find him anywhere. Underground heroes work outside of rankings and stuff, they don't like attention. Most heroes also don't advertise that they're married, for the safety of their partner and stuff."
Hana hums. That information was new to her. Perhaps she should learn more about heroes, her knowledge in them seems to be more sparse than she realized.
Takashi Started to get excited, "Hana, I think this could be great for you! And don't give me that look, I know you don't want anyone to get hurt because of that man, but their heroes! They deal with bad guys all the time. What did you guys talk about when they came to visit you? “
She hesitated before shrugging, "They kinda just sat with me. They did ask me some stuff about myself, what I like and don't, but mostly just kept me company." She really didn't want to admit how nice it was. People just sitting with her, being interested in stuff about her.
He seemed quite smug all of the sudden, "And you enjoyed their company. I know you did. That all sounds so promising! Now I'm not going to say put on a show, because I can tell that's not you. Just be yourself, and maybe try and come out of your shell a little? Why don't you try asking them some questions too? Ask about their day, or really anything about them that interests you."
Hana thinks about that for a moment. "Maybe. I'm still not sure about this. Even if they are heroes, I know they are no match for that man. It's risky, they could die." She doesn't want good people to die. She can tell that Hizashi and Shouta are good people.
"Look, right now The man is probably swamped. He was already so injured from that fight a few years ago that he couldn't overlook your training anymore. Your dad getting arrested probably hit him hard. He does probably have spies looking for you, but he couldn't look for you himself. His priority right now is probably getting your dad out, not you. Don't you think if he was gonna come after you himself that he already would have?"
He pauses before adding, "With them being heroes, It's the safest place for you. They keep their private lives secret because if they don't, villains will come after their families. Even with my family being a hero legacy family, most people don't know about me and Tenya. But you will be extra secure with eraserhead especially, because underground heroes keep their families secret with even more care than regular ones do. Just please think about it Hana, this is like the best opportunity for you! Think about being able to live in a normal home environment, getting to go to school with all of us, getting to eat good food, and being able to come home to somewhere that is safe. somewhere you can finally relax. You need that Hana, we both know it."
She's dreamed of it. A life where she wouldn't be forced to train. A life where she could eat what she wanted and go to school like a normal kid.
Takashi adds one more thing, "you know that kind of life is the one that Emma always wanted for you. She loved you Hana, she would want you to be happy." He stands up then, turning and helping her do the same. "I'm assuming you have to go, cause that lady is yelling like a damn banshee about 'all children come back inside at once'".
She nods "I guess so."
His eyes look sad again. "Please at least think about what I said. And please message and call me. Anytime you want someone to talk to, I'm here. Any time you can meet, I'll come. Just please remember that."
She smiles truly for the first time in a long time. "I will." This time, It's her that initiates the hug. His arms instantly wrap around her.
He speaks into her hair. "I love you. You are so important. Please stay safe.
She gets choked up. "I love you too. I'll try to. I'll text you, that much I promise."
He pets her hair a bit before moving away. She realizes he was crying again, but he's smiling. He starts walking, stopping to add, "You are important, you know. To all of us." She nods. She doesn't trust her voice enough to reply. He continues to walk away. She watches him until he's nothing more than a speck. She turns to head back in, the warmth of his presence leaving her.
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Hizashi and Shouta do come back to visit. Not just once, over a few weeks they come around five times. January moves into February as Hana gets more accustomed to being around the heroes.
They started bringing her some things, like different snacks to try and some winter gloves. The second time they came she was asked if she had any allergies and what she liked to eat. She told them she didn't have any allergies and that she would eat anything. She wasn't really sure what she liked. She found she quite enjoyed the sweets more than the salty things. They could only bring things that were packaged due to the rules of the orphanage, so last visit they brought her some gas station mochi. She absolutely loved it, and apparently Hizashi could tell because promised that she would get to try some homemade next time.
She had wondered if them coming to visit it would feel more like an interview. Like they were trying to see if she would fit in their family. It did not feel like she was just a candidate, it ended up feeling more like they had already made their choice, and was just trying to make sure she's comfortable with them. She starts getting excited for their visits. They treated her like she was a person, asked her about how her days were going, sharing funny stories with her and showing her pictures of their cats. Shota started talking more too, he even came to visit her by himself once when Hizashi was busy. It was quite nice, they had started talking about cats and he told her more about the kind of cats he had and their personalities. He also told her about him feeding strays around the neighborhood he lived in. It sounded nice.
Another development that surprised her was that the couple already had one kid. They told her on their last visit, talking about how much of a good kid he was. They told her he liked books and cats like her. She was apparently going to meet him on the next visit, and that he was excited to meet her. It makes her nervous for a reason she can't quite place. Maybe it's the fact that this boy could end up being her adoptive brother, that he was fifteen which was how old Emma was when she passed. Maybe it's because of the guilt that crawls up her spine when she thinks about how this boy could die because of her selfishness.
She actively thought about the possibilities for the future About being able to go to school with her friends and have a family that treats her well. She knew it was wishful thinking, that it was selfish, but she was so close. For the first time in her life she felt like she could be free. Maybe she really would be safe with these heroes, and she could live a normal life. Maybe she could go to ice cream shops with her friends after school, or be able to read her books in a room without bars. She dreams, and then feels guilt for dreaming. A constant cycle.
The men decide to inform her about them being heroes on a couple of trips ago. She was unprepared, and ended up basically saying she figured out Hizashi was Present mic. Instead of them getting creeped out like she had been afraid they would, they seemed almost impressed. Well, Hizashi did. Shouta told him that it was very much obvious to anyone that had heard of Present mic that Hizashi was him. Even though he looked a little different, he talked the exact same. There were multiple times where Hizashi had called her "little listener". Shouta said something like that was a dead giveaway, and Hizashi acted offended. It seemed fake offended though, like they were just playing around.
Shota then explained to her that he was an underground hero. He explained what it was, which she already knew. He told her some things she didn't though, like how underground heroes often patrol in less funded areas, and dealt with darker investigations than most normal heroes.
Hana had met Takashi a few more times as well. He would tell her about Nana and Sumi, how school was going, etc. Hana would tell him about books she read, the amazing food at the orphanage (Takashi said that the food was NOT amazing, and that she had just never had good food.), and about her meetings with Hizashi and Shouta. Takashi seemed to be getting more and more excited and hopeful everytime she tells him about the things they would give her and how close they've gotten. When she told him about how she would be meeting Hitoshi, he seemed joyous. He said that her meeting their other kid basically means her getting adopted is a sealed deal. She wasn't sure about that, but she was nervous all the same.
Hana sat at a round table in the orphanage dining hall. She picked at her nails as she anxiously waited on the arrival of the men and their son. The orphanage was putting on a small feast for potential adopting parents to come and chat with the children. They only offered it for people that had already had files for the children they wanted to adopt. Hizashi and Shouta already had her file, and they said they would come that day. Some adopting parents were mingling already, but not many. She looked up every time the entrance door opened, and eventually she spotted Blond and black hair, followed by a mess of purple.
Hizashi and Shouta had shown her pictures of Hitoshi, but she really hadn't been expecting him to be so tall. He was just about as tall as Shouta. Emma had been barely five foot, so seeing this boy that was her age towering over most was shocking. It's probably normal for teenage boys to be tall. She remembers that Natsuo was a bit taller than Emma, But she didn't think he was as tall as this boy.
She was spotted by Shouta and he made his way over, the other two following. When they sat down, Hana took the opportunity to study Hitoshi further. His eyes were a similar color to his hair, only a little darker. Dark bags occupied themselves under his eyes, speaking of nights with little to no sleep. God, she could relate to that. She wondered if this boy had a troubled past like her. She definitely could see resemblance in this boy and Shouta, maybe he was shota's biologically. He would have had him when he was still young (If Shouta was the same age as Hizashi), but it's definitely plausible.
Hizashi, as usual, is the first to break the silence. "Hey kiddo! We brought Hitoshi with us this time. Hana, Hitoshi. Hitoshi, Hana. Good, now you're introduced. I'm sure you kids will get along, you guys are both pretty similar." He pauses for a second, looks at the food area and grins. "Why don't you kids get to know each other while me and Sho go and get all of us some food, Ya dig?" Hizashi stands back up, taking Shouta with him as he migrates to the small selection of items available to eat.
Hitoshi suddenly looks very awkward. Hana pities him and decides to speak up.
"Do you want to be a hero too?" Okay, so maybe being first to talk was not a good idea. It was the first thing that came to her mind, but what if it's a sensitive subject for him? What if he's gotten that question so many times before that it annoys him? Before she can conjure up any more negative possibilities, Hitoshi speaks for the first time.
"Yeah." He doesn't seem annoyed, but she really can't tell. His face is neutral. He adds more, "I want to be an underground hero though. I'm not made to be in the spotlight, and it would be hard for my quirk to be useful." He seems a bit more grim after he mentions his quirk, so she files it in her brain to avoid talking about it unless he brings it up. He follows up one more time. "Do you want to be a hero?"
She had not expected her question to be thrown back at her, and she honestly doesn't know the answer. She thinks being a hero would be great, not because of the high death rate or the trauma that she assumes is involved, but because she could shove it in that man's face. Instead of using all of that shitty training to become an assassin like he wanted, she could use it to save people. Really, it would be the ideal for her. She doubts that would be possible for her. She doesn't have a quirk, and she's sure being quirkless makes it nearly impossible to be a hero.
She thinks on what would be the best response, "I would like too, I think. Logically, I know it's probably not likely for me. I'm quirkless. I don't even know if people without quirks are allowed to be heroes."
He makes a face that Hana can't quite decipher, but she knows he wasn't surprised. Hizashi and Shouta must have already told him about her lack of a quirk.
He doesn't hesitate when he responds. "If you have enough drive, you can still become a hero. Quirks are tools, that's what dad always told me. It'll be harder without it I'm sure, but not impossible. I'm having to learn to fight quirkless. My quirk is a mental quirk, Brainwashing, so I have to work on learning to fight. That's something you would have to work on too. And there's no laws inhibiting the quirkless from becoming heroes, at least not anymore. UA accepts quirkless applicants now, and I'm sure most other hero schools do too."
She takes a few minutes to process everything. The fact that she truly is thinking about her future now sends her into a tailspin. She never thought she would be able to control her future, so she never even tried to think too hard about it. She had dreamed of safe and happy futures, but never actually believed them to be possible. Now it seemed so close. A chance at happiness.
She doesn't think the drive part would be much of a problem. She knows a good deal about fighting already, and she's sure if she didn't know something that she could pick it up easily. She's sure that depending on what quirks she was up against that it would be difficult, and the chance of her dying might be higher that many quirked heroes. That didn't bother her much. She was born prepared to die.
Hitoshi revealing his quirk caught her off-guard. It makes more sense to her now that he would be fine with someone quirkless being a hero, fighting quirkless probably showed him that people without them are just as capable. She wondered which dad told him that quirks were tools. probably Shouta if she had to guess. Takashi told her that Shouta's power had to do with erasing quirks, which means he has to also fight quirkless. All his quirk does in one on one battles is it slightly levels out the playing field.
Quirkless people being welcome at the hero school surprised her as well. She had been told in the past that quirkless were the scum of this society, that no one else would except her, and that if she were to leave, she would probably be killed soon after. It was the doctor that told her this though, so she took the chance at a later time and escaped. As it seemed, quirkless people had basic human rights in this society. That's more than she could say for her old treatment.
She grasps for a response. "Alright then. I'll probably be a hero, but I'll do underground as well. I also do not fit into the spotlight. Being ranked does not sound fun."
He seems to smile a little at that. "No, I guess it doesn't."
She then realizes that around five minutes had passed, and there was still no sign of Hizashi and Shouta coming back. When she scans the room for them, she sees them next to the food line chatting in hushed tones. Hizashi glances in their direction a few times while she observes. She hears Hitoshi speak up; "They wanted to give us some time to bond or something. They'll probably be over there for a few more minutes." He rolls his eyes at their lack of subtlety.
Hana nods. That made sense, if they really wanted to adopt her then getting along with Hitoshi would be important for a happy household. If they didn't get along, it might create an awkward environment for everyone.
Hitoshi seems to ponder something before speaking again. "Dad and pops said that you like cats."
And so, for the few minutes before the men came back Hitoshi and Hana talked about cats. Hana did quite like cats, but she had rarely had the opportunity to be around them. She learned quite a bit about them from what the men, and now Hitoshi, told her about them. there were a lot more types of cats than she would have ever imagined. She also was under the impression that most cats just lay around, which was apparently false. She was told that many cats loved to play and were energetic. She now really was excited to meet the couple's cats.
When Hizashi and Shouta do some back, Hana and Hitoshi are in a deep conversation about the stray cats Hitoshi feeds before school. She notes that the men look very pleased.
They start to lay out all of the food they acquired. They hand her and Hitoshi white plates that have nothing on them, then instruct them to pick what they want off of the dishes in the center. As She eats. Hana has to force herself to try and keep at the other's pace. She had a habit of eating anything given to her as fast as possible (A habit at which she had already gotten scolded for by the orphanage staff). When she was locked away, her food would often be taken away if she did not eat it as fast as she should have. It was a habit she had a hard time trying to break.
While eating, Hizashi chattered some and the others added when needed. It felt so odd to have company while she was eating again. When everyone was finished, the talking continued. They seemed in no hurry to leave, seeming to enjoy the whole affair. If she were being honest with herself, she really enjoyed it too. Having company like that was nice. She didn't even have to talk if she didn't want to. She realizes she's growing attached, and she can't even scold herself for it.
The family only goes when the staff announces that the dinner had officially concluded, and for the adults to leave for the night. Before leaving, Hizashi announces that he and Shouta were going to return again the next day. This surprises her, the men had never been able to come two days in a row. Before turning to go, Shouta stops in front of her and raises his hand. He goes slow, seemingly trying to gauge her reaction. She watches with wide eyes as the hand comes to lay at the top of her head. She releases a breath, and he takes that as acceptance as he pets her head gently. As quickly as the affection comes, it goes as he retracts his hand.
Hizashi and Shouta start walking away, Hizashi waving back as he goes. Hitoshi seems to hesitate for a moment, before nodding at her and walking away as well.
Later, as she suffers another night tortured with the horrors of her past, she tries to combat them with positive thoughts of a future not plauged in hurt. She gets more sleep that night than she has in years.
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Hana leans into the sofa located in the library, flipping through the pages of a book called: "Cats; The full guide on how to take care of your beloved pet."
It had only taken a few minutes before one of the staff (Ms. Saito? Saiko? Saiki?) comes to find her. When she appeared in front of her, there was a smile etched onto her face. She seemed almost weirdly chipper.
"Oh here you are Hana, I figured this is where I would find you. That lovely couple has come back to visit you! Why don't I put your book away for you while you go and meet them in the check-in area." Her dark eyes seem to sparkle with something unknown. Hana shrugs off her weird behavior as she hands her the book and makes her way to where she was instructed.
As she stepped through the entrance, She sees the receptionist smiling at the couple in an odd way, an emotion there that Hana can't quite place. The couple themselves seem to be very... twitchy. Hizashi is mumbling excitedly to Shouta, A big smile on his face as he bounces a little. Shouta is also smiling, he had his hand behind his neck in a gesture that shows his nerves.
As usual, Shouta is the first one to notice her. He nudges Hizashi and suddenly two pairs of eyes are looking at her. She suddenly felt a little intimidated. She noticed Shouta’s intense black eyes the first time she met him, and Hizashi's green felt even more piercing. Both of them staring at her made her want to shrink back. She never really was good at keeping eye contact.
This time, It's Shouta who speaks first. "Hey kid. We wanted to ask you something."
She looks up again, and his eyes don't look as intimidating. His eyes darted from her to Hizashi. The blond man himself kneels down in front of her. This oddly feels more comfortable than before, Now he's a little shorter than her eye level. Less intimidating. He smiles kindly before speaking. "We were wondering if you would want to come live with us from now on." He pauses, letting it sink in before continuing, "You're a good kid, and you deserve to be able to have your own things and eat sweets and pet cats. We could get you enrolled in school, and you could start learning with others your age! We would be happy to take you in and help you grow up in a healthy environment. What do you think, little one?"
This was not what she expected. She wasn't stupid, she knew that they were definitely looking into adopting her, but she didn't think it would happen so quickly. It wasn't really too fast, they had been coming to see her for weeks now. Still, she hadn't even thought about this happening today. They're still staring at her, but it doesn't feel as suffocating as she thought it would. They are waiting for her patiently, like they knew it would be hard for her to digest.
She says the only thing she could think of, "when?" her voice sounds weak.
Shouta is the one to answer her "Now if you wanted. We have all of the paperwork done and turned in. We could leave anytime."
They really wanted her, didn't they? They wanted to adopt her. Not even foster temporarily, they wanted it to be permanent. She should say no. She should turn around and walk away. She doesn't, of course. She truly was so weak.
"Yes."
That day, Hana leaves the orphanage with two kind men, a new last name, and a chance at a future.