Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

What is that awful sound?

I slowly open my eyes, immediately blinded by bright lights. As my eyes slowly adjust, the smell of alcohol and cleaning chemicals flood my nose.

Where am I?

I look over to my right and find a monitor with green lines on the screen, bouncing up and down in a zigzag motion.

A heart monitor. That is where the noise is coming from. So I must be in the hospital.

The door opens, and a man in a black suit and suitcase walks in. My vision has not fully adjusted yet, so I am unable to identify him as he sits in a chair near my bed.

"Hello? Finally! I've been trying to reach you all night!"

Father?

Father shakes his head as he pressed his phone against his ear.

"What do you mean why am I calling you? It's an emergency! There was a villain attack at the museum while Suki and her class were visiting!"

Who is he talking to?

"Suki is hurt, but no surgery was needed. Yes, you still need to come! Please drop what you're doing Yasu, and come to the hospital! Travel safe. Love you." Father lets out a sigh as he places his phone on the corner.

"Was that Mother?"

Father jumps from his seat, spooked.

"Suki! You're awake! How are you feeling?" He asks as he rushes to the side of the bed. His blue eyes are filled with worry.

"I am tired," I say in a groggy voice.

"That's alright. Just rest up and focus on getting better, ok Princess?" Father says as he kisses my forehead.

"I will. Who were you speaking on the phone with?"

Father sighs.

"How much did you hear?"

"Everything that was said in this room."

Father's face softens as he gently rubs my arm.

"As you guessed, it was your Mother. She has not been able to get on a plane yet."

Unable to? It appears that she has not even attempted to travel back home.

She must have more important matters to attend to.

"It is alright. I feel better already."

"That's great honey. I'm glad."

He adjusts his glasses with his other hand.

If he is moving his glasses, that means he is hiding something.

"Father, what is wrong?"

"Do not worry about it. Just focus on getting better."

"I will. But I cannot help but feel like you are hiding something from me."

Father sighs as he shakes his head.

"You've been spending too much time with your Auntie, haven't you?"

Auntie Ami! How could I forget about her?

I quickly sit up in an attempt to get out of bed. However, a sharp pain pierces my side, causing me to let out a groan and instinctively lay back down. I slowly bring my hands to my slide and feel bandages wrapped around my abdomen.

"Princess, please take it easy! You may be feeling better, but you are not fully healed yet!"

"I need to see her! I must!"

Just before Father could respond, someone knocked on the door. We turn around and watch as a doctor walks in. They wear a pin that says 'They/Them' on it.

"Oh? Is this a bad time?" They ask.

Father looks over to me.

"May we continue this conversation later?"

"Yes Father," I responded, much to my displeasure.

He nods and looks over to the doctor.

"No, come in Doctor."

"Thank you. Hello Miss Suki Tamura. I am Dr. Yamaguchi. How are you feeling?"

"I am well. However, I do feel a bit weak."

"Ah. Well, that is due to the blood loss you suffered."

Blood loss. I didn't even take that into account during the fight. That explains why I got so tired so quickly. I should have known better.

"You were covered in cuts and bruises when you arrived. Those are minor injuries that were quickly healed. However, that sword wound you obtained—"

"I'm sorry, but did you say sword wound?" Father looks at me in disbelief.

"Yes, sword wound. Despite being the main reason you lost blood, the wound was surprisingly shallow. The surgeon only needed to use his quirk, and a few small switches, and you should be healed up pretty soon!" Dr. Yamaguchi then begins to tap and slide their finger on their tablet.

"Speaking of quirks, were you aware that your daughter has one, Mr. Tamura?"

Confusion is written on my father's face as he stares at the doctor.

"What are you speaking of? My daughter does not have a quirk! She was diagnosed to be quirkless by her doctor after she showed no signs of having one years ago! There must be some kind of a mistake."

Dr. Yamagachi shakes their head.

"I do not make mistakes Mr. Tamura. However, the doctor that diagnosed Miss Tamura as quirkless did. See, one of the ways we can determine if one has a quirk is based on the number of joints they have in their pinky toe. People with quirks have one joint, while quirkless people have two."

Dr. Yamagachi pauses for a brief second to pull up an X-ray.

"This here is Miss Tamura's x-ray. We can clearly see here that there is one joint. Therefore, your daughter must have a quirk."

Father is left speechless. He shakes his head in disbelief as Dr. Yamagachi explains.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course you may, Miss Tamura."

"Did I have a quirk this entire time? Or did my quirk just recently develop?"

"You have always had a quirk, Miss Tamura."

Always had a quirk?

I've been seen and treated differently all my life because of a mistake?

"Now, quirks are tricky. Many will make their appearance with little to no effort while others may only activate if the conditions are just right. In your case Miss Tamura, you simply did not draw on your skin to learn about your quirk. It was until you were in danger and had items drawn on your skin that you were finally able to use your quirk," Dr. Yamagachi says. They let out a soft sigh as they gave me a small smile.

"I know this is a lot to process, so take your time to think it over. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me alright?"

They get up and slowly make their way towards the door.

"Oh! Just so you know, your quirk is called Canvas!"

Just as they are about to walk out, I raise my hand. Luckily, they notice and step back into the room.

"Yes?"

"I have two questions. How does my quirk work? And am I allowed to get out of bed? I need to see my aunt, who is also a patient."

Dr. Yamagachi chuckles.

"I do not know how your quirk works. That is something you will need to figure out yourself. And secondly, if you try to walk, you will collapse on your second step. However, if your father is nice enough, you may visit if you agree to be in a wheelchair."

We both turn towards my father, who lets out a soft chuckle.

"Sorry. But I still cannot get over the fact that you got stabbed by a sword?"

"If I explain everything, will you let me see Auntie Ami?"

Father looks over to the doctor, who shrugs.

"This sounds like a family matter, and I stay out of those."

Father chuckles, then nods.

"Deal."

...

Father silently wheels me down the hallway.

Father did not take what happened well. He ended up scolding me how I should leave the 'hero antics' to the professional heroes. He said I was very fortunate that the police arrived at the end of the entire ordeal, otherwise I could have been charged with vigilantism.

I stayed quiet the entire scolding. I know what I did was wrong. I just hope the consequences are not too great.

"Oh my gosh! I'm glad you're ok!"

I turn towards a room, and find Mei taking a video call on her phone.

"Thanks! But I wasn't gonna let some small-time villain get the best of me!" Mei exclaims, flexing her bicep. Screaming from multiple girls blast out of the speakers of Mei's phone.

Father and I wheel past them before I could attempt to say hi.

"Father, do you know where my phone is?"

"Yes! The police handed it to me an hour before you woke up. Here it is," Father says as he reaches into his pocket and hands it to me. I immediately turn on the screen.

I quickly unlock my phone, curious to see who checked up on me.

To my disappointment, there no notifications.

I bite my lip to stop it from quivering.

My friends must be busy checking up on Mei first. That is why no one has reached out. Yes, that is likely it.

I do not wonder long, as my father stops at a closed door.

"We are here," he says as he places a hand on my shoulder.

"What is wrong Father?"

He sighs.

"She'll tell you herself," he says as he opens the door.

That does not sound good at all.

"Hey Ami. Hope it's a good time," Father says as we enter the room.

Auntie Ami lays on her back on the hospital bed. She turns her head towards us, but immediately turns away when she sees me.

"Auntie Ami! Oh my gosh, I am so glad you're ok!" I blurt out. Father wheels me on the right side of the bed.

"I have so much to tell you! You cannot believe what the doctor told me. They..." I slowly trail off once I notice Auntie Ami is not paying attention. In fact, she is not even looking in my direction. She stares straight ahead, at the door of the bathroom.

"Auntie Ami? What is wrong?" I ask, my voice quivering.

My anxiety rises dramatically when I see the tears streaming from her face.

She slowly turns her head to me.

"Suki, honey. It's nothing really, it's just—"

She then closes her mouth and closes her eyes. She tries to hold back her tears, but they manage to squeeze out of her eyelids. Then she opens her eyes once again.

"I'm not ok."

"What do you mean, Auntie? What's wrong?"

Auntie Ami takes a deep breath, then looks into my eyes.

"There was some serious damage to my spine. They repaired it the best they could, but some of the damage is permanent."

No.

"I am paralyzed from the waist down."

This is all my fault.

"Ami, I am so sorry."

Auntie Ami says something, but I don't hear her. I continue to apologize over and over, begging for her forgiveness.

"Suki! Stop! Listen to me!" She says, reaching over the edge of the bed and grabbing my face by my cheeks.

"Stop apologizing! None of this is your fault! You hear me?"

I can't answer. All I can do is sob as she holds my face.

"Come here," Auntie Ami says as she carefully pulls me in bed with her.

I hear Father object but I ignore him and the pain as I lay next to her. I carefully wrap my arms around her and squeeze tightly.

Despite what she says, I know the truth.

If I had just followed the protocol and gotten out of the situation, she never would have been buried in that rubble. She never would've gotten hurt.

Auntie Ami gently moves my hair out of my face as I silently cry, continuously apologizing to her silently.

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.

Father sighs and walks over to the door.

"I apologize but this is a bad—"

"I'm sorry sir, but I must insist. I will be quick, I promise."

"Let me ask her if she is willing to see you," Father says as he walks over to us.

"Ami. The professional hero Flashpoint is here to see you. Would you like to see him?"

Ami shakes her head no, and Father walks back to the door. However, Flashpoint has stormed in and is walking over to the bed.

"Excuse me! You need to leave! Now!"

"I am sorry for intruding but I have something to say," Flashpoint says as he walks past Father.

"I will—"

"It's alright," Auntie Ami says, waving my Father away. I look up and see Flashpoint in full hero costume.

"You may take a seat," Ami says, her voice cold.

"Thank you," Flashpoint says, sitting at a chair in front of the bed.

"What do you want?"

"I just want to apologize. To both of you. If I had arrived sooner, I could have avoided some of your pain and suffering."

Auntie Ami shakes her head.

"But I am not here to dwell on the past. I am here to leave my card. If there is anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm sorry," Flashpoint concludes as he leaves his card on a corner and begins to walk towards the door.

"Why?"

Flashpoint stops, and turns around. He looks at me with sad eyes.

"Why did Auntie Ami, a person who has done nothing but good her entire life, end up being punished? Why?" I yell, wincing as I sit up.

He sighs.

"I wish I had an answer young lady."

He looks at his feet, and shakes his head.

"All I can do now is ask for forgiveness. But no matter how sorry I am, that won't change the past. I have to be better. A better hero, and a better person. That way, no one will ever ask that question again."

Flashpoint turns around and walks out.

Father begins to scold me, and help me back into the wheelchair. But I don't hear a word he says.

Many people say that history needs to be learned, or we are doomed to repeat it. The main lesson to learn from this is that when I break the rules, bad things happen. And not just to me, but the people I care about.

I need to be better. Better than I am now, and better than Flashpoint. And how do you become better than a professional hero? You become one yourself.

"Auntie Ami."

I stand, against my Father's wishes, and look Auntie Ami in the eyes.

"I won't let lawfully good people like you get hurt. Never again. I will be better, by becoming a professional hero."

Father stays silent, while Auntie Ami smiles.

"I'll help you every step of the way," she says as she gently pulls me in for a hug.

"But most importantly Suki, I believe in you. Always have, always will."

Author's Note:

Poor Suki. She can't seem to catch a break, huh?

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. I know it's a lot, but I hope lots of questions were finally answered! And I hope to be closing this arc sooner than later so we get started with the good stuff!

Question: What is a hobby of yours that you enjoy doing? I enjoy quite a few, like writing, gaming, soccer, and watching lots of movies and TV shows, especially Star Wars and Marvel!

Character Spotlights: Asahi Tamura

Quirk: Writer

Likes: Reading